Provoking topology by octahedral tilting in strained SrNbO${}_3$

Abstract

Transition metal oxides with a wide variety of electronic and magnetic properties offer an extraordinary possibility to be a platform for developing future electronics based on unconventional quantum phenomena, for instance, the topology. The formation of topologically non-trivial states is related to crystalline symmetry, spin-orbit coupling, and magnetic ordering. Here, we demonstrate how lattice distortions and octahedral rotation in SrNbO${}_3$ films induce the band topology. By employing angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we verify the presence of in-phase $a^0{a}^0{c}^{+}$ octahedral rotation in ultra-thin SrNbO${}_3$ films, which causes the formation of topologically-protected Dirac band crossings. Our study illustrates that octahedral engineering can be effectively exploited for implanting and controlling quantum topological phases in transition metal oxides.

6 pages, 4 figures