Fermi surface of IrTe2 in the valence-bond state as determined by quantum oscillations

TL;DR

This study uses quantum oscillations to map the Fermi surface of IrTe2, revealing a tilted quasi-two-dimensional structure with light quasiparticles and confirming theoretical predictions about its electronic changes post structural transition.

Contribution

First direct measurement of IrTe2's Fermi surface using quantum oscillations, confirming the tilted quasi-two-dimensional electronic structure predicted after its structural transition.

Findings

Confirmed the tilted quasi-two-dimensional Fermi surface

Observed very light quasiparticle masses (<1 me)

Good agreement between experimental and theoretical de Haas-van Alphen frequencies

Abstract

We report the observation of the de Haas-van Alphen effect in IrTe2 measured using torque magnetometry at low temperatures down to 0.4 K and in high magnetic fields up to 33T. IrTe2 undergoes a major structural transition around 283 K due to the formation of planes of Ir and Te dimers that cut diagonally through the lattice planes, with its electronic structure predicted to change significantly from a layered system with predominantly three-dimensional character to a tilted quasi-two dimensional Fermi surface. Quantum oscillations provide direct confirmation of this unusual tilted Fermi surface and also reveal very light quasiparticle masses (less than 1 me), with no significant enhancement due to electronic correlations. We find good agreement between the angular dependence of the observed and calculated de Haas-van Alphen frequencies, taking into account the contribution of different structural domains that form while cooling IrTe2.