arXiv subjects

G. -F. Chen

Publications and source records attributed to G. -F. Chen.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2019

Moderate hybridization effects revealed by ARPES in heavy-fermion Ce2IrIn8

We utilized high-resolution resonant angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) to study the band structure and hybridization effect of the heavy-fermion compound Ce2IrIn8. We observe a nearly flat band at the binding energy of 7 meV below the coherent temperature Tcoh ~ 40 K, which characterizes the electrical resistance maximum indicating the onset temperature of hybridization. However, the Fermi vector kF and the Fermi surface (FS) volume have little change around Tcoh, challenging the widely believed evolution from a high-temperature small FS to a low-temperature large FS. Our experimental results of the band structure fit well with the density functional theory plus dynamic mean-field theory (DFT+DMFT) calculations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Spatial-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of Weyl semimetal NbAs

We utilized X-ray photoemission electron microscopy (XPEEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to investigate the crystal surface of Weyl semimetal NbAs. XPEEM images present white and black contrast in both the Nb 3d and As 3d core level spectra. Surface-sensitive XPS spectra indicate that the entire surface of the sample contains both surface states of Nb 3d and As 3d, in form of oxides, and bulk states of NbAs. Estimated atomic percentage values nNb/nAs suggest that the surface is Nb-rich and asymmetric for white and black areas.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Observation of Open-Orbit Fermi Surface Topology in Extremely Large Magnetoresistance Semimetal MoAs$_2$

While recent advances in band theory and sample growth have expanded the series of extremely large magnetoresistance (XMR) semimetals in transition metal dipnictides $TmPn_2$ ($Tm$ = Ta, Nb; $Pn$ = P, As, Sb), the experimental study on their electronic structure and the origin of XMR is still absent. Here, using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy combined with first-principles calculations and magnetotransport measurements, we performed a comprehensive investigation on MoAs$_2$, which is isostructural to the $TmPn_2$ family and also exhibits quadratic XMR. We resolve a clear band structure well agreeing with the predictions. Intriguingly, the unambiguously observed Fermi surfaces (FSs) are dominated by an open-orbit topology extending along both the [100] and [001] directions in the three-dimensional Brillouin zone. We further reveal the trivial topological nature of MoAs$_2$ by bulk parity analysis. Based on these results, we examine the proposed XMR mechanisms in other semimetals, and conclusively ascribe the origin of quadratic XMR in MoAs$_2$ to the carriers motion on the FSs with dominant open-orbit topology, innovating in the understanding of quadratic XMR in semimetals.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Three-component fermions with surface Fermi arcs in topological semimetal tungsten carbide

Topological Dirac and Weyl semimetals not only host quasiparticles analogous to the elementary fermionic particles in high-energy physics, but also have nontrivial band topology manifested by exotic Fermi arcs on the surface. Recent advances suggest new types of topological semimetals, in which spatial symmetries protect gapless electronic excitations without high-energy analogy. Here we observe triply-degenerate nodal points (TPs) near the Fermi level of WC, in which the low-energy quasiparticles are described as three-component fermions distinct from Dirac and Weyl fermions. We further observe the surface states whose constant energy contours are pairs of Fermi arcs connecting the surface projection of the TPs, proving the nontrivial topology of the newly identified semimetal state.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Topologically entangled Rashba-split Shockley states on the surface of grey arsenic

We discover a pair of spin-polarized surface bands on the (111) face of grey arsenic by using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). In the occupied side, the pair resembles typical nearly-free-electron Shockley states observed on noble-metal surfaces. However, pump-probe ARPES reveals that the spin-polarized pair traverses the bulk band gap and that the crossing of the pair at $\barΓ$ is topologically unavoidable. First-principles calculations well reproduce the bands and their non-trivial topology; the calculations also support that the surface states are of Shockley type because they arise from a band inversion caused by crystal field. The results provide compelling evidence that topological Shockley states are realized on As(111).

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Comparative Raman study of Weyl semimetals TaAs, NbAs, TaP and NbP

We report a comparative polarized Raman study of Weyl semimetals TaAs, NbAs, TaP and NbP. The evolution of the phonon frequencies with the sample composition allows us to determine experimentally which atoms are mainly involved for each vibration mode. Our results confirm previous first-principles calculations indicating that the A$_1$, B$_1(2)$, E$(2)$ and E$(3)$ modes involve mainly the As(P) atoms, the B$_1(1)$ mode is mainly related to Ta(Nb) atoms, and the E$(1)$ mode involves both kinds of atoms. By comparing the energy of the different modes, we establish that the B$_1(1)$, B$_1(2)$, E$(2)$ and E$(3)$ become harder with chemical pressure increasing. This behavior differs from our observation on the A$_1$ mode, which decreases in energy, in contrast to its behavior under external pressure.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Role of Arsenic in Iron-based Superconductivity at Atomic Scale

In iron-based superconductors, a unique tri-layer Fe-As (Se, Te, P) plays an essential role in controlling the electronic properties, especially the Cooper pairing interaction. Here we use scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/S) to investigate the role of arsenic atom in superconducting Ba0.4K0.6Fe2As2 by directly breaking and restoring the Fe-As structure at atomic scale. After the up-As-layer peeled away, the tunneling spectrum of the exposed iron surface reveals a shallow incoherent gap, indicating a severe suppression of superconductivity without arsenic covering. When a pair of arsenic atoms is placed on such iron surface, a localized topographic feature is formed due to Fe-As orbital hybridization, and the superconducting coherent peaks recover locally with the gap magnitude the same as that on the iron-layer fully covered by arsenic. These observations unravel the Fe-As interactions on an atomic scale and imply its essential roles in the iron-based superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2016

Experimental evidence of large-gap two-dimensional topological insulator on the surface of ZrTe5

Two-dimensional (2D) topological insulators (TIs) with a large bulk band-gap are promising for experimental studies of the quantum spin Hall effect and for spintronic device applications. Despite considerable theoretical efforts in predicting large-gap 2D TI candidates, only few of them have been experimentally verified. Here, by combining scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we reveal that the top monolayer of ZrTe5 crystals hosts a large band gap of ~100 meV on the surface and a finite constant density-of-states within the gap at the step edge. Our first-principles calculations confirm the topologically nontrivial nature of the edge states. These results demonstrate that the top monolayer of ZrTe5 crystals is a large-gap 2D TI suitable for topotronic applications at high temperature.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Raman study of lattice dynamics in Weyl semimetal TaAs

We report a polarized Raman study of Weyl semimetal TaAs. We observe all the optical phonons, with energies and symmetries consistent with our first-principles calculations. We detect additional excitations assigned to multiple-phonon excitations. These excitations are accompanied by broad peaks separated by 140~cm$^{-1}$ that are also most likely associated with multiple-phonon excitations. We also noticed a sizable B$_1$ component for the spectral background, for which the origin remains unclear.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Observation of well-defined quasi-particle over a wide energy range in quasi-2D system

We report the observation by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements of a highly anisotropic Dirac-cone structure in high quality SrMnBi2 crystals. We reveal a well-defined sharp quasi-particle, linearly dispersive with $v_{F_1}/v_{F_2}\sim$ 5--6, forming a hole-like anisotropic Dirac-cone. The density of states for the cone remains linear up to as high as ~650 meV of binding energy. The scattering rate of the quasi-particle (QP) increases linearly as function of binding energy, indicating a non-Fermi-Liquid behavior. Our results suggest the existence of a dilute two-dimensional electron gas system in this three-dimensional material.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy observation of anomalous electronic states in EuFe$_2$As$_{2-x}$P$_x$

We used angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to investigate the electronic structure of EuFe$_2$As$_2$, EuFe$_2$As$_{1.4}$P$_{0.6}$ and EuFe$_2$P$_2$. We observed doubled core level peaks associated to the pnictide atoms, which are related to a surface state. Nevertheless, strong electronic dispersion along the $c$ axis, especially pronounced in EuFe$_2$P$_2$, is observed for at less one band, thus indicated that the Fe states, albeit probably affected at the surface, do not form pure two-dimensional surface states. However, this latter material shows reduced spectral weight near the Fermi level as compared to EuFe$_2$As$_2$ and EuFe$_2$As$_{1.4}$P$_{0.6}$. An anomalous jump is also found in the electronic states associated with the Eu$^{2+}$ $f$ states in EuFe$_2$P$_2$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2013

Possible nodal superconducting gap emerging at the Lifshitz transition in heavily hole-doped Ba0.1K0.9Fe2As2

We performed a high energy resolution ARPES investigation of over-doped Ba0.1K0.9Fe2As2 with T_c= 9 K. The Fermi surface topology of this material is similar to that of KFe2As2 and differs from that of slightly less doped Ba0.3K0.7Fe2As2, implying that a Lifshitz transition occurred between x=0.7 and x=0.9. Albeit for a vertical node found at the tip of the emerging off-M-centered Fermi surface pocket lobes, the superconducting gap structure is similar to that of Ba0.3K0.7Fe2As2, suggesting that the paring interaction is not driven by the Fermi surface topology.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2012

Three-dimensionality and orbital characters of Fermi surface in (Tl,Rb)$_y$Fe$_{2-x}$Se$_2$

We report a comprehensive angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study of the tridimensional electronic bands in the recently discovered Fe selenide superconductor (Tl,Rb)$_y$Fe$_{2-x}$Se$_2$ ($T_c=32$ K). We determined the orbital characters and the $k_z$ dependence of the low energy electronic structure by tuning the polarization and the energy of the incident photons. We observed a small 3D electron Fermi surface pocket near the Brillouin zone center and a 2D like electron Fermi surface pocket near the zone boundary. The photon energy dependence, the polarization analysis and the local-density approximation calculations suggest a significant contribution from the Se 4$p_z$ and Fe 3$d_{xy}$ orbitals to the small electron pocket. We argue that the emergence of Se 4$p_z$ states might be the cause of the different magnetic properties between Fe chalcogenides and Fe pnictides.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2011

Unconventional superconducting gap in NaFe$_{0.95}$Co$_{0.05}$As observed by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

We have performed high resolution angle-resolved photoemission measurements on superconducting electron-doped NaFe$_{0.95}$Co$_{0.05}$As ($T_{c}\sim$18 K). We observed a hole-like Fermi surface around the zone center and two electron-like Fermi surfaces around the M point which can be connected by the $Q=(π, π)$ wavevector, suggesting that scattering over the near-nested Fermi surfaces is important to the superconductivity of this "111" pnicitide. Nearly isotropic superconducting gaps with sharp coherent peaks are observed below $T_c$ on all three Fermi surfaces. Upon increasing temperature through $T_c$, the gap size shows little change while the coherence vanishes. Large ratios of $2Δ/k_{B}T_{c}\sim8$ are observed for all the bands, indicating a strong coupling in this system. These results are not expected from a classical phonon-mediated pairing mechanism.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2011

Fermi surface dichotomy of the superconducting gap and pseudogap in underdoped pnictides

High-temperature superconductivity in iron-arsenic materials (pnictides) near an antiferromagnetic phase raises the possibility of spin-fluctuation-mediated pairing. However, the interplay between antiferromagnetic fluctuations and superconductivity remains unclear in the underdoped regime, which is closer to the antiferromagnetic phase. Here we report that the superconducting gap of the underdoped pnictides scales linearly with the transition temperature, and that a distinct pseudogap coexisting with the SC gap develops on underdoping. This pseudogap occurs on Fermi surface sheets connected by the antiferromagnetic wavevector, where the superconducting pairing is stronger as well, suggesting that antiferromagnetic fluctuations drive both the pseudogap and superconductivity. Interestingly, we found that the pseudogap and the spectral lineshape vary with the Fermi surface quasi-nesting conditions in a fashion that shares similarities with the nodal-antinodal dichotomous behaviour observed in underdoped copper oxide superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2011

Observation of a ubiquitous three-dimensional superconducting gap function in optimally-doped Ba$_{0.6}$K$_{0.4}$Fe$_2$As$_2$

The iron-pnictide superconductors have a layered structureformed by stacks of FeAs planes from which the superconductivity originates. Given the multiband and quasi three-dimensional \cite{3D_SC} (3D) electronic structure of these high-temperature superconductors, knowledge of the quasi-3D superconducting (SC) gap is essential for understanding the superconducting mechanism. By using the \KZ-capability of angle-resolved photoemission, we completely determined the SC gap on all five Fermi surfaces (FSs) in three dimensions on \BKFAOP samples. We found a marked \KZ dispersion of the SC gap, which can derive only from interlayer pairing. Remarkably, the SC energy gaps can be described by a single 3D gap function with two energy scales characterizing the strengths of intralayer $Δ_1$ and interlayer $Δ_2$ pairing. The anisotropy ratio $Δ_2/Δ_1$, determined from the gap function, is close to the c-axis anisotropy ratio of the magnetic exchange coupling $J_c/J_{ab}$ in the parent compound \cite{NeutronParent}. The ubiquitous gap function for all the 3D FSs reveals that pairing is short-ranged and strongly constrain the possible pairing force in the pnictides. A suitable candidate could arise from short-range antiferromagnetic fluctuations.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2010

Electron-Hole Asymmetry in Superconductivity of Pnictides Originated from the Observed Rigid Chemical Potential Shift

We have performed a systematic photoemission study of the chemical potential shift as a function of carrier doping in a pnictide system based on BaFe$_2$As$_2$. The experimentally determined chemical potential shift is consistent with the prediction of a rigid band shift picture by the renormalized first-principle band calculations. This leads to an electron-hole asymmetry (EHA) in the Fermi surface (FS) nesting condition due to different effective masses for different FS sheets, which can be calculated from the Lindhard function of susceptibility. This built-in EHA from the band structure, which matches well with observed asymmetric superconducting domes in the phase diagram, strongly supports FS near-nesting driven superconductivity in the iron pnictides.

cond-mat.supr-con↗