arXiv subjects

C. Barreteau

Publications and source records attributed to C. Barreteau.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2020

Flipping exciton angular momentum with chiral phonons in MoSe$_2$/WSe$_2$ heterobilayers

Identifying quantum numbers to label elementary excitations is essential for the correct description of light-matter interaction in solids. In monolayer semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) such as MoSe$_2$ or WSe$_2$, most optoelectronic phenomena are described well by labelling electron and hole states with the spin projection along the normal to the layer (S$_z$). In contrast, for WSe$_2$/MoSe$_2$ interfaces recent experiments show that taking S$_z$ as quantum number is not a good approximation, and spin mixing needs to be always considered. Here we argue that the correct quantum number for these systems is not S$_z$, but the $z$-component of the total angular momentum -- J$_z$ = L$_z$ + S$_z$ -- associated to the C$_3$ rotational lattice symmetry, which assumes half-integer values corresponding modulo 3 to distinct states. We validate this conclusion experimentally through the observation of strong intervalley scattering mediated by chiral optical phonons that -- despite carrying angular momentum 1 -- cause resonant intervalley transitions of excitons, with an angular momentum difference of 2.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Semi-realistic tight-binding model for spin-orbit torques

We compute the spin-orbit torque in a transition metal heterostructure using Slater-Koster parameterization in the two-center tight-binding approximation and accounting for d-orbitals only. In this method, the spin-orbit coupling is modeled within Russel-Saunders scheme, which enables us to treat interfacial and bulk spin-orbit transport on equal footing. The two components of the spin-orbit torque, dissipative (damping-like) and reactive (field-like), are computed within Kubo linear response theory. By systematically studying their thickness and angular dependence, we were able to accurately characterize these components beyond the traditional "inverse spin galvanic" and "spin Hall" effects. Whereas the conventional field-like torque is purely interfacial, we unambiguously demonstrate that the conventional the damping-like torque possesses both an interfacial and a bulk contribution. In addition, both field-like and damping-like torques display substantial angular dependence with strikingly different thickness behavior. While the planar contribution of the field-like torque decreases smoothly with the nonmagnetic metal thickness, the planar contribution of the damping-like torque increases dramatically with the nonmagnetic metal thickness. Finally, we investigate the self-torque exerted on the ferromagnet when the spin-orbit coupling of the nonmagnetic metal is turned off. Our results suggest that the spin accumulation that builds up inside the ferromagnet can be large enough to induce magnetic excitations.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Unveiling the Semimetallic Nature of 1$T$-TiSe$_2$ by Doping its Charge Density Wave

The semimetallic or semiconducting nature of the transition metal dichalcogenide 1$T$-TiSe$_2$ remains under debate after many decades mainly due to the fluctuating nature of its 2 $\times$ 2 $\times$ 2 charge-density-wave (CDW) phase at room-temperature. In this letter, using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we unambiguously demonstrate that the 1$T$-TiSe$_2$ normal state is semimetallic with an electron-hole band overlap of $\sim$110 meV by probing the low-energy electronic states of the perturbed CDW phase strongly doped by alkali atoms. Our study not only closes a long-standing debate but also supports the central role of the Fermi surface for driving the CDW and superconducting instabilities in 1$T$-TiSe$_2$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Phase Separation in the Vicinity of Fermi Surface Hot Spots

Spatially inhomogeneous electronic states are expected to be key ingredients for the emergence of superconducting phases in quantum materials hosting charge-density-waves (CDWs). Prototypical materials are transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) and among them, 1$T$-TiSe$_2$ exhibiting intertwined CDW and superconducting states under Cu intercalation, pressure or electrical gating. Although it has been recently proposed that the emergence of superconductivity relates to CDW fluctuations and the development of spatial inhomogeneities in the CDW order, the fundamental mechanism underlying such a phase separation (PS) is still missing. Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and variable-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy, we report on the phase diagram of the CDW in 1$T$-TiSe$_2$ as a function of Ti self-doping, an overlooked degree of freedom inducing CDW texturing. We find an intrinsic tendency towards electronic PS in the vicinity of Fermi surface (FS) "hot spots", i.e. locations with band crossings close to, but not at the Fermi level. We therefore demonstrate an intimate relationship between the FS topology and the emergence of spatially textured electronic phases which is expected to be generalizable to many doped CDW compounds.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Semimetal-to-semiconductor transition and charge-density-wave melting in $1T$-TiSe$_{2-x}$S$_x$ single crystals

The transition metal dichalcogenide $1T$-TiSe$_2$ is a quasi-two-dimensional layered material with a phase transition towards a commensurate charge density wave (CDW) at a critical temperature T$_{c}\approx 200$K. The relationship between the origin of the CDW instability and the semimetallic or semiconducting character of the normal state, i.e., with the non-reconstructed Fermi surface topology, remains elusive. By combining angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we investigate $1T$-TiSe$_{2-x}$S$_x$ single crystals. Using STM, we first show that the long-range phase coherent CDW state is stable against S substitutions with concentrations at least up to $x=0.34$. The ARPES measurements then reveal a slow but continuous decrease of the overlap between the electron and hole ($e$-$h$) bands of the semimetallic normal-state well reproduced by DFT and related to slight reductions of both the CDW order parameter and $T_c$. Our DFT calculations further predict a semimetal-to-semiconductor transition of the normal state at a higher critical S concentration of $x_c$=0.9 $\pm$0.1, that coincides with a melted CDW state in TiSeS as measured with STM. Finally, we rationalize the $x$-dependence of the $e$-$h$ band overlap in terms of isovalent substitution-induced competing chemical pressure and charge localization effects. Our study highlights the key role of the $e$-$h$ band overlap for the CDW instability.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Local Real-Space View of the Achiral 1$T$-TiSe$_2$ 2 $\times$ 2 $\times$ 2 Charge Density Wave

The transition metal dichalcogenide 1$T$-TiSe$_2$ is a quasi-two-dimensional layered material undergoing a commensurate 2 $\times$ 2 $\times$ 2 charge density wave (CDW) transition with a weak periodic lattice distortion (PLD) below $\approx$ 200 K. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) combined with intentionally introduced interstitial Ti atoms allows to go beyond the usual spatial resolution of STM and to intimately probe the three-dimensional character of the PLD. Furthermore, the inversion-symmetric, achiral nature of the CDW in the $z$-direction is revealed, contradicting the claimed existence of helical CDW stacking and associated chiral order. This study paves the way to a simultaneous real-space probing of both charge and structural reconstructions in CDW compounds.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Strong paramagnon scattering in single atom Pd contacts

Among all transition metals, Palladium (Pd) has the highest density of states at the Fermi energy yet does not fulfill the Stoner criterion for ferromagnetism. However, its close vicinity to magnetism renders it a nearly ferromagnetic metal, which hosts paramagnons, strongly damped spin fluctuations. In this letter we compare the total and the differential conductance of mono-atomic Pd and Cobalt (Co) contacts between Pd electrodes. Transport measurements reveal a conductance for Co of 1 $G_0$ , while for Pd we obtain 2 $G_0$. The differential conductance of mono-atomic Pd contacts shows a drop with increasing bias, which gives rise to a peculiar {$Λ$}-shaped spectrum. Supported by theoretical calculations we correlate this finding with the life time of hot quasi-particles in Pd which is strongly influenced by paramagnon scattering. In contrast to this, Co adatoms locally induce magnetic order and transport through single cobalt atoms remains unaffected by paramagnon scattering, consistent with theory.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Isotope effect in superconducting n-doped SrTiO$_3$

We report the influence on the superconducting critical temperature $T_c$ in doped SrTiO$_3$ of the substitution of the natural $^{16}$O atoms by the heavier isotope $^{18}$O. We observe that for a wide range of doping this substitution causes a strong ($\sim 50 \%$) enhancement of $T_c$. Also the magnetic critical field $H_{c2}$ is increased by a factor $\sim 2$. Such a strong impact on $T_c$ and $H_{c2}$, with a sign opposite to conventional superconductors, is unprecedented. The observed effect could be the consequence of strong coupling of the doped electrons to lattice vibrations (phonons), a notion which finds support in numerous optical and photo-emission studies. The unusually large size of the observed isotope effect supports a recent model for superconductivity in these materials based on strong coupling to the ferroelectric soft modes of SrTiO$_{3}$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Local resilience of the $1T$-TiSe$_2$ charge density wave to Ti self-doping

In Ti-intercalated self-doped $1T$-TiSe$_2$ crystals, the charge density wave (CDW) superstructure induces two nonequivalent sites for Ti dopants. Recently, it has been shown that increasing Ti doping dramatically influences the CDW by breaking it into phase-shifted domains. Here, we report scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy experiments that reveal a dopant-site dependence of the CDW gap. Supported by density functional theory, we demonstrate that the loss of the longrange phase coherence introduces an imbalance in the intercalated-Ti site distribution and restrains the CDW gap closure. This local resilient behavior of the $1T$-TiSe$_2$ CDW reveals a novel mechanism between CDW and defects in mutual influence.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Observation of Large Topologically Trivial Fermi-Arcs in the Candidate Type-II Weyl Semimetal WTe2

We report angle-resolved photoemission experiments resolving the distinct electronic structure of the inequivalent top and bottom (001) surfaces of WTe2. On both surfaces, we identify a surface state that forms a large Fermi-arc emerging out of the bulk electron pocket. Using surface electronic structure calculations, we show that these Fermi arcs are topologically trivial and that their existence is independent of the presence of type-II Weyl points in the bulk band structure. This implies that the observation of surface Fermi arcs alone does not allow the identification of WTe2 as a topological Weyl semimetal. We further use the identification of the two different surfaces to clarify the number of Fermi surface sheets in WTe2.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Fermi arcs and their topological character in the candidate type-II Weyl semimetal MoTe2

We report a combined experimental and theoretical study of the candidate type-II Weyl semimetal MoTe2. Using laser-based angle-resolved photoemission we resolve multiple distinct Fermi arcs on the inequivalent top and bottom (001) surfaces. All surface states observed experimentally are reproduced by an electronic structure calculation for the experimental crystal structure that predicts a topological Weyl semimetal state with 8 type-II Weyl points. We further use systematic electronic structure calculations simulating different Weyl point arrangements to discuss the robustness of the identified Weyl semimetal state and the topological character of Fermi arcs in MoTe2.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Short-range phase coherence and origin of the 1T-TiSe2 charge density wave

The impact of variable Ti self-doping on the 1T-TiSe2 charge density wave (CDW) is studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. Supported by density functional theory we show that agglomeration of intercalated-Ti atoms acts as preferential nucleation centers for the CDW that breaks up in phaseshifted CDW domains whose size directly depends on the intercalated-Ti concentration and which are separated by atomically-sharp phase boundaries. The close relationship between the diminution of the CDW domain size and the disappearance of the anomalous peak in the temperature dependent resistivity allows to draw a coherent picture of the 1T-TiSe2 CDW phase transition and its relation to excitons.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2006

Giant Anisotropic Magneto-Resistance in ferromagnetic atomic contacts

Magneto-resistance is a physical effect of great fundamental and industrial interest since it is the basis for the magnetic field sensors used in computer read-heads and Magnetic Random Access Memories. As device dimensions are reduced, some important physical length scales for magnetism and electrical transport will soon be attained. Ultimately, there is a strong need to know if the physical phenomena responsible for magneto-resistance still hold at the atomic scale. Here, we show that the anisotropy of magneto-resistance is greatly enhanced in atomic size constrictions. We explain this physical effect by a change in the electronic density of states in the junction when the magnetization is rotated, as supported by our ab-initio calculations. This stems from the "spin-orbit coupling" mechanism linking the shape of the orbitals with the spin direction. This sensitively affects the conductance of atomic contacts which is determined by the overlap of the valence orbitals.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2004

Structure and growth of titanium buffer layers on Al2O3(0001)

The structure of titanium films on α- Al2O3(0001) surfaces at room temperature was investigated through in situ reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED). The α-phase of titanium was observed to grow with the Ti(0001) || Al2O3(0001), Ti[1100] || Al2O3[2110] and Ti[1010] || Al2O3[1100] epitaxy. For up to 6 nm thick films, an other structure was found to coexist with α-Ti. Its presence has dramatic consequences for the wetting of silver, which partly explains the nontrivial buffer effect of titanium at the silver/alumina interface. From the RHEED data, the extra structure is assigned to the high-pressure hexagonal ω-Ti phase. This is supported by tight-binding total energy calculations that demonstrate that the ωphase could actually be stabilized by the α- Al2O3(0001) substrate.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗