Spectroscopic evidence for a type II Weyl semimetallic state in MoTe2
In a type I Dirac or Weyl semimetal, the low-energy states are squeezed to a single point in momentum space when the chemical potential μ is tuned precisely to the Dirac/Weyl point. Recently, a type II Weyl semimetal was predicted to exist, where the Weyl states connect hole and electron bands, separated by an indirect gap. This leads to unusual energy states, where hole and electron pockets touch at the Weyl point. Here we present the discovery of a type II topological Weyl semimetal state in pure MoTe2, where two sets of Weyl points (W±2 , W±3) exist at the touching points of electron and hole pockets and are located at different binding energies above EF. Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, modelling, density functional theory and calculations of Berry curvature, we identify the Weyl points and demonstrate that they are connected by different sets of Fermi arcs for each of the two surface terminations. We also find new surface ‘track states’ that form closed loops and are unique to type II Weyl semimetals. Lastly, this material provides an exciting, new platform to study the properties of Weyl fermions.
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- Ames Lab. and Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
- The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States)
- Osaka Univ., Osaka (Japan)
- Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
- RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Saitama (Japan)
- RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Saitama (Japan); Tohoku Univ., Miyagi (Japan)
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Report Number(s):
- IS-J-9004
Journal ID: ISSN 1476-1122; nmat4685
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-07CH11358; DMR-1420451; NSF-DMR-1309461; 343227
- Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Nature Materials
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 15; Journal Issue: 11; Journal ID: ISSN 1476-1122
- Publisher:
- Nature Publishing Group
- Research Org:
- Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States); Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Ames Lab. and Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States); RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Wako (Japan); The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States)
- Sponsoring Org:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22); National Science Foundation (NSF); Simons Foundation (United States)
- Contributing Orgs:
- Osaka Univ. (Japan); Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); Tohoku Univ., Sendai (Japan)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; topological insulators
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1278751
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1338564
- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript (DOE)
- Publisher's Version of Record
- https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat4685