Spin-polarized Dirac-cone-like surface state with $d$ character at W(110)

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of a spin-polarized, Dirac-cone-like surface state with $d$ character on W(110), exhibiting nearly massless dispersion, strong anisotropy, and potential implications for topological and spin-density wave phenomena.

Contribution

It reveals a novel $d$-electron surface state with Dirac-like dispersion and spin polarization on W(110), expanding understanding of surface states in heavy transition metals.

Findings

Presence of Dirac-cone-like surface state with $d$ character

Strong spin polarization antisymmetric about the Brillouin zone center

Highly anisotropic constant energy contours

Abstract

The surface of W(110) exhibits a Dirac-cone-like surface state with $d$ character within a spin-orbit-induced symmetry gap. As a function of wave vector parallel to the surface, it shows nearly massless energy dispersion and a pronounced spin polarization, which is antisymmetric with respect to the Brillouin zone center. In addition, the observed constant energy contours are strongly anisotropic for all energies. This discovery opens new pathways to the study of surface spin-density waves arising from a strong Fermi surface nesting as well as $d$-electron-based topological properties.