Asymmetric mass acquisition in LaBi - a new topological semimetal candidate

TL;DR

This study investigates LaBi, revealing an unusual asymmetric mass acquisition in its topological surface states, which may indicate new topological phenomena.

Contribution

The paper presents combined ARPES measurements and DFT calculations showing asymmetric mass acquisition in LaBi's surface states, a novel topological feature.

Findings

Presence of both bulk and surface bands in LaBi

Unusual dispersion with a gapped Dirac-like surface state

Asymmetric mass acquisition in topological surface states

Abstract

We use our high resolution He-lamp based, tunable laser-based ARPES measurements and density functional theory calculations to study the electronic properties of LaBi, a binary system that was proposed to be a member of a new family of topological semimetals. Both bulk and surface bands are present in the spectra. The dispersion of the surface state is highly unusual. It resembles a Dirac cone, but upon closer inspection we can clearly detect an energy gap. The bottom band follows roughly a parabolic dispersion. The dispersion of the top band remains very linear, "V" shape like, with the tip approaching very closely to the extrapolated location of Dirac point. Such asymmetric mass acquisition is highly unusual and opens a possibility of a new topological phenomena that has yet to be understood.