Thermal transport properties and some hydrodynamic-like behavior in 3D topological semimetal ZrTe5

TL;DR

This study demonstrates hydrodynamic-like thermal transport in the 3D topological semimetal ZrTe5 through experimental measurements revealing unique thermal conductivity behaviors and quasiparticle interactions.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental evidence of hydrodynamic-like thermal transport in ZrTe5, a 3D topological semimetal, highlighting novel quasiparticle dynamics.

Findings

Faster thermal conductivity evolution than in ballistic regime

Non-monotonic temperature dependence of quasiparticle mean-free-path

Magneto-thermal conductivity suggests roles for both phonons and charged quasiparticles

Abstract

Hydrodynamic fluidity in condensed matter physics has been experimentally demonstrated only in a limited number of compounds due to the stringent conditions that must be met. Herein, we performed thermal and electrical transport experiments in three-dimensional topological semimetal ZrTe5. By measuring the thermal properties in a wide temperature range, two representative experimental evidences of the hydrodynamics are observed in temperature window between the ballistic and diffusive regimes: a faster evolution of the thermal conductivity than in the ballistic regime and the non-monotonic temperature-dependent effective quasiparticle mean-free-path. In addition, magneto-thermal conductivity results indicate that charged quasiparticles, as well as phonons, may also play an important role in this hydrodynamic-like flow in ZrTe5.