Charge density wave and weak Kondo effect in a Dirac semimetal CeSbTe

TL;DR

This study reveals the coexistence and competition of charge density wave and Kondo effects in CeSbTe, a Dirac semimetal, highlighting the impact of electron-phonon coupling and topological states on its electronic properties.

Contribution

It demonstrates the formation of a large, momentum-dependent CDW gap driven by electron-phonon coupling and its suppression of the Kondo effect in CeSbTe, with implications for topological states.

Findings

CDW order driven by electron-phonon coupling due to nested Fermi surface segments

Large (~0.3 eV) momentum-dependent CDW gap persists at high temperatures

Suppression of Kondo effect leading to localized 4f electrons above 20 K

Abstract

Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), together with density-functional theory (DFT) calculation, we report the formation of charge density wave (CDW) and its interplay with the Kondo effect and topological states in CeSbTe. The observed Fermi surface (FS) exhibits parallel segments that can be well connected by the observed CDW ordering vector, indicating that the CDW order is driven by the electron-phonon coupling (EPC) as a result of the nested FS. The CDW gap is large (~0.3 eV) and momentum-dependent, which naturally explains the robust CDW order up to high temperatures. The gap opening leads to a reduced density of states (DOS) near the Fermi level (EF), which correspondingly suppresses the many-body Kondo effect, leading to very localized 4f electrons at 20 K and above. The topological Dirac cone at the X point is found to remain gapless inside the CDW phase. Our results provide evidence for the competition between CDW and the Kondo effect in a Kondo lattice system. The robust CDW order in CeSbTe and related compounds provide an opportunity to search for the long-sought-after axionic insulator.