Unraveling the Topological Phase of ZrTe<sub>5 </sub>via Magneto-infrared Spectroscopy

ORAL

Abstract

We have systematically studied the 3D band structure of ZrTe$_5$ up to its parabolic band components using magneto-infrared spectroscopy. By comparing the Landau level transitions in different magnetic field orientations, we find that the band velocities are highly anisotropic and the dominant contribution along the layer stacking direction is parabolic with a record-low band velocity. More interestingly, with such a low band velocity, we have both theoretically and experimentally demonstrated that the band inversion can lead to a second extremum (band gap), allowing for a direct probe of the material’s topological nature. Our work not only provides an alternative way to identify the band inversion in 3D layered topological materials, but also yields important implications for understanding the exotic behavior of ZrTe$_5$ as well as that in similar (layered) materials.

*The work at NHMFL was supported by the NSF Cooperative Agreement No. DMR-1644779 and the State of Florida, and DoE-BES DE-FG02-07ER46451.

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Presenters

  • Yuxuan Jiang

    • Natl High Magnetic Field Lab
    • National High Magnetic Field Lab

Authors

  • Yuxuan Jiang

    • Natl High Magnetic Field Lab
    • National High Magnetic Field Lab

  • Jingyue Wang

    • Peking Univ
    • School of Physics, Peking Univerisity

  • Tianhao Zhao

    • Georgia Inst of Tech
    • School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology

  • Zhiling Dun

    • Georgia Inst of Tech
    • School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology
    • Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology
    • Georgia Institute of Technology

  • Qing Huang

    • University of Tennessee
    • Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Tennessee
    • University of Tennessee, Knoxville
    • Department of Physics, University of Tennessee
    • Physics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • Xiaosong Wu

    • Peking Univ
    • Peking University
    • School of Physics, Peking Univerisity

  • Martin Mourigal

    • Georgia Inst of Tech
    • School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology
    • Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology
    • Georgia Institute of Technology

  • Haidong Zhou

    • University of Tennessee
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
    • University of Knoxville, Tennessee
    • Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Tennessee
    • University of Tennesse, Knoxville
    • Physics and anstronomy, University of Tennessee
    • Department of Physics, University of Tennessee
    • Physics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
    • University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • Mykhaylo Ozerov

    • National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, FL
    • National High Magnetic Field Lab
    • National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
    • Natl High Magnetic Field Lab

  • Dmitry Smirnov

    • Natl High Magnetic Field Lab
    • National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, FL
    • National High Magnetic Field Lab
    • National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
    • national high magnetic field laboratory

  • Zhigang Jiang

    • Georgia Inst of Tech
    • School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology