Observation of two distinct $d_{xz}/d_{yz}$ band splittings in FeSe

TL;DR

This study uses ARPES to reveal two distinct temperature-dependent band splittings in FeSe, linked to different order parameters, challenging previous ferro-orbital ordering explanations.

Contribution

It provides detailed experimental evidence of two separate orbital splittings in FeSe, clarifying their different temperature behaviors and origins.

Findings

Splitting at M point relates to structural transition and orbital ordering.

Splitting at Γ point persists above structural transition, origin unclear.

Results exclude ferro-orbital ordering as the cause of the Γ point splitting.

Abstract

We report the temperature evolution of the detailed electronic band structure in FeSe single-crystals measured by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), including the degeneracy removal of the $d_{xz}$ and $d_{yz}$ orbitals at the $\Gamma$/Z and M points, and the orbital-selective hybridization between the $d_{xy}$ and $d_{xz/yz}$ orbitals. The temperature dependences of the splittings at the $\Gamma$/Z and M points are different, indicating that they are controlled by different order parameters. The splitting at the M point is closely related to the structural transition and is attributed to orbital ordering defined on Fe-Fe bonds with a $d$-wave form in the reciprocal space that breaks the rotational symmetry. In contrast, the band splitting at the $\Gamma$ points remains at temperature far above the structural transition. Although the origin of this latter splitting remains unclear, our experimental results exclude the previously proposed ferro-orbital ordering scenario.