NMR Determination Of Van Hove Singularity And Lifshitz Transitions In The Nodal-Line Semimetal ZrSiTe

What Has Been Achieved:

Demonstrate the Van Hove singularity and Lifshitz transition in the nodal-line semimetal ZrSiTe.

Importance of the Achievement:

The nodal-line semimetal state protected by nonsymmorphic symmetry in ZrSiTe is a novel topological quantum state, which has attracted a great deal of interest. The demonstration of Van Hove singularity and Lifshitz transition via the NMR measurements shed light on the unique topological electronic structure of this material, which lays foundation for further understanding of nodal-line fermion physics.

Unique Feature(s) of the MIP that Enabled this Achievement:

The 2DCC bulk growth team has not only expertise of crystal growth using various methods, but also strong background in material physics (The nodal-line semimetal state of ZrSiTe was first demonstrated by the 2DCC researchers in their previous work (2016 PRL)].  Such combination of material growth and material physics enables the 2DCC researchers to discover and grow novel quantum materials which can meet needs of various experiments and attract new users. This collaborative work directly benefits this unique feature of the 2DCC.

Publication:

Yefan Tian, Yanglin Zhu, Rui Li, Zhiqiang Mao, and Joseph H. Ross, Jr. Phys. Rev. B 104, L041105. Editor’s Suggestion. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.104.L041105

This work was supported by the Robert A. Welch Foundation, Grant No. A-1526, and Texas A&M University. The financial support for sample preparation was provided by the National Science Foundation through the Penn State 2D Crystal Consortium-Materials Innovation Platform (2DCC-MIP) under National Science Foundation Cooperative Agreement No. DMR-1539916.