Contributor info: Dr Erik van Heumen

Steef Smit, Kourosh L. Shirkoohi, Saumya Mukherjee, Sergio Barquero Pierantoni, Lewis Bawden, Erik van Heumen, Arnaud P. N. Tchiomo, Jans Henke, Jasper van Wezel, Yingkai Huang, Takeshi Kondo, Tsunehiro Takeuchi, Timur K. Kim, Cephise Cacho, Marta Zonno, Sergey Gorovikov, Stephen B. Dugdale, Jorge I. Facio, Mariia Roslova, Laura Folkers, Anna Isaeva, Nigel E. Hussey, Mark S. Golden

SciPost Phys. 18, 191 (2025) · published 17 June 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

High-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) performed on the single-layered cuprate (Pb$_{1-y}$,Bi$_y$)$_2$Sr$_{2-x}$La$_x$CuO$_{6+\delta}$ (Bi2201) reveals a 6-10% difference in the nodal $k_F$ vectors along the $\Gamma$Y and $\Gamma$X directions. This asymmetry is notably larger than the 2% orthorhombic distortion in the CuO$_2$ plane lattice constants determined using X-ray crystallography from the same samples. First principles calculations indicate that crystal-field splitting of the bands lies at the root of the $k_{F}$ asymmetry. Concomitantly, the nodal Fermi velocities for the $\Gamma$Y quadrant exceed those for $\Gamma$X by 4%. Momentum distribution curve widths for the two nodal dispersions are also anisotropic, showing identical energy dependencies, bar a scaling factor of $\sim$ 1.17$± 0.05$ between $\Gamma$Y and $\Gamma$X. Consequently, the imaginary part of the self-energy is found to be 10-20% greater along $\Gamma$Y than $\Gamma$X. These results emphasize the need to account for Fermi surface asymmetry in the analysis of ARPES data on Bi-based cuprate high temperature superconductors such as Bi2201. To illustrate this point, an orthorhombic tight-binding model (with twofold in-plane symmetry) was used to fit ARPES Fermi surface maps spanning all four quadrants of the Brillouin zone, and the ARPES-derived hole-doping (Luttinger count) was extracted. Comparison of the Luttinger count with one assuming four-fold in-plane symmetry strongly suggests the marked spread in previously-reported Fermi surface areas from ARPES on Bi2201 results from the differences in $k_F$ along $\Gamma$Y and $\Gamma$X. Using this analysis, a new, linear relationship emerges between the hole-doping derived from ARPES ($p_{\text{ARPES}}$) and that derived using the Presland ($p_{\text{Presland}}$) relation such that $p_{\text{ARPES}} = p_{\text{Presland}}+0.11$. The implications for this difference between the ARPES- and Presland-derived estimates for $p$ are discussed and possible future directions to elucidate the origin of this discrepancy are presented.

S. V. Ramankutty, J. Henke, A. Schiphorst, R. Nutakki, S. Bron, G. Araizi-Kanoutas, S. K. Mishra, Lei Li, Y. K. Huang, T. K. Kim, M. Hoesch, C. Schlueter, T. -L. Lee, A. de Visser, Zhicheng Zhong, Jasper van Wezel, E. van Heumen, M. S. Golden

SciPost Phys. 4, 010 (2018) · published 21 February 2018 | Toggle abstract · pdf

SrMnSb$_2$ is suggested to be a magnetic topological semimetal. It contains square, 2D Sb planes with non-symmorphic crystal symmetries that could protect band crossings, offering the possibility of a quasi-2D, robust Dirac semi-metal in the form of a stable, bulk (3D) crystal. Here, we report a combined and comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigation of the electronic structure of SrMnSb$_2$, including the first ARPES data on this compound. SrMnSb$_2$ possesses a small Fermi surface originating from highly 2D, sharp and linearly dispersing bands (the Y-states) around the (0,$\pi$/a)-point in $k$-space. The ARPES Fermi surface agrees perfectly with that from bulk-sensitive Shubnikov de Haas data from the same crystals, proving the Y$-$states to be responsible for electrical conductivity in SrMnSb$_2$. DFT and tight binding (TB) methods are used to model the electronic states, and both show good agreement with the ARPES data. Despite the great promise of the latter, both theory approaches show the Y-states to be gapped above E$_F$, suggesting trivial topology. Subsequent analysis within both theory approaches shows the Berry phase to be zero, indicating the non-topological character of the transport in SrMnSb$_2$, a conclusion backed up by the analysis of the quantum oscillation data from our crystals.