arXiv subjects

Madhab Neupane

Publications and source records attributed to Madhab Neupane.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Observation of multiple Dirac states in a magnetic topological material EuMg2Bi2

Initiated by the discovery of topological insulators, topologically non-trivial materials, more specifically topological semimetals and metals have emerged as new frontiers in the field of quantum materials. In this work, we perform a systematic measurement of EuMg2Bi2, a compound with antiferromagnetic transition temperature at 6.7 K, observed via electrical resistivity, magnetization and specific heat capacity measurements. By utilizing angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy in concurrence with first-principles calculations, we observe Dirac cones at the corner and the zone center of the Brillouin zone. From our experimental data, multiple Dirac states at G and K points are observed, where the Dirac nodes are located at different energy positions from the Fermi level. Our experimental investigations of detailed electronic structure as well as transport measurements of EuMg2Bi2 suggest that it could potentially provide a platform to study the interplay between topology and magnetism.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Extreme Ultraviolet Time- and Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy with 21.5 meV Resolution using High-Order Harmonic Generation from a Turn-Key Yb:KGW Amplifier

Characterizing and controlling electronic properties of quantum materials require direct measurements of non-equilibrium electronic band structures over large regions of momentum space. Here, we demonstrate an experimental apparatus for time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy using high-order harmonic probe pulses generated by a robust, moderately high power (20 W) Yb:KGW amplifier with tunable repetition rate between 50 and 150 kHz. By driving high-order harmonic generation (HHG) with the second harmonic of the fundamental 1025 nm laser pulses, we show that single-harmonic probe pulses at 21.8 eV photon energy can be effectively isolated without the use of a monochromator. The on-target photon flux can reach 5 x 10^10 photons/second at 50 kHz, and the time resolution is measured to be 320 fs. The relatively long pulse duration of the Yb-driven HHG source allows us to reach an excellent energy resolution of 21.5 meV, which is achieved by suppressing the space-charge broadening using a low photon flux of 1.5 x 10^8 photons/second at a higher repetition rate of 150 kHz. The capabilities of the setup are demonstrated through measurements in the topological semimetal ZrSiS and the topological insulator Sb2-xGdxTe3.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

Observation of topological surface state in a superconducting material

The discovery of topological insulator phase has ignited massive research interests in novel quantum materials. Topological insulators with superconductivity further invigorate the importance of materials providing the platform to study the interplay between these two unique states. However, the candidates of such materials are rare. Here, we report a systematic angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) study of a superconducting material CaBi2 [Tc = 2 K], corroborated by the first principles calculations. Our study reveals the presence of Dirac cones with a topological protection in this system. Systematic topological analysis based on symmetry indicator shows the presence of weak topological indices in this material. Furthermore, our transport measurements show the presence of large magnetoresistance in this compound. Our results indicate that CaBi2 could potentially provide a material platform to study the interplay between superconductivity and topology.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Topological crystalline insulator state with type-II Dirac fermions in transition metal dipnictides

The interplay between topology and crystalline symmetries in materials can lead to a variety of topological crystalline insulator (TCI) states. Despite significant effort towards their experimental realization, so far only Pb$_{1-x}$Sn$_x$Te has been confirmed as a mirror-symmetry protected TCI. Here, based on first-principles calculations combined with a symmetry analysis, we identify a rotational-symmetry protected TCI state in the transition-metal dipnictide RX$_2$ family, where R = Ta or Nb and X = P, As, or Sb. Taking TaAs$_2$ as an exemplar system, we show that its low-energy band structure consists of two types of bulk nodal lines in the absence of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) effects. Turning on the SOC opens a continuous bandgap in the energy spectrum and drives the system into a $C_2T$-symmetry-protected TCI state. On the (010) surface, we show the presence of rotational-symmetry-protected nontrivial Dirac cone states within a local bulk energy gap of $\sim$ 300 meV. Interestingly, the Dirac cones have tilted energy dispersion, realizing a type-II Dirac fermion state in a topological crystalline insulator. Our results thus indicate that the TaAs$_2$ materials family provides an ideal setting for exploring the unique physics associated with type-II Dirac fermions in rotational-symmetry-protected TCIs.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Temperature Dependent Electronic Structure in a Higher Order Topological Insulator Candidate EuIn$_2$As$_2$

The higher order topological insulator (HOTI) has enticed enormous research interests owing to its novelty in supporting gapless states along the hinges of the crystal. Despite several theoretical predictions, enough experimental confirmation of HOTI state in crystalline solids is still lacking. It has been well known that interplay between topology and magnetism can give rise to various magnetic topological states including HOTI and Axion insulator states. Here using the high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) combined with the first-principles calculations, we report a systematic study on the electronic band topology across the magnetic phase transition in EuIn2As2 which possesses an antiferromagnetic ground state below 16 K. Antiferromagnetic EuIn2As2 has been predicted to host both the Axion insulator and HOTI phase. Our experimental results show the clear signature of the evolution of the topological state across the magnetic transition. Our study thus especially suited to understand the interaction of higher order topology with magnetism in materials.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Dirac state switching in transition metal diarsenides

Topological Dirac and Weyl semimetals, which support low-energy quasiparticles in condensed matter physics, are currently attracting intense interest due to exotic physical properties such as large magnetoresistance and high carrier mobilities. Transition metal diarsenides such as MoAs2 and WAs2 have been reported to harbor very high magnetoresistance suggesting the possible existence of a topological quantum state, although this conclusion remains dubious. Here, based on systematic angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements and parallel first-principles calculations, we investigate the electronic properties of TAs2 (T = Mo, W). Importantly, clear evidence for switching the single-Dirac cone surface state in MoAs2 with the cleaving plane is observed, whereas a Dirac state is not observed in WAs2 despite its high magnetoresistance. Our study thus reveals the key role of the terminated plane in a low-symmetry system, and provides a new perspective on how termination can drive dramatic changes in electronic structures.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Termination Dependent Topological Surface States in Nodal Loop Semimetal HfP2

Symmetry plays a major role in all disciplines of physics. Within the field of topological materials there is a great interest in understanding how the mechanics of crystalline and internal symmetries protect crossings between the conduction and valence bands. Additionally, exploring this direction can lead to a deeper understanding on the topological properties of crystals hosting a variety of symmetries. For the first time, we report the experimental observation of topological surface states in the nodal loop semimetal HfP2 using angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) which is supported by our first principles calculations. Our study shows termination dependent surface states in this compound. Our experimental data reveal surface states linked to three unique nodal loops confirmed by theoretical calculation to be topologically non-trivial. This work demonstrates that transition metal dipnictides provide a good platform to study non-trivial topological states protected by nonsymmorphic symmetry.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Observation of topological nodal-loop state in RAs3 (R = Ca, Sr)

Topological nodal-line semimetals (NLSs) are unique materials, which harbor one-dimensional line nodes along with the so-called drumhead surface states arising from nearly dispersionless two dimensional surface bands. However, a direct observation of these drumhead surface states in the currently realized NLSs has remained elusive. Here, by using high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) along with parallel first principles calculations, we examine the topological characteristics of SrAs3 and CaAs3. SrAs3 is found to show the presence of a topological nodal-loop, while CaAs3 is found to lie near a topologically trivial phase. Our analysis reveals that the surface projections of the bulk nodal-points in SrAs3 are connected by drumhead surface states. Notably, the topological states in SrAs3 and CaAs3 are well separated from other irrelevant bands in the vicinity of the Fermi level. These compounds thus provide a hydrogen-like simple platform for developing an in-depth understanding of the quantum phase transitions of NLSs.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Observation of Dirac state in half-Heusler material YPtBi

The prediction of non-trivial topological electronic states hosted by half-Heusler compounds makes them prime candidates for discovering new physics and devices as they harbor a variety of electronic ground states including superconductivity, magnetism, and heavy fermion behavior. Here we report normal state electronic properties of a superconducting half-Heusler compound YPtBi using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). Our data reveal the presence of a Dirac state at the zone center of the Brillouin zone at 500 meV below the chemical potential. We observe the presence of multiple Fermi surface pockets including two concentric hexagonal and six half oval shaped pockets at the gamma and K points of the Brillouin zone, respectively. Furthermore, our measurements show Rashba-split bands and multiple surface states crossing the chemical potential which are supported by the first-principles calculations. Our finding of a Dirac state in YPtBi plays a significant role in establishing half-Heusler compounds as a new potential platform for novel topological phases and explore their connection with superconductivity.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Dirac State in a Centrosymmetric Superconductor alpha-PdBi2

Topological superconductor (TSC) hosting Majorana fermions has been established as a milestone that may shift our scientific trajectory from research to applications in topological quantum computing. Recently, superconducting Pd-Bi binaries have attracted great attention as a possible medium for the TSC phase as a result of their large spin-orbit coupling strength. Here, we report a systematic high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) study on the normal state electronic structure of superconducting alpha-PdBi2 (Tc = 1.7 K). Our results show the presence of Dirac states at higher-binding energy with the location of the Dirac point at 1.26 eV below the chemical potential at the zone center. Furthermore, the ARPES data indicate multiple band crossings at the chemical potential, consistent with the metallic behavior of alpha-PdBi2. Our detailed experimental studies are complemented by first-principles calculations, which reveal the presence of surface Rashba states residing in the vicinity of the chemical potential. The obtained results provide an opportunity to investigate the relationship between superconductivity and topology, as well as explore pathways to possible future platforms for topological quantum computing.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Observation of Gapless Dirac Surface States in ZrGeTe

The experimental discovery of the topological Dirac semimetal establishes a platform to search for various exotic quantum phases in real materials. ZrSiS-type materials have recently emerged as topological nodal-line semimetals where gapped Dirac-like surface states are observed. Here, we present a systematic angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) study of ZrGeTe, a nonsymmorphic symmetry protected Dirac semimetal. We observe two Dirac-like gapless surface states at the same $\bar X$ point of the Brillouin zone. Our theoretical analysis and first-principles calculations reveal that these are protected by crystalline symmetry. Hence, ZrGeTe appears as a rare example of a naturally fine tuned system where the interplay between symmorphic and non-symmorphic symmetry leads to rich phenomenology, and thus opens for opportunities to investigate the physics of Dirac semimetallic and topological insulating phases realized in a single material.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Distinct multiple fermionic states in a single topological metal

Among the quantum materials that gained interest recently are the topological Dirac/Weyl semimetals, where conduction and valence bands touch at points in reciprocal (k)-space, and the Dirac nodal-line semimetals, where these bands touch along a line or a loop in k-space. However, the coexistence of multiple fermion phases in one and the same material has not been verified yet. Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and first-principles electronic structure calculations, we systematically study the metallic topological quantum material, Hf2Te2P. Our investigations discover various properties that are rare and never observed in a single Dirac material. We observe the coexistence of both weak and strong topological surface states in the same material and interestingly, at the same momentum position. An one-dimensional Dirac crossing{the Dirac-node arc-along a high-symmetry direction is revealed by our first-principles calculations and confirmed by our ARPES measurements. This novel state is associated with the surface bands of a weak topological insulator protected by in-plane time-reversal invariance. Ternary compound Hf2Te2P thus emerges as an intriguing platform to study the coexistence and competition of multi-fermionic states in one material.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Observation of Effective Pseudospin Scattering in ZrSiS

3D Dirac semimetals are an emerging class of materials that possess topological electronic states with a Dirac dispersion in their bulk. In nodal-line Dirac semimetals, the conductance and valence bands connect along a closed path in momentum space, leading to the prediction of pseudospin vortex rings and pseudospin skyrmions. Here, we use Fourier transform scanning tunneling spectroscopy (FT-STS) at 4.5 K to resolve quasiparticle interference (QPI) patterns at single defect centers on the surface of the line nodal semimetal zirconium silicon sulfide (ZrSiS). Our QPI measurements show pseudospin conservation at energies close to the line node. In addition, we determine the Fermi velocity to be $\hbar v_F = 2.65 \pm 0.10$ eV Å in the Γ-M direction ~300 meV above the Fermi energy $E_F$, and the line node to be ~140 meV above $E_F$. More importantly, we find that certain scatterers can introduce energy-dependent non-preservation of pseudospins, giving rise to effective scattering between states with opposite valley pseudospin deep inside valence and conduction bands. Further investigations of quasiparticle interference at the atomic level will aid defect engineering at the synthesis level, needed for the development of lower-power electronics via dissipationless electronic transport in the future.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Low-Energy Surface States in the Normal State of $α$-PdBi2 Superconductor

Topological superconductors as characterized by Majorana surface states has been actively searched for their significance in fundamental science and technological implication. The large spin-orbit coupling in Bi-Pd binaries has stimulated extensive investigations on the topological surface states in these superconducting compounds. Here we report a study of normal-state electronic structure in a centrosymmetric $α$-PdBi2 within density functional theory calculations. By investigating the electronic structure from the bulk to slab geometries in this system, we predict for the first time that $α$-PdBi2 can host orbital-dependent and asymmetric Rashba surface states near the Fermi energy. This study suggests that $α$-PdBi2 will be a good candidate to explore the relationship between superconductivity and topology in condensed matter physics.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2017

Observation of topological nodal-line fermionic phase in GdSbTe

Topological Dirac semimetals with accidental band touching between conduction and valence bands protected by time reversal and inversion symmetry are at the frontier of modern condensed matter research. Theoretically one can get Weyl and/or nodal-line semimetals by breaking either one of them. Most of the discovered topological semimetals are nonmagnetic i.e respect time reversal symmetry. Here we report the experimental observation of a topological nodal-line semi metallic state in GdSbTe using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Our systematic study reveals the detailed electronic structure of the paramagnetic state of GdSbTe. We observe the presence of multiple Fermi surface pockets including a diamond-shape, an elliptical shape, and small circular pockets around the zone center and high symmetry M and X points of the Brillouin zone (BZ), respectively. Furthermore, we observe the presence of a Dirac-like state at the X point of the BZ. Interestingly, our experimental data shows a robust Dirac like state both below and above the magnetic transition temperature (T_N ~ 13 K). Having relatively higher transition temperature, GdSbTe provides an archetype platform to study the interaction between magnetism and topological states of matter.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

A novel artificial condensed matter lattice and a new platform for one-dimensional topological phases

Engineered lattices in condensed matter physics, such as cold atom optical lattices or photonic crystals, can have fundamentally different properties from naturally-occurring electronic crystals. Here, we report a novel type of artificial quantum matter lattice. Our lattice is a multilayer heterostructure built from alternating thin films of topological and trivial insulators. Each interface within the heterostructure hosts a set of topologically-protected interface states, and by making the layers sufficiently thin, we demonstrate for the first time a hybridization of interface states across layers. In this way, our heterostructure forms an emergent atomic chain, where the interfaces act as lattice sites and the interface states act as atomic orbitals, as seen from our measurements by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). By changing the composition of the heterostructure, we can directly control hopping between lattice sites. We realize a topological and a trivial phase in our superlattice band structure. We argue that the superlattice may be characterized in a significant way by a one-dimensional topological invariant, closely related to the invariant of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model. Our topological insulator heterostructure demonstrates a novel experimental platform where we can engineer band structures by directly controlling how electrons hop between lattice sites.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Tunability of the topological nodal-line semimetal phase in ZrSiX-type materials

The discovery of a topological nodal-line (TNL) semimetal phase in ZrSiS has invigorated the study of other members of this family. Here, we present a comparative electronic structure study of ZrSiX (where X = S, Se, Te) using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and first-principles calculations. Our ARPES studies show that the overall electronic structure of ZrSiX materials comprises of the diamond-shaped Fermi pocket, the nearly elliptical-shaped Fermi pocket, and a small electron pocket encircling the zone center ($Γ$) point, the M point, and the X point of the Brillouin zone, respectively. We also observe a small Fermi surface pocket along the M-$Γ$-M direction in ZrSiTe, which is absent in both ZrSiS and ZrSiSe. Furthermore, our theoretical studies show a transition from nodal-line to nodeless gapped phase by tuning the chalcogenide from S to Te in these material systems. Our findings provide direct evidence for the tunability of the TNL phase in ZrSiX material systems by adjusting the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) strength via the X anion.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Discovery of a new type of topological Weyl fermion semimetal state in Mo$_x$W$_{1-x}$Te$_2$

The recent discovery of a Weyl semimetal in TaAs offers the first Weyl fermion observed in nature and dramatically broadens the classification of topological phases. However, in TaAs it has proven challenging to study the rich transport phenomena arising from emergent Weyl fermions. The series Mo$_x$W$_{1-x}$Te$_2$ are inversion-breaking, layered, tunable semimetals already under study as a promising platform for new electronics and recently proposed to host Type II, or strongly Lorentz-violating, Weyl fermions. Here we report the discovery of a Weyl semimetal in Mo$_x$W$_{1-x}$Te$_2$ at $x = 25\%$. We use pump-probe angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (pump-probe ARPES) to directly observe a topological Fermi arc above the Fermi level, demonstrating a Weyl semimetal. The excellent agreement with calculation suggests that Mo$_x$W$_{1-x}$Te$_2$ is the first Type II Weyl semimetal. We also find that certain Weyl points are at the Fermi level, making Mo$_x$W$_{1-x}$Te$_2$ a promising platform for transport and optics experiments on Weyl semimetals.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗