arXiv subjects

C. E. Matt

Publications and source records attributed to C. E. Matt.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Orbital-selective metal skin induced by alkali-metal-dosing Mott-insulating Ca$_2$RuO$_4$

Doped Mott insulators are the starting point for interesting physics such as high temperature superconductivity and quantum spin liquids. For multi-band Mott insulators, orbital selective ground states have been envisioned. However, orbital selective metals and Mott insulators have been difficult to realize experimentally. Here we demonstrate by photoemission spectroscopy how Ca$_2$RuO$_4$, upon alkali-metal surface doping, develops a single-band metal skin. Our dynamical mean field theory calculations reveal that homogeneous electron doping of Ca$_2$RuO$_4$ results in a multi-band metal. All together, our results provide compelling evidence for an orbital-selective Mott insulator breakdown, which is unachievable via simple electron doping. Supported by a cluster model and cluster perturbation theory calculations, we demonstrate a novel type of skin metal-insulator transition induced by surface dopants that orbital-selectively hybridize with the bulk Mott state and in turn produce coherent in-gap states.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Pseudogap Suppression by Competition with Superconductivity in La-Based Cuprates

We have carried out a comprehensive high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) study of the pseudogap interplay with superconductivity in La-based cuprates. The three systems La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$, La$_{1.6-x}$Nd$_{0.4}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$, and La$_{1.8-x}$Eu$_{0.2}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ display slightly different pseudogap critical points in the temperature versus doping phase diagram. We have studied the pseudogap evolution into the superconducting state for doping concentrations just below the critical point. In this setting, near optimal doping for superconductivity and in the presence of the weakest possible pseudogap, we uncover how the pseudogap is partially suppressed inside the superconducting state. This conclusion is based on the direct observation of a reduced pseudogap energy scale and re-emergence of spectral weight suppressed by the pseudogap. Altogether these observations suggest that the pseudogap phenomenon in La-based cuprates is in competition with superconductivity for anti-nodal spectral weight.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2020

Oxide Fermi liquid universality revealed by electron spectroscopy

We present a combined soft x-ray and high-resolution vacuum-ultraviolet angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study of the electron-overdoped cuprate Pr$_{1.3-x}$La$_{0.7}$Ce$_{x}$CuO$_4$ (PLCCO). Demonstration of its highly two-dimensional band structure enabled precise determination of the in-plane self-energy dominated by electron-electron scattering. Through analysis of this self-energy and the Fermi-liquid cut-off energy scale, we find -- in contrast to hole-doped cuprates -- a momentum isotropic and comparatively weak electron correlation in PLCCO. Yet, the self-energies extracted from multiple oxide systems combine to demonstrate a logarithmic divergent relation between the quasiparticle scattering rate and mass. This constitutes a spectroscopic version of the Kadowaki-Woods relation with an important merit -- the demonstration of Fermi liquid quasiparticle lifetime and mass being set by a single energy scale.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

High-Temperature Charge-Stripe Correlations in La$_{1.675}$Eu$_{0.2}$Sr$_{0.125}$CuO$_4$

We use resonant inelastic x-ray scattering to investigate charge-stripe correlations in La$_{1.675}$Eu$_{0.2}$Sr$_{0.125}$CuO$_4$. By differentiating elastic from inelastic scattering, it is demonstrated that charge-stripe correlations precede both the structural low-temperature tetragonal phase and the transport-defined pseudogap onset. The scattering peak amplitude from charge stripes decays approximately as $T^{-2}$ towards our detection limit. The in-plane integrated intensity, however, remains roughly temperature independent. Therefore, although the incommensurability shows a remarkably large increase at high temperature, our results are interpreted via a single scattering constituent. In fact, direct comparison to other stripe-ordered compounds (La$_{1.875}$Ba$_{0.125}$CuO$_4$, La$_{1.475}$Nd$_{0.4}$Sr$_{0.125}$CuO$_4$ and La$_{1.875}$Sr$_{0.125}$CuO$_4$) suggests a roughly constant integrated scattering intensity across all these compounds. Our results therefore provide a unifying picture for the charge-stripe ordering in La-based cuprates. As charge correlations in La$_{1.675}$Eu$_{0.2}$Sr$_{0.125}$CuO$_4$ extend beyond the low-temperature tetragonal and pseudogap phase, their emergence heralds a spontaneous symmetry breaking in this compound.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2019

Band Structure of Overdoped Cuprate Superconductors: Density Functional Theory Matching Experiments

A comprehensive angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy study of the band structure in single layer cuprates is presented with the aim of uncovering universal trends across different materials. Five different hole- and electron-doped cuprate superconductors (La$_{1.59}$Eu$_{0.2}$Sr$_{0.21}$CuO$_4$, La$_{1.77}$Sr$_{0.23}$CuO$_4$, Bi$_{1.74}$Pb$_{0.38}$Sr$_{1.88}$CuO$_{6+δ}$, Tl$_{2}$Ba$_{2}$CuO$_{6+δ}$, and Pr$_{1.15}$La$_{0.7}$Ce$_{0.15}$CuO$_{4}$) have been studied with special focus on the bands with predominately $d$-orbital character. Using light polarization analysis, the $e_g$ and $t_{2g}$ bands are identified across these materials. A clear correlation between the $d_{3z^2-r^2}$ band energy and the apical oxygen distance $d_\mathrm{A}$ is demonstrated. Moreover, the compound dependence of the $d_{x^2-y^2}$ band bottom and the $t_{2g}$ band top is revealed. Direct comparison to density functional theory (DFT) calculations employing hybrid exchange-correlation functionals demonstrates excellent agreement. We thus conclude that the DFT methodology can be used to describe the global band structure of overdoped single layer cuprates on both the hole and electron doped side.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

Evidence of Coulomb interaction induced Lifshitz transition and robust hybrid Weyl semimetal in Td MoTe2

Using soft x-ray angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy we probed the bulk electronic structure of Td MoTe2. We found that on-site Coulomb interaction leads to a Lifshitz transition, which is essential for a precise description of the electronic structure. A hybrid Weyl semimetal state with a pair of energy bands touching at both type-I and type-II Weyl nodes is indicated by comparing the experimental data with theoretical calculations. Unveiling the importance of Coulomb interaction opens up a new route to comprehend the unique properties of MoTe2, and is significant for understanding the interplay between correlation effects, strong spin-orbit coupling and superconductivity in this van der Waals material.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Three-Dimensional Fermi Surface of Overdoped La-Based Cuprates

We present a soft x-ray angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study of the overdoped high-temperature superconductors La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ and La$_{1.8-x}$Eu$_{0.2}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$. In-plane and out-of-plane components of the Fermi surface are mapped by varying the photoemission angle and the incident photon energy. No $k_z$ dispersion is observed along the nodal direction, whereas a significant antinodal $k_z$ dispersion is identified. Based on a tight-binding parametrization, we discuss the implications for the density of states near the van-Hove singularity. Our results suggest that the large electronic specific heat found in overdoped La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ can not be assigned to the van-Hove singularity alone. We therefore propose quantum criticality induced by a collapsing pseudogap phase as a plausible explanation for observed enhancement of electronic specific heat.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

Two-dimensional type-II Dirac fermions in layered oxides

Relativistic massless Dirac fermions can be probed with high-energy physics experiments, but appear also as low-energy quasi-particle excitations in electronic band structures. In condensed matter systems, their massless nature can be protected by crystal symmetries. Classification of such symmetry-protected relativistic band degeneracies has been fruitful, although many of the predicted quasi-particles still await their experimental discovery. Here we reveal, using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, the existence of two-dimensional type-II Dirac fermions in the high-temperature superconductor La$_{1.77}$Sr$_{0.23}$CuO$_4$. The Dirac point, constituting the crossing of $d_{x^2-y^2}$ and $d_{z^2}$ bands, is found approximately one electronvolt below the Fermi level ($E_\mathrm{F}$) and is protected by mirror symmetry. If spin-orbit coupling is considered, the Dirac point degeneracy is lifted and the bands acquire a topologically non-trivial character. In certain nickelate systems, band structure calculations suggest that the same type-II Dirac fermions can be realised near $E_\mathrm{F}$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Trivial topological phase of CaAgP and the topological nodal-line transition in CaAg(P1-xAsx)

By performing angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and first-principles calculations, we address the topological phase of CaAgP and investigate the topological phase transition in CaAg(P1-xAsx). We reveal that in CaAgP, the bulk band gap and surface states with a large bandwidth are topologically trivial, in agreement with hybrid density functional theory calculations. The calculations also indicate that application of "negative" hydrostatic pressure can transform trivial semiconducting CaAgP into an ideal topological nodal-line semimetal phase. The topological transition can be realized by partial isovalent P/As substitution at x = 0.38.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Rotation symmetry breaking in La2-xSrxCuO4 revealed by ARPES

Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy it is revealed that in the vicinity of optimal doping the electronic structure of La2-xSrxCuO4 cuprate undergoes an electronic reconstruction associated with a wave vector q_a=(pi, 0). The reconstructed Fermi surface and folded band are distinct to the shadow bands observed in BSCCO cuprates and in underdoped La2-xSrxCuO4 with x <= 0.12, which shift the primary band along the zone diagonal direction. Furthermore the folded bands appear only with q_a=(pi, 0) vector, but not with q_b= (0, pi). We demonstrate that the absence of q_b reconstruction is not due to the matrix-element effects in the photoemission process, which indicates the four-fold symmetry is broken in the system.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2017

Distinct evolutions of Weyl fermion quasiparticles and Fermi arcs with bulk band topology in Weyl semimetals

The Weyl semimetal phase is a recently discovered topological quantum state of matter characterized by the presence of topologically protected degeneracies near the Fermi level. These degeneracies are the source of exotic phenomena, including the realization of chiral Weyl fermions as quasiparticles in the bulk and the formation of Fermi arc states on the surfaces. Here, we demonstrate that these two key signatures show distinct evolutions with the bulk band topology by performing angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, supported by first-principle calculations, on transition-metal monophosphides. While Weyl fermion quasiparticles exist only when the chemical potential is located between two saddle points of the Weyl cone features, the Fermi arc states extend in a larger energy scale and are robust across the bulk Lifshitz transitions associated with the recombination of two non-trivial Fermi surfaces enclosing one Weyl point into a single trivial Fermi surface enclosing two Weyl points of opposite chirality. Therefore, in some systems (e.g. NbP), topological Fermi arc states are preserved even if Weyl fermion quasiparticles are absent in the bulk. Our findings not only provide insight into the relationship between the exotic physical phenomena and the intrinsic bulk band topology in Weyl semimetals, but also resolve the apparent puzzle of the different magneto-transport properties observed in TaAs, TaP and NbP, where the Fermi arc states are similar.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Hallmarks of Hund's coupling in the Mott insulator Ca$_2$RuO$_4$

A paradigmatic case of multi-band Mott physics including spin-orbit and Hund's coupling is realised in Ca$_2$RuO$_4$. Progress in understanding the nature of this Mott insulating phase has been impeded by the lack of knowledge about the low-energy electronic structure. Here we provide -- using angle-resolved photoemission electron spectroscopy -- the band structure of the paramagnetic insulating phase of Ca$_2$RuO$_4$ and show how it features several distinct energy scales. Comparison to a simple analysis of atomic multiplets provides a quantitative estimate of the Hund's coupling $J=0.4$ eV. Furthermore, the experimental spectra are in good agreement with electronic structure calculations performed with Dynamical Mean-Field Theory. The crystal field stabilisation of the d$_{xy}$ orbital due to $c$-axis contraction is shown to be important in explaining the nature of the insulating state. It is thus a combination of multiband physics, Coulomb interaction and Hund's coupling that generates the Mott insulating state of Ca$_2$RuO$_4$. These results underscore the importance of Hund's coupling in the ruthenates and related multiband materials.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Momentum-Resolved Electronic Structure of the High-$T_{c}$ Superconductor Parent Compound BaBiO$_{3}$

We investigate the band structure of BaBiO$_{3}$, an insulating parent compound of doped high-$T_{c}$ superconductors, using \emph{in situ} angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy on thin films. The data compare favorably overall with density functional theory calculations within the local density approximation, demonstrating that electron correlations are weak. The bands exhibit Brillouin zone folding consistent with known BiO$_{6}$ breathing distortions. Though the distortions are often thought to coincide with Bi$^{3+}$/Bi$^{5+}$ charge ordering, core level spectra show that bismuth is monovalent. We further demonstrate that the bands closest to the Fermi level are primarily oxygen derived, while the bismuth $6s$ states mostly contribute to dispersive bands at deeper binding energy. The results support a model of Bi-O charge transfer in which hole pairs are localized on combinations of the O $2p$ orbitals.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

NaFe$_{0.56}$Cu$_{0.44}$As: A pnictide insulating phase induced by on-site Coulomb interaction

In the studies of iron-pnictides, a key question is whether their bad-metal state from which the superconductivity emerges lies in close proximity with a magnetically ordered insulating phase. Recently it was found that at low temperatures, the heavily Cu-doped NaFe$_{1-x}$Cu$_x$As ($x > 0.3$) iron-pnictide is an insulator with long-range antiferromagnetic order, similar to the parent compound of cuprates but distinct from all other iron-pnictides. Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we determined the momentum-resolved electronic structure of NaFe$_{1-x}$Cu$_x$As ($x = 0.44$) and identified that its ground state is a narrow-gap insulator. Combining the experimental results with density functional theory (DFT) and DFT+U calculations, our analysis reveals that the on-site Coulombic (Hubbard) and Hund's coupling energies play crucial roles in formation of the band gap about the chemical potential. We propose that at finite temperatures charge carriers are thermally excited from the Cu-As-like valence band into the conduction band, which is of Fe $3d$-like character. With increasing temperature, the number of electrons in the conduction band becomes larger and the hopping energy between Fe sites increases, and finally the long-range antiferromagnetic order is destroyed at $T > T_\mathrm{N}$. Our study provides a basis for investigating the evolution of the electronic structure of a Mott insulator transforming into a bad metallic phase, and eventually forming a superconducting state in iron-pnictidesa superconducting state in iron-pnictides.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Discovery of Weyl semimetal state violating Lorentz invariance in MoTe2

A new type of Weyl semimetal state, in which the energy values of Weyl nodes are not the local extrema, has been theoretically proposed recently, namely type II Weyl semimetal. Distinguished from type I semimetal (e.g. TaAs), the Fermi surfaces in a type II Weyl semimetal consist of a pair of electron and hole pockets touching at the Weyl node. In addition, Weyl fermions in type II Weyl semimetals violate Lorentz invariance. Due to these qualitative differences distinct spectroscopy and magnetotransport properties are expected in type II Weyl semimetals. Here, we present the direct observation of the Fermi arc states in MoTe2 by using angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Two arc states are identified for each pair of Weyl nodes whoes surface projections of them possess single topological charge, which is a unique property for type II Weyl semimetals. The experimentally determined Fermi arcs are consistent with our first principle calculations. Our results unambiguously establish that MoTe2 is a type II Weyl semimetal, which serves as a great test bed to investigate the phenomena of new type of Weyl fermions with Lorentz invariance violated.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Observation of Dirac-like band dispersion in LaAgSb$_2$

We present a combined angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and first-principles calculations study of the electronic structure of LaAgSb$_2$ in the entire first Brillouin zone. We observe a Dirac-cone-like structure in the vicinity of the Fermi level formed by the crossing of two linear energy bands, as well as the nested segments of Fermi surface pocket emerging from the cone. Our ARPES results show the close relationship of the Dirac cone to the charge-density-wave ordering, providing consistent explanations for exotic behaviors in this material.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

A resonant inelastic x-ray scattering study of the spin and charge excitations in the overdoped superconductor La1.77Sr0.23CuO4

We present a resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) study of spin and charge excitations in overdoped La1.77Sr0.23CuO4 along two high-symmetry directions. The line shape of these excitations is analyzed and they are shown to be highly overdamped. Their spectral weight and damping are found to be strongly momentum dependent. Qualitative agreement between these observations and a calculated RPA susceptibility is obtained for this overdoped compound, implying that a significant contribution to the RIXS signal stems from a continuum of charge excitations. Furthermore, this suggests that the spin-excitations in the overdoped regime can be captured qualitatively by an itinerant picture. Our calculations also predict a new low-energy spin excitation branch to exist along the nodal direction near the zone center. With the energy resolution of the present experiment, this branch is not resolvable but we show that next generation of high-resolution spectrometers will be able to test this prediction.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

High-temperature superconductivity from fine-tuning of Fermi-surface singularities in iron oxypnictides

In the family of the iron-based superconductors, the $RE$FeAsO-type compounds (with $RE$ being a rare-earth metal) exhibit the highest bulk superconducting transition temperatures ($T_{\mathrm{c}}$) up to $55\ \textrm{K}$ and thus hold the key to the elusive pairing mechanism. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the intrinsic electronic structure of SmFe$_{0.92}$Co$_{0.08}$AsO ($T_{\mathrm{c}}=18\ \textrm{K}$) is highly nontrivial and consists of multiple band-edge singularities in close proximity to the Fermi level. However, it remains unclear whether these singularities are generic to the $RE$FeAsO-type materials and if so, whether their exact topology is responsible for the aforementioned record $T_{\mathrm{c}}$. In this work, we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) to investigate the inherent electronic structure of the NdFeAsO$_{0.6}$F$_{0.4}$ compound with a twice higher $T_{\mathrm{c}}=38\ \textrm{K}$. We find a similarly singular Fermi surface and further demonstrate that the dramatic enhancement of superconductivity in this compound correlates closely with the fine-tuning of one of the band-edge singularities to within a fraction of the superconducting energy gap $Δ$ below the Fermi level. Our results provide compelling evidence that the band-structure singularities near the Fermi level in the iron-based superconductors must be explicitly accounted for in any attempt to understand the mechanism of superconducting pairing in these materials.

cond-mat.supr-con↗