Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026
07:14
Optogenetic Phase Transition of TDP-43 in Spinal Motor Neurons of Zebrafish Larvae
Published on: February 25, 2022
6.6K
Temperature-Driven Topological Phase Transition and Intermediate Dirac Semimetal Phase in ZrTe_{5}
1Department of Physics and Fribourg Center for Nanomaterials, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 3, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.
Physical Review Letters
|November 17, 2018
Summary
Zirconium telluride (ZrTe5) undergoes a temperature-driven topological quantum phase transition. Infrared spectroscopy reveals a Dirac semimetal state at the transition, reconciling previous research on ZrTe5
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Materials science
- Quantum materials
Background:
- Topological insulators (TIs) are materials with unique electronic properties.
- ZrTe5 has been theoretically proposed to host a topological quantum phase transition.
- Experimental verification of ZrTe5's topological nature remains debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally investigate the topological phase transition in ZrTe5 using infrared spectroscopy.
- To determine the temperature dependence of the energy gap and electronic structure.
- To reconcile conflicting reports on the topological properties of ZrTe5.
Main Methods:
- Infrared spectroscopy was employed to study ZrTe5.
- The temperature evolution of the energy gap was analyzed.
- Optical conductivity was measured to identify signatures of a Dirac semimetal state.
Main Results:
- A temperature-driven topological quantum phase transition was confirmed in ZrTe5.
- An intermediate Dirac semimetal state was observed around Tp ≃ 138 K.
- The energy gap closes at the transition, and optical conductivity shows Dirac semimetal characteristics.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms the theoretical proposal of a topological quantum phase transition in ZrTe5.
- The observed Dirac semimetal state reconciles previous experimental discrepancies.
- The transition temperature (Tp) is sensitive to crystal growth conditions.
More Related Videos
11:38Combining Microfluidics and Microrheology to Determine Rheological Properties of Soft Matter during Repeated Phase Transitions
Published on: April 19, 2018
8.5K
08:40Determination of S-Phase Duration Using 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine Incorporation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Published on: October 21, 2022
1.9K
Related Concept Videos
02:31Phase Transitions
23.2K
Whether solid, liquid, or gas, a substance's state depends on the order and arrangement of its particles (atoms, molecules, or ions). Particles in the solid pack closely together, generally in a pattern. The particles vibrate about their fixed positions but do not move or squeeze past their neighbors. In liquids, although the particles are closely spaced, they are randomly arranged. The position of the particles are not fixed—that is, they are free to move past their neighbors to...
23.2K
02:33Phase Transitions: Sublimation and Deposition
20.2K
Some solids can transition directly into the gaseous state, bypassing the liquid state, via a process known as sublimation. At room temperature and standard pressure, a piece of dry ice (solid CO2) sublimes, appearing to gradually disappear without ever forming any liquid. Snow and ice sublimate at temperatures below the melting point of water, a slow process that may be accelerated by winds and the reduced atmospheric pressures at high altitudes. When solid iodine is warmed, the solid sublimes...
20.2K
02:39Phase Transitions: Melting and Freezing
15.2K
Heating a crystalline solid increases the average energy of its atoms, molecules, or ions, and the solid gets hotter. At some point, the added energy becomes large enough to partially overcome the forces holding the molecules or ions of the solid in their fixed positions, and the solid begins the process of transitioning to the liquid state or melting. At this point, the temperature of the solid stops rising, despite the continual input of heat, and it remains constant until all of the solid is...
15.2K
02:39Phase Transitions: Vaporization and Condensation
21.3K
The physical form of a substance changes on changing its temperature. For example, raising the temperature of a liquid causes the liquid to vaporize (convert into vapor). The process is called vaporization—a surface phenomenon. Vaporization occurs when the thermal motion of the molecules overcome the intermolecular forces, and the molecules (at the surface) escape into the gaseous state. When a liquid vaporizes in a closed container, gas molecules cannot escape. As these gas phase molecules...
21.3K
02:39Phase Diagrams
50.2K
A phase diagram combines plots of pressure versus temperature for the liquid-gas, solid-liquid, and solid-gas phase-transition equilibria of a substance. These diagrams indicate the physical states that exist under specific conditions of pressure and temperature and also provide the pressure dependence of the phase-transition temperatures (melting points, sublimation points, boiling points). Regions or areas labeled solid, liquid, and gas represent single phases, while lines or curves represent...
50.2K
02:13Energy Diagrams, Transition States, and Intermediates
20.8K
Free-energy diagrams, or reaction coordinate diagrams, are graphs showing the energy changes that occur during a chemical reaction. The reaction coordinate represented on the horizontal axis shows how far the reaction has progressed structurally. Positions along the x-axis close to the reactants have structures resembling the reactants, while positions close to the products resemble the products. Peaks on the energy diagram represent stable structures with measurable lifetimes, while...
20.8K