Charge density wave-generated Fermi surfaces in NdTe$_3$

TL;DR

This study uses angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to reveal detailed Fermi surface structures in NdTe3's charge density wave phase, uncovering new Fermi surface elements and explaining quantum oscillations related to electron-phonon interactions.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed mapping of Fermi surface topology in NdTe3's CDW phase, highlighting CDW-induced band replicas and residual Fermi surfaces linked to quantum oscillations.

Findings

Observation of CDW-induced Fermi surface replicas.

Identification of a residual Fermi surface near the gapped normal state.

Explanation of low-frequency quantum oscillations in RTe3 family.

Abstract

The electronic structure of NdTe$_3$ in the charge density wave phase (CDW) is investigated by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. The combination of high-quality crystals and careful surface preparation reveals subtle and previously unobserved details in the Fermi surface topology, allowing an interpretation of the rich and unexplained quantum oscillations in the rare earth tritellurides RTe$_3$. In particular, several closed Fermi surface elements can be observed that are related to CDW-induced replicas of the original bands, leading to the curious situation in which a CDW does not only remove Fermi surface elements but creates new ones that are observable in transport experiments. Moreover, a large residual Fermi surface is found in the CDW gap, very close to the position of the gapped normal-state Fermi surface. Its area agrees very well with high-frequency quantum oscillations in NdTe$_3$ and its presence is explained by strong electron-phonon coupling combined with the quasi one-dimensional character of the CDW. Finally, we identify the origin of the low-frequency $\alpha$ quantum oscillations ubiquitous for the lighter R elements in the RTe$_3$ family and responsible for the high mobility in these compounds.