Band structure and charge ordering of Dirac semimetal EuAl$_4$ at low temperatures

TL;DR

This study investigates how magnetic transitions in EuAl$_4$ influence its electronic band structure and charge ordering, revealing significant changes at specific AFM transitions and their impact on material properties.

Contribution

The paper provides detailed experimental and theoretical analysis of the band structure evolution across multiple AFM transitions in EuAl$_4$, highlighting the interplay between magnetism and electronic properties.

Findings

Band splitting and new Fermi sheets appear at AFM transitions.

Quasiparticle lifetime increases due to suppressed spin flip scattering.

Most significant electronic changes occur at the AFM3 to AFM4 transition.

Abstract

EuAl$_4$ is proposed to host a topological Hall state. This material also undergoes four consecutive antiferromagnetic (AFM) transitions upon cooling below TN1 = 15.4 K in the presence of charge density wave (CDW) order that sets in below TCDW = 140 K. We use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and density-functional-theory calculations to study how magnetic ordering affects the electronic properties in EuAl$_4$. We found changes in the band structure upon each of the four consecutive AFM transitions including band splitting, renormalizations, and appearance of new bands forming additional Fermi sheets. In addition we also found significant enhancement of the quasiparticles' lifetime due to suppression of spin flip scattering, similar to what was previously reported for ferromagnetic EuCd$_2$As$_2$. Surprisingly, we observe that most significant changes in electronic properties occur not at TN1, but instead at the AFM3 to AFM4 transition, which coincides with the largest drop in resistivity.