Low Energy Band Structure and Symmetries of UTe_{2} from Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science
• Quantum Materials

Background:

• Uranium Ditelluride (UTe2) exhibits unconventional spin triplet superconductivity.
• Theoretical models suggest a topologically nontrivial superconducting order parameter in UTe2.
• Understanding the electronic band structure is critical for validating these theories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the poorly understood electronic band structure of UTe2.
• To provide a detailed electronic characterization of UTe2.
• To establish a foundation for understanding its unconventional superconductivity.

Main Methods:

• High-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES).
• ARPES measurements across multiple planes of the 3D Brillouin zone.
• Comparison of experimental data with numerical simulations.

Main Results:

• Detailed mapping of the Fermi-level features in UTe2.
• Identification of two orthogonal quasi-one-dimensional light electron bands.
• Observation of a distinct heavy electron band.
• Evaluation of electronic symmetries and comparison with theoretical models.

Conclusions:

• The electronic band structure of UTe2 has been resolved.
• The findings provide crucial insights into the electronic properties driving unconventional superconductivity.
• UTe2 presents a promising platform for exploring novel many-body quantum phenomena.