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Updated: Jun 22, 2025

Experimental Methods for Spin- and Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy Combined with Polarization-Variable Laser
Published on: June 28, 2018
Topological Fermi-arc surface state covered by floating electrons on a two-dimensional electride
Chan-Young Lim1,2, Min-Seok Kim3, Dong Cheol Lim4,5
1Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, South Korea.
Abstract:
Two-dimensional electrides can acquire topologically non-trivial phases due to intriguing interplay between the cationic atomic layers and anionic electron layers. However, experimental evidence of topological surface states has yet to be verified. Here, via angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), we probe the magnetic Weyl states of the ferromagnetic electride [Gd2C]2+·2e-. In particular, the presence of Weyl cones and Fermi-arc states is demonstrated through photon energy-dependent ARPES measurements, agreeing with theoretical band structure calculations. Notably, the STM measurements reveal that the Fermi-arc states exist underneath a floating quantum electron liquid on the top Gd layer, forming double-stacked surface states in a heterostructure. Our work thus not only unveils the non-trivial topology of the [Gd2C]2+·2e- electride but also realizes a surface heterostructure that can host phenomena distinct from the bulk.
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