Hysteretic melting transition of a soliton lattice in IrTe$_2$

ORAL

Abstract

We report on the observation of the hysteretic transition of a commensurate charge modulation in IrTe$_2$ from transport and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) studies. Below the transition ($T_{\rm C} \approx 275$ K on cooling) a $q = 1/5$ charge modulation was observed, which is consistent with previous studies [1,2]. Additional modulations [$q_n = (3n+2)^{-1}$] appear below a second transition at $T_{\rm S}\approx 180$ K on cooling. The coexistence of various modulations persist up to $T_{\rm C}$ on warming. The atomic structures of charge modulations and the temperature dependent STM studies suggest that 1/5 modulation is a periodic soliton lattice which partially melts below $T_{\rm S}$ on cooling. Our results provide compelling evidence that the ground state of IrTe$_2$ is a commensurate 1/6 charge modulation, which originates from periodic dimerization of Te atoms visualized by atomically resolved STM images [3]. [1] Yang, {\it et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 116402 (2012). [2] Oh, {\it et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 127209 (2013). [3] Hsu, {\it et al.}, arXiv:1311.3015, (2013).

*NSF DMR-0844807

–

Authors

  • Weida Wu

    • Rutgers, State University of New Jersey
    • Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University

  • Pin-Jui Hsu

    • Physikalisches Institut, University of Wuerzburg, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany

  • Tobias Mauerer

    • Physikalisches Institut, University of Wuerzburg, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany

  • Matthias Vogt

    • Physikalisches Institut, University of Wuerzburg, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany

  • Matthias Bode

    • Physikalisches Institut, University of Wuerzburg, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany

  • J.J. Yang

    • Laboratory for Pohang Emergent Materials and Department of Physics, POSTECH, Pohang 790-784, Republic of Korea

  • Yoon Seok Oh

    • Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University
    • Department of Physics, Rutgers University
    • Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
    • Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, 136 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway 08854, NJ, USA
    • Dept. of Phys. \& Astro., Rutgers

  • S.-W. Cheong

    • Rutgers University
    • Department of Physics, Rutgers University
    • Rutgers University, NJ, USA
    • Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
    • Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers U., NJ, USA
    • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University
    • Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials and Department of Physics and Astronomy, 136 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway 08854, NJ, USA