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arXiv · 2211.14597

Temperature dependence of the energy band gap in ZrTe$_5$: implications for the topological phase

I. Mohelsky·J. Wyzula·B. A. Piot·G. D. Gu·Q. Li·A. Akrap·M. Orlita
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Abstract

Using Landau level spectroscopy, we determine the temperature dependence of the energy band gap in zirconium pentatelluride (ZrTe$_5$). We find that the band gap reaches $E_g=(5 \pm 1)$ meV at low temperatures and increases monotonously when the temperature is raised. This implies that ZrTe$_5$ is a weak topological insulator, with non-inverted ordering of electronic bands in the center of the Brillouin zone. Our magneto-transport experiments performed in parallel show that the resistivity anomaly in ZrTe$_5$ is not connected with the temperature dependence of the band gap.

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I. Mohelsky, J. Wyzula, B. A. Piot, G. D. Gu, Q. Li, A. Akrap, M. Orlita. 2022-11-26. Temperature dependence of the energy band gap in ZrTe$_5$: implications for the topological phase. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.107.l041202

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