Visualizing Type-II Weyl Points in Tungsten Ditelluride by Quasiparticle Interference

ACS Nano. 2017 Nov 28;11(11):11459-11465. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.7b06179. Epub 2017 Oct 27.

Abstract

Weyl semimetals (WSMs) are classified into two types, type I and II, according to the topology of the Weyl point, where the electron and hole pockets touch each other. Tungsten ditelluride (WTe2) has garnered a great deal of attention as a strong candidate to be a type-II WSM. However, the Weyl points for WTe2 are located above the Fermi level, which has prevented us from identifying the locations and the connection to the Fermi arc surface states by using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Here, we present experimental proof that WTe2 is a type-II WSM. We measured energy-dependent quasiparticle interference patterns with a cryogenic scanning tunneling microscope, revealing the position of the Weyl point and its connection with the Fermi arc surface states, in agreement with prior theoretical predictions. Our results provide an answer to this crucial question and stimulate further exploration of the characteristics of WSMs.

Keywords: Fermi arc; WTe2; Weyl semimetals; quasiparticle interference; scanning tunneling microscopy; topological matter; transition metal dichalcogenides.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.