arXiv subjects

T. K. Kim

Publications and source records attributed to T. K. Kim.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Van Hove singularities, chemical pressure and phonons: an angle-resolved photoemission study of KFe$_2$As$_2$ and CsFe$_2$As$_2$

We report an angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) study of KFe$_2$As$_2$ and CsFe$_2$As$_2$, revealing the existence of a van Hove singularity affecting the electronic properties. As a result of chemical pressure, we find a stronger three-dimensionality in KFe$_2$As$_2$ than in CsFe$_2$As$_2$, notably for the 3$d_{z^2}$ states responsible for the small three-dimensional hole-like Fermi surface pocket reported by quantum oscillations. Supported by first-principles calculations, our ARPES study shows that the van Hove singularity previously reported in KFe$_2$As$_2$ moves closer to the Fermi level under negative chemical pressure. This observation, which suggests that the large density-of-states accompanying the van Hove singularity contributes to the large Sommerfeld coefficient reported for the AFe$_2$As$_2$ (A = K, Rb, Cs) series, is also consistent with the evolution of the inelastic scattering revealed by transport under external pressure, thus offering a possible interpretation for the origin of the apparent change in the superconducting order parameter under pressure. We find that the coherent spectral weight decreases exponentially upon increasing temperature with a characteristic temperature $T^*$. We speculate how the low-energy location of the van Hove singularity and the presence of a low-energy peak in the phonon density-of-states can relate to the high-temperature crossover observed in various electronic and thermodynamic quantities.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

Massive Dirac fermions in layered BaZnBi$_2$

Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and density functional theory (DFT) we study the electronic structure of layered BaZnBi$_2$. Our experimental results show no evidence of Dirac states in BaZnBi$_2$ originated either from the bulk or the surface. The calculated band structure without spin-orbit interaction shows several linear dispersive band crossing points throughout the Brillouin zone. However, as soon as the spin-orbit interaction is turned on, the band crossing points are significantly gapped out. The experimental observations are in good agreement with our DFT calculations. These observations suggest that the Dirac fermions in BaZnBi$_2$ are trivial and massive. We also observe experimentally that the electronic structure of BaZnBi$_2$ comprises of several linear dispersive bands in the vicinity of Fermi level dispersing to a wider range of binding energy.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Mass enhancements and band shifts in strongly hole overdoped Fe-based pnictide superconductors: KFe$_2$As$_2$ and CsFe$_2$As$_2$

The interplay of high and low-energy mass renormalizations with band-shifts reflected by the positions of van Hove singularities (VHS) in the normal state spectra of the highest hole-overdoped and strongly correlated AFe$_2$As$_2$ (A122) with A = K, Cs is discussed phenomenologically based on ARPES data and GGA band-structure calculations with full spin-orbit coupling. The big increase of the Sommerfeld coefficient $γ$ from K122 to Cs122 is ascribed to an enhanced coupling to low-energy bosons in the vicinity of a quantum critical point to an unknown, yet incommensurate phase different from the commensurate Mott one. We find no sizeable increase in correlations for Cs122 in contrast to F. Eilers et al., PRL v. 116, 237003 (2016) [3]. The empirical (ARPES) VHS positions as compared with GGA-predictions point even to slightly weaker correlations in Cs122 in accord with low-$T$ magnetic susceptibility $χ(T)$ data and a decreasing Wilson ratio $\propto χ(0)/γ$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Ubiquitous formation of bulk Dirac cones and topological surface states from a single orbital manifold in transition-metal dichalcogenides

Transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are renowned for their rich and varied properties. They range from metals and superconductors to strongly spin-orbit-coupled semiconductors and charge-density-wave systems, with their single-layer variants one of the most prominent current examples of two-dimensional materials beyond graphene. Their varied ground states largely depend on the transition metal d-electron-derived electronic states, on which the vast majority of attention has been concentrated to date. Here, we focus on the chalcogen-derived states. From density-functional theory calculations together with spin- and angle- resolved photoemission, we find that these generically host type-II three-dimensional bulk Dirac fermions as well as ladders of topological surface states and surface resonances. We demonstrate how these naturally arise within a single p-orbital manifold as a general consequence of a trigonal crystal field, and as such can be expected across a large number of compounds. Already, we demonstrate their existence in six separate TMDs, opening routes to tune, and ultimately exploit, their topological physics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Fermiology and Superconductivity of Topological Surface States in PdTe$_2$

We study the low-energy surface electronic structure of the transition-metal dichalcogenide superconductor PdTe$_2$ by spin- and angle-resolved photoemission, scanning tunneling microscopy, and density-functional theory-based supercell calculations. Comparing PdTe$_2$ with its sister compound PtSe$_2$, we demonstrate how enhanced inter-layer hopping in the Te-based material drives a band inversion within the anti-bonding p-orbital manifold well above the Fermi level. We show how this mediates spin-polarised topological surface states which form rich multi-valley Fermi surfaces with complex spin textures. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy reveals type-II superconductivity at the surface, and moreover shows no evidence for an unconventional component of its superconducting order parameter, despite the presence of topological surface states.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

Unambiguous connection between the Fermi surface topology and the pseudogap in Bi$_{2}$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+d}$

We study the behavior of the pseudogap in overdoped Bi$_{2}$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+d}$ by electronic Raman scattering (ERS) and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) on the same single crystals. Using both techniques we find that, unlike the superconducting gap, the pseudogap related to the anti-bonding band vanishes above the critical doping p$_c$ = 0.22. Concomitantly, we show from ARPES measurements that the Fermi surface of the anti-bonding band is hole-like below pc and becomes electron-like above p$_c$. This reveals that the appearance of the pseudogap depends on the Fermi surface topology in Bi$_{2}$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+d}$ , and more generally, puts strong constraint on theories of the pseudogap phase.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

3D superconducting gap in FeSe from ARPES

We present a systematic angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study of the superconducting gap in FeSe. The gap function is determined in a full Brillouin zone including all Fermi surfaces and kz-dependence. We find significant anisotropy of the superconducting gap in all momentum directions. While the in-plane anisotropy can be explained by both, nematicity-induced pairing anisotropy and orbital-selective pairing, the kz-anisotropy requires additional refinement of theoretical approaches.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2018

Discovery of switchable weak topological insulator state in quasi-one-dimensional bismuth iodide

The major breakthroughs in the understanding of topological materials over the past decade were all triggered by the discovery of the Z$_2$ topological insulator (TI). In three dimensions (3D), the TI is classified as either "strong" or "weak", and experimental confirmations of the strong topological insulator (STI) rapidly followed the theoretical predictions. In contrast, the weak topological insulator has so far eluded experimental verification, since the topological surface states emerge only on particular side surfaces which are typically undetectable in real 3D crystals. Here we provide experimental evidence for the WTI state in a bismuth iodide, $β$-Bi4I4. Significantly, the crystal has naturally cleavable top and side planes both stacked via van-der-Waals forces, which have long been desirable for the experimental realization of the WTI state. As a definitive signature of it, we find quasi-1D Dirac TSS at the side-surface (100) while the top-surface (001) is topologically dark. Furthermore, a crystal transition from the $β$- to $α$-phase drives a topological phase transition from a nontrivial WTI to the trivial insulator around room temperature. This topological phase, viewed as quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulators stacked three-dimensionally, and excellent functionality with on/off switching will lay a foundation for new technology benefiting from highly directional spin-currents with large density protected against backscattering.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Spectroscopic evidence of topological phase transition in 3D Dirac semimetal Cd$_3$(As$_{1-x}$P$_x$)$_2$

We study the low-energy electronic structure of three-dimensional Dirac semimetal, Cd$_3$(As$_{1-x}$P$_x$)$_2$ [$x$ = 0 and 0.34(3)], by employing the angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). We observe that the bulk Dirac states in Cd$_3$(As$_{0.66}$P$_{0.34}$)$_2$ are gapped out with an energy of 0.23 eV, contrary to the parent Cd$_3$As$_2$ in which the gapless Dirac states have been observed. Thus, our results confirm the earlier predicted topological phase transition in Cd$_3$As$_2$ with perturbation. We further notice that the critical P substitution concentration, at which the two Dirac points that are spread along the $c$-axis in Cd$_3$As$_2$ form a single Dirac point at $Γ$, is much lower [x$_c$(P)$<$ 0.34(3)] than the predicted value of x$_c$(P)=0.9. Therefore, our results suggest that the nontrivial band topology of Cd$_3$As$_2$ is remarkably sensitive to the P substitution and can only survive over a narrow substitution range, i.e., 0 $\leq$ x (P) $<$ 0.34(3).

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Electronic structure of the candidate 2D Dirac semimetal SrMnSb2: a combined experimental and theoretical study

SrMnSb$_2$ is suggested to be a magnetic topological semimetal. It contains square, 2D Sb planes with non-symmorphic crystal symmetries that could protect band crossings, offering the possibility of a quasi-2D, robust Dirac semi-metal in the form of a stable, bulk (3D) crystal. Here, we report a combined and comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigation of the electronic structure of SrMnSb$_2$, including the first ARPES data on this compound. SrMnSb$_2$ possesses a small Fermi surface originating from highly 2D, sharp and linearly dispersing bands (the Y-states) around the (0,$π$/a)-point in $k$-space. The ARPES Fermi surface agrees perfectly with that from bulk-sensitive Shubnikov de Haas data from the same crystals, proving the Y$-$states to be responsible for electrical conductivity in SrMnSb$_2$. DFT and tight binding (TB) methods are used to model the electronic states, and both show good agreement with the ARPES data. Despite the great promise of the latter, both theory approaches show the Y-states to be gapped above E$_F$, suggesting trivial topology. Subsequent analysis within both theory approaches shows the Berry phase to be zero, indicating the non-topological character of the transport in SrMnSb$_2$, a conclusion backed up by the analysis of the quantum oscillation data from our crystals.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Itinerant ferromagnetism of the Pd-terminated polar surface of PdCoO$_2$

We study the electronic structure of the Pd-terminated surface of the non-magnetic delafossite oxide metal PdCoO$_2$. Combining angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and density-functional theory, we show how an electronic reconstruction driven by surface polarity mediates a Stoner-like magnetic instability towards itinerant surface ferromagnetism. Our results reveal how this leads to a rich multi-band surface electronic structure, and provide spectroscopic evidence for an intriguing sample-dependent coupling of the surface electrons to a bosonic mode which we attribute to electron-magnon interactions. Moreover, we find similar surface state dispersions in PdCrO$_2$, suggesting surface ferromagnetism persists in this sister compound despite its bulk antiferromagnetic order.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Maximal Rashba-like spin splitting via kinetic energy-driven inversion symmetry breaking

Engineering and enhancing inversion symmetry breaking in solids is a major goal in condensed matter physics and materials science, as a route to advancing new physics and applications ranging from improved ferroelectrics for memory devices to materials hosting Majorana zero modes for quantum computing. Here, we uncover a new mechanism for realising a much larger energy scale of inversion symmetry breaking at surfaces and interfaces than is typically achieved. The key ingredient is a pronounced asymmetry of surface hopping energies, i.e. a kinetic energy-driven inversion symmetry breaking, whose energy scale is pinned at a significant fraction of the bandwidth. We show, from spin- and angle-resolved photoemission, how this enables surface states of 3d and 4d-based transition-metal oxides to surprisingly develop some of the largest Rashba-like spin splittings that are known. Our findings open new possibilities to produce spin textured states in oxides which exploit the full potential of the bare atomic spin-orbit coupling, raising exciting prospects for oxide spintronics. More generally, the core structural building blocks which enable this are common to numerous materials, providing the prospect of enhanced inversion symmetry breaking at judiciously-chosen surfaces of a plethora of compounds, and suggesting routes to interfacial control of inversion symmetry breaking in designer heterostructures.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Observation of Dirac surface states in the hexagonal PtBi2, a possible origin of the linear magnetoresistance

The nonmagnetic compounds showing extremely large magnetoresistance are attracting a great deal of research interests due to their potential applications in the field of spintronics. PtBi$_2$ is one of such interesting compounds showing large linear magnetoresistance (MR) in its both the hexagonal and pyrite crystal structure. We use angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to understand the mechanism of liner MR observed in the hexagonal PtBi$_2$. Our results uncover for the first time linear dispersive surface Dirac states at the $\barΓ$-point, crossing Fermi level with node at a binding energy of $\approx$ 900 meV, in addition to the previously reported Dirac states at the $\bar{M}$-point in the same compound. We further notice from our dichroic measurements that these surface states show an asymmetric spectral intensity when measured with left and right circularly polarized light, hinting at a substantial spin polarization of the bands. Following these observations, we suggest that the linear dispersive Dirac states at the $\barΓ$ and $\bar{M}$-points are likely to play a crucial role for the linear field dependent magnetoresistance recorded in this compound.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Experimental determination of the topological phase diagram in Cerium monopnictides

We use bulk-sensitive soft X-ray angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and investigate bulk electronic structures of Ce monopnictides (CeX; X=P, As, Sb and Bi). By exploiting a paradigmatic study of the band structures as a function of their spin-orbit coupling (SOC), we draw the topological phase diagram of CeX and unambiguously reveal the topological phase transition from a trivial to a nontrivial regime in going from CeP to CeBi induced by the band inversion. The underlying mechanism of the topological phase transition is elucidated in terms of SOC in concert with their semimetallic band structures. Our comprehensive observations provide a new insight into the band topology hidden in the bulk of solid states.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Suppression of electronic correlations by chemical pressure from FeSe to FeS

Iron-based chalcogenides are complex superconducting systems in which orbitally-dependent electronic correlations play an important role. Here, using high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we investigate the effect of these electronic correlations outside the nematic phase in the tetragonal phase of superconducting FeSe1-xSx (x = 0; 0:18; 1). With increasing sulfur substitution, the Fermi velocities increase significantly and the band renormalizations are suppressed towards a factor of 1.5-2 for FeS. Furthermore, the chemical pressure leads to an increase in the size of the quasi-two dimensional Fermi surface, compared with that of FeSe, however, it remains smaller than the predicted one from first principle calculations for FeS. Our results show that the isoelectronic substitution is an effective way to tune electronic correlations in FeSe1-xSx, being weakened for FeS with a lower superconducting transition temperature. This suggests indirectly that electronic correlations could help to promote higher-Tc superconductivity in FeSe.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2017

Is BaCr$_2$As$_2$ symmetrical to BaFe$_2$As$_2$ with respect to half $3d$ shell filling?

We have performed an angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study of BaCr$_2$As$_2$, which has the same crystal structure as BaFe$_2$As$_2$, a parent compound of Fe-based superconductors. We determine the Fermi surface of this material and its band dispersion over 5 eV of binding energy. Very moderate band renormalization (1.35) is observed for only two bands. We attribute this small renormalization to enhanced direct exchange as compared to Fe in BaFe$_2$As$_2$, and to a larger contribution of the $e_g$ orbitals in the composition of the bands forming the Fermi surface, leading to an effective valence count that is reduced by Fe $d$ - As $p$ hybridization.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2017

Narrow-band anisotropic electronic structure of ReS$_2$

We have used angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy to investigate the band structure of ReS$_2$, a transition-metal dichalcogenide semiconductor with a distorted 1T crystal structure. We find a large number of narrow valence bands, which we attribute to the combined influence of the structural distortion and spin-orbit coupling. We further image how this leads to a strong in-plane anisotropy of the electronic structure, with quasi-one-dimensional bands reflecting predominant hopping along zig-zag Re chains. We find that this does not persist up to the top of the valence band, where a more three-dimensional character is recovered with the fundamental band gap located away from the Brillouin zone centre along $k_z$. These experiments are in good agreement with our density-functional theory calculations, shedding new light on the bulk electronic structure of ReS$_2$, and how it can be expected to evolve when thinned to a single layer.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Strongly enhanced temperature dependence of the chemical potential in FeSe

Employing a 10-orbital tight binding model, we present a new set of hopping parameters fitted directly to our latest high resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) data for the high temperature tetragonal phase of FeSe. Using these parameters we predict a large 10 meV shift of the chemical potential as a function of temperature. In order to confirm this large temperature dependence, we performed ARPES experiments on FeSe and observed a $\sim$25 meV rigid shift to the chemical potential between 100 K and 300 K. This unexpectedly strong shift has important implications for theoretical models of superconductivity and of nematic order in FeSe materials.

cond-mat.supr-con↗