arXiv subjects

K. Sugawara

Publications and source records attributed to K. Sugawara.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Antiferromagnetic topological insulator with selectively gapped Dirac cones

Antiferromagnetic (AF) topological materials offer a fertile ground to explore a variety of quantum phenomena such as axion magnetoelectric dynamics and chiral Majorana fermions. To realize such intriguing states, it is essential to establish a direct link between electronic states and topology in the AF phase, whereas this has been challenging because of the lack of a suitable materials platform. Here we report the experimental realization of the AF topological-insulator phase in NdBi. By using micro-focused angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we discovered contrasting surface electronic states for two types of AF domains; the surface having the out-of-plane component in the AF-ordering vector displays Dirac-cone states with a gigantic energy gap, whereas the surface parallel to the AF-ordering vector hosts gapless Dirac states despite the time-reversal-symmetry breaking. The present results establish an essential role of combined symmetry to protect massless Dirac fermions under the presence of AF order and widen opportunities to realize exotic phenomena utilizing AF topological materials.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

180$^\circ$-twisted bilayer ReSe$_2$ as an artificial noncentrosymmetric semiconductor

We have fabricated a 180$^\circ$-twisted bilayer ReSe$_2$ by stacking two centrosymmetric monolayer ReSe$_2$ flakes in opposite directions, which is expected to lose spatial inversion symmetry. By the second harmonic generation and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we successfully observed spatial inversion symmetry breaking and emergent band dispersions. The band calculation shows the finite lifting of spin degeneracy (~50 meV) distinct from natural monolayer and bilayer ReSe$_2$. Our results demonstrate that the spin-momentum locked state, which leads to spintronic functions and Berry-curvature-related phenomena, can be realized even with the stacking of centrosymmetric monolayers.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Rhombic Fermi surfaces in a ferromagnetic MnGa thin film with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

Mn$_{1-x}$Ga$_x$ (MnGa) with the $L1_0$ structure is a ferromagnetic material with strong perpendicular magneto-crystalline anisotropy. Although MnGa thin films have been successfully grown epitaxially and studied for various spintronics devices, fundamental understandings of its electronic structure are still lacking. To address this issue, we have investigated $L1_0$-MnGa thin films using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). We have observed a large Fermi surface with a rhombic shape in the $k_x$-$k_y$ plane overlapping neighboring Fermi surfaces. The $k_z$ dependence of the band structure suggests that the band dispersion observed by ARPES comes from the three-dimensional band structure of MnGa folded by a $\sqrt{2} \times \sqrt{2}$ reconstruction. The band dispersion across the corner of the rhombic Fermi surface forms an electron pocket with a weak $k_z$ dependence. The effective mass and the mobility of the bands crossing the Fermi level near the corner are estimated from the ARPES images. Based on the experimental findings, the relationship between the observed band structure and the spin-dependent properties in MnGa-based heterostructures is discussed.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Electronic states of multilayer VTe2: quasi-one-dimensional Fermi surface and implications to charge-density waves

We have performed angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy on epitaxial VTe2 films to elucidate the relationship between the fermiology and charge-density waves (CDW). We found that a two-dimensional triangular pocket in 1 monolayer (ML) VTe2 is converted to a strongly warped quasi-one-dimensional (1D) Fermi surface in the 6ML counterpart, likely associated with the 1T-to-1T' structural phase transition. We also revealed a metallic Fermi edge on the entire Fermi surface in 6ML at low temperature distinct from anisotropic pseudogap in 1ML, signifying a contrast behavior of CDW that is also supported by first-principles band-structure caluculations. The present result points to the importance of simultaneously controlling the structural phase and fermiology to manipulate the CDW properties in ultrathin transition-metal dichalcogenides.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Conversion of a conventional superconductor into a topological superconductor by topological proximity effect

Realization of topological superconductors (TSCs) hosting Majorana fermions is a central challenge in condensed-matter physics. One approach is to use the superconducting proximity effect (SPE) in heterostructures, where a topological insulator contacted with a superconductor hosts an effective p-wave pairing by the penetration of Cooper pairs across the interface. However, this approach suffers a difficulty in accessing the topological interface buried deep beneath the surface. Here, we propose an alternative approach to realize topological superconductivity without SPE. In a Pb(111) thin film grown on TlBiSe2, we discover that the Dirac-cone state of substrate TlBiSe2 migrates to the top surface of Pb film and obtains an energy gap below the superconducting transition temperature of Pb. This suggests that a BCS superconductor is converted into a TSC by the topological proximity effect. Our discovery opens a route to manipulate topological superconducting properties of materials.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2019

Anomalous Hall effect at the spontaneously electron-doped polar surface of PdCoO2 ultrathin films

We revealed the electrical transport through surface ferromagnetic states of a nonmagnetic metal PdCoO2. Electronic reconstruction at the Pd-terminated surface of PdCoO2 induces Stoner-like ferromagnetic states, which could lead to spin-related phenomena among the highly conducting electrons in PdCoO2. Fabricating a series of nanometer-thick PdCoO2 thin films, we detected a surface-magnetization-driven anomalous Hall effect via systematic thickness- and termination-dependent measurements. Besides, we discuss that finite magnetic moments in electron doped CoO2 triangular lattices may have given rise to additional unconventional Hall resistance.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Dimensionality reduction and band quantization induced by potassium intercalation in 1$T$-HfTe$_2$

We have performed angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy on transition-metal dichalcogenide 1$T$-HfTe$_2$ to elucidate the evolution of electronic states upon potassium (K) deposition. In pristine HfTe$_2$, an in-plane hole pocket and electron pockets are observed at the Brillouin-zone center and corner, respectively, indicating the semimetallic nature of bulk HfTe$_2$, with dispersion perpendicular to the plane. In contrast, the band structure of heavily K-dosed HfTe$_2$ is obviously different from that of bulk, and resembles the band structure calculated for monolayer HfTe$_2$. It was also observed that lightly K-dosed HfTe$_2$ is characterized by quantized bands originating from bilayer and trilayer HfTe$_2$, indicative of staging. The results suggest that the dimensionality-crossover from 3D (dimensional) to 2D electronic states due to systematic K intercalation takes place via staging in a single sample. The study provides a new strategy for controlling the dimensionality and functionality of novel quantum materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Effects of strain on the electronic structure, superconductivity, and nematicity in FeSe studied by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

One of central issues in iron-based superconductors is the role of structural change to the superconducting transition temperature (T_c). It was found in FeSe that the lattice strain leads to a drastic increase in T_c, accompanied by suppression of nematic order. By angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy on tensile- or compressive-strained and strain-free FeSe, we experimentally show that the in-plane strain causes a marked change in the energy overlap (DeltaE_{h-e}) between the hole and electron pockets in the normal state. The change in DeltaE_{h-e} modifies the Fermi-surface volume, leading to a change in T_c. Furthermore, the strength of nematicity is also found to be characterized by DeltaE_{h-e}. These results suggest that the key to understanding the phase diagram is the fermiology and interactions linked to the semimetallic band overlap.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2017

Band splitting and Weyl nodes in trigonal tellurium studied by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory

We have performed high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) on trigonal tellurium consisting of helical chains in the crystal. Through the band-structure mapping in the three-dimensional Brillouin zone, we found a definitive evidence for the band splitting originating from the chiral nature of crystal. A direct comparison of the band dispersion between the ARPES results and the first-principles band-structure calculations suggests the presence of Weyl nodes and tiny spin-polarized hole pockets around the H point. The present result opens a pathway toward studying the interplay among crystal symmetry, band structure, and exotic physical properties in chiral crystals.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Tunable two-dimensional electron gas at the surface of thermoelectric material In$_4$Se$_3$

We report the discovery of two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) at the surface of thermoelectric material In$_4$Se$_3$ by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. The observed 2DEG exhibits a nearly isotropic band dispersion with a considerably small effective mass of m* = 0.16 m_0, and its carrier density shows a significant temperature dependence, leading to unconventional metal-semiconductor transition at the surface. The observed wide-range thermal tunability of 2DEG in In$_4$Se$_3$ gives rise to additional degrees of freedom to better control the surface carriers of semiconductors.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Direct Observation of Superconductivity in Calcium-Intercalated Bilayer Graphene by in situ Electrical Transport Measurements

We report the superconductivity in Ca-intercalated bilayer graphene C$_6$CaC$_6$, the thinnest limit of Ca graphite intercalation compound. We performed \textit{in situ} electrical transport measurements on pristine bilayer graphene, C$_6$LiC$_6$ and C$_6$CaC$_6$ fabricated on SiC substrate under zero and non-zero magnetic field. While both bilayer graphene and C$_6$LiC$_6$ show non-superconducting behavior, C$_6$CaC$_6$ exhibits the superconductivity with transition temperature ($T_{\rm c}$) of 4.0 K. The observed $T_{\rm c}$ in C$_6$CaC$_6$ and the absence of superconductivity in C$_6$LiC$_6$ show a good agreement with the theoretical prediction, suggesting the importance of a free-electron-like metallic band at the Fermi level to drive the superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2015

Spin- and valley- coupled electronic states in monolayer WSe2 on bilayer graphene

We have fabricated a high-quality monolayer WSe2 film on bilayer graphene by epitaxial growth, and revealed the electronic states by spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We observed a direct energy gap at the Brillounin-zone corner in contrast to the indirect nature of gap in bulk WSe2, which is attributed to the lack of interlayer interaction and the breaking of space-inversion symmetry in monolayer film. A giant spin splitting of ~0.5 eV, which is the largest among known monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenides, is observed in the energy band around the zone corner. The present results suggest a high potential applicability of WSe2 to develop advanced devices based with the coupling of spin- and valley-degrees of freedom.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2008

Superconducting Gap and Pseudogap in Iron-Based Layered Superconductor La(O$_{1-x}$F$_x$)FeAs

We report high-resolution photoemission spectroscopy of newly-discovered iron-based layered superconductor La(O$_{0.93}$F$_{0.07}$)FeAs (Tc = 24 K). We found that the superconducting gap shows a marked deviation from the isotropic s-wave symmetry. The estimated gap size at 5 K is 3.6 meV in the s- or axial p-wave case, while it is 4.1 meV in the polar p- or d-wave case. We also found a pseudogap of 15-20 meV above Tc, which is gradually filled-in with increasing temperature and closes at temperature far above Tc similarly to copper-oxide high-temperature superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2007

Examining exotic structure of proton-rich nucleus $^{23}$Al

The longitudinal momentum distribution (P_{//}) of fragments after one-proton removal from ^{23} Al and reaction cross sections (σ_R) for ^{23,24} Al on carbon target at 74A MeV have been measured. The ^{23,24} Al ions were produced through projectile fragmentation of 135 A MeV ^{28} Si primary beam using RIPS fragment separator at RIKEN. P_{//} is measured by a direct time-of-flight (TOF) technique, while σ_R is determined using a transmission method. An enhancement in σ_R is observed for ^{23} Al compared with ^{24} Al. The P_{//} for ^{22} Mg fragments from ^{23} Al breakup has been obtained for the first time. FWHM of the distributions has been determined to be 232 \pm 28 MeV/c. The experimental data are discussed by using Few-Body Glauber model. Analysis of P_{//} demonstrates a dominant d-wave configuration for the valence proton in ground state of ^{23} Al, indicating that ^{23} Al is not a proton halo nucleus.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2006

Fermi Surface and Anisotropic Spin-Orbit Coupling of Sb(111) studied by Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy

High-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy has been performed on Sb(111) to elucidate the origin of anomalous electronic properties in group-V semimetal surfaces. The surface was found to be metallic despite the semimetallic character of bulk. We clearly observed two surface-derived Fermi surfaces which are likely spin split, demonstrating that the spin-orbit interaction plays a dominant role in characterising the surface electronic states of group-V semimetals. Universality/disimilarity of the electronic structure in Bi and Sb is discussed in relation to the granular superconductivity, electron-phonon coupling, and surface charge/spin density wave.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2004

Collective Dynamics of Active Elements: Task Allocation and Pheromone Trailing

Collective behavior of active elements inspired by mass of biological organisms is addressed. Especially, two topics are focused on among amazing behaviors performed by colony of ants. First, task allocation phenomena are treated from the viewpoint of proportion regulation of population between different states. Using a dynamical model consisting of elements and external ``stock materials'', adaptability against various disturbances is numerically studied. In addition, a dynamical model for a colony ants interacting via two kind of pheromones is studied, in which simulated ants, as a mass, are shown to make an efficient foraging flexibly varying the foraging tactics according to feeding schedules. Finally, experiments are performed with robots moving in virtual pheromone fields simulated by CG and CCD camera feedback system. Trail formation processes are demonstrated by this multi-robot system.

q-bio.PE↗