Chirality and Orbital Order in Charge Density Waves

TL;DR

This paper explains the chirality observed in TiSe2's charge density wave as a form of orbital ordering, proposing a general mechanism that could apply to various materials exhibiting similar phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a novel interpretation of chirality in charge density waves as orbital ordering and discusses a general microscopic mechanism for this transition.

Findings

Chirality in TiSe2's charge density wave is explained as orbital ordering.

A general mechanism for orbitally ordered chiral charge density waves is proposed.

The framework applies broadly to similar materials.

Abstract

We show that the recently observed chirality in the charge ordered phase of TiSe2 can be understood as a form of orbital ordering. The microscopic mechanism driving the transition between the novel chiral state and the non-chiral charge density wave is discussed, and shown to be of a general form, thus allowing for a broad class of materials to display this type of orbitally ordered chiral charge density wave.