Correlating the crystal structure and electronic ground state of type-II Weyl semimetal MoTe<sub>2</sub>: Transport measurements

ORAL

Abstract

The reported pressure dependent superconductivity of the type-II Weyl semimetal MoTe2 has led to speculation about the possibility of a topologically non-trivial superconducting state in this material. A key question about the topology of this superconducting state is the evolution of the crystal structure of MoTe2 at pressures and temperatures relevant for superconductivity, as the non-centrosymmetric Td orthorhombic phase is needed for the Weyl state. Semimetallic MoTe2 has two metastable polymorphs, with a first order structural transition between the centrosymmetric monoclinic 1T’ and the orthorhombic Td structure near 270 K. This structural transition has a demonstrated pressure dependence, with a suppression of the Td phase at increased pressures. We have grown single crystals of MoTe2, and using a combination of elastic neutron scattering, magnetotransport, and spectroscopic techniques we have investigated the nature of this transition. We report pressure and temperature dependent transport measurements which elucidate the nature of this phase transition at temperature and pressures relevant for the previously reported superconductivity.

–

Presenters

  • I-Lin Liu

    • Univ of Maryland-College Park
    • Department of Physics, University of Maryland
    • University of Maryland, College Park

Authors

  • I-Lin Liu

    • Univ of Maryland-College Park
    • Department of Physics, University of Maryland
    • University of Maryland, College Park

  • Colin Heikes

    • NIST- Natl Inst of Stds & Tech
    • NIST -Natl Inst of Stds & Tech

  • Taner Yildirim

    • NIST Center for Neutron Research, Natl Inst of Stds & Tech
    • NIST- Natl Inst of Stds & Tech
    • Center for Neutron Research, NIST -Natl Inst of Stds & Tech

  • Tristin Metz

    • Univ of Maryland-College Park
    • Department of Physics, University of Maryland
    • Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, University of Maryland

  • Johnpierre Paglione

    • Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials , University of Maryland
    • CNAM, Department of Physics, University of Maryland
    • Univ of Maryland-College Park
    • Department of Physics, University of Maryland
    • CNAM, Department of Physics, Univ of Maryland-College Park
    • Univ of Maryland - College Park
    • College Park, MD 20742-4111, Univ of Maryland-College Park
    • Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, Department of Physics, University of Maryland
    • Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, University of Maryland
    • University of Maryland, College Park
    • University of Maryland

  • Chris Eckberg

    • CNAM, Department of Physics, University of Maryland
    • Univ of Maryland-College Park
    • Department of Physics, University of Maryland

  • Nicholas Butch

    • NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology
    • NIST Center for Neutron Research
    • NIST- Natl Inst of Stds & Tech
    • Center for Neutron Research, NIST -Natl Inst of Stds & Tech
    • NIST -Natl Inst of Stds & Tech
    • NIST center for neutron research
    • NIST

  • William Ratcliff

    • NIST
    • NIST- Natl Inst of Stds & Tech
    • Center for Neutron Research, NIST -Natl Inst of Stds & Tech
    • NIST -Natl Inst of Stds & Tech
    • NCNR, NIST -Natl Inst of Stds & Tech