The pseudochiral Fermi surface of $\alpha$-RuI${}_3$

Abstract

In continuation of research into RuCl${}_3$ and RuBr${}_3$ as potential quantum spin liquids, a phase with unique magnetic order characterised by long-range quantum entanglement and fractionalised excitations, the compound RuI${}_3$ has been recently synthesised. Here, we show RuI${}_3$ is a moderately correlated metal with two bands crossing the Fermi level, implying the absence of any quantum spin liquids phase. We find that the Fermi surface as measured or calculated for a 2D ($k_{\text{x}},k_{\text{y}}$) slice at any $k_{\text{z}}$ lacks mirror symmetry, i.e. is pseudochiral. We link this phenomenon to the ABC stacking in the R$\bar{3}$ space group of $\alpha$-RuI${}_3$, which is achiral but lacks any mirror or glide symmetries. We further provide a formal framework for understanding when such a pseudochiral electronic structure may be observed.