Interplay of Dirac nodes and Volkov-Pankratov surface states in compressively strained HgTe

Abstract

Preceded by the discovery of topological insulators, Dirac and Weyl semimetals have become a pivotal direction of research in contemporary condensed matter physics. While easily accessible from a theoretical viewpoint, these topological semimetals pose a serious challenge in terms of experimental synthesis and analysis to allow for their unambiguous identification. In this work, we report on detailed transport experiments on compressively strained HgTe. Due to the superior sample quality in comparison to other topological semimetallic materials, this enables us to resolve the interplay of topological surface states and semimetallic bulk states to an unprecedented degree of precision and complexity. As our gate design allows us to precisely tune the Fermi level at the Weyl and Dirac points, we identify a magnetotransport regime dominated by Weyl/Dirac bulk state conduction for small carrier densities and by topological surface state conduction for larger carrier densities. As such, similar to topological insulators, HgTe provides the archetypical reference for the experimental investigation of topological semimetals.

arXiv comment8 pages, 7 figures, accepted in PRX, added kp calculation and supplementary

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Cited by in corpus (19)

• Tailoring the topological surface state in ultrathin $\alpha$-Sn (111) films
• Dynamical conductivity of the Fermi arc and the Volkov-Pankratov states on the surface of Weyl semimetals
• Strain engineered higher order topological phases for spin-3/2 Luttinger fermions
• Topological states in superlattices of HgTe-class materials for engineering three-dimensional flat bands
• Volkov-Pankratov states in topological superconductors
• Volkov-Pankratov states in topological graphene nanoribbons
• Dirac quantum well engineering on the surface of topological insulator
• Living on the edge: Topology, electrostatics and disorder
• Observation of Weyl and Dirac fermions at smooth topological Volkov-Pankratov heterojunctions
• Resistivity Exponents in 3D-Dirac Semimetals From Electron-Electron Interaction
• Hybridization of topological surface states with a flat band
• Engineering axion insulator phase in superlattices with inversion symmetry breaking
• Dispersive Drumhead States in Nodal-Line Semimetal Junctions
• Nonlinear planar magnetotransport due to tilted Dirac cones in topological materials
• Topological band inversion in HgTe(001): surface and bulk signatures from photoemission
• Universal transparency and fine band structure near the Dirac point in HgTe quantum wells
• Co-existing topological and Volkov-Pankratov plasmonic edge states in magnetized graphene
• Topological interface states -- a possible path towards a Landau-level laser in the THz regime
• Volkov-Pankratov states on the edge of a quantum spin Hall system