Strong modulation of carrier effective mass in WTe2 via coherent lattice manipulation
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Date
2022-10-12
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Journal Article
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Abstract
The layered transition-metal dichalcogenide WTe2 is characterized by distinctive transport and topological properties. These properties are largely determined by electronic states close to the Fermi level, specifically to electron and hole pockets in the Fermi sea. In principle, these states can be manipulated by changes to the crystal structure. The precise impact of particular structural changes on the electronic properties is a strong function of the specific nature of the atomic displacements. Here, we report on time-resolved X-ray diffraction and infrared reflectivity measurements of the coherent structural dynamics in WTe2 induced by femtosecond laser pulses excitation (central wavelength 800 nm), with emphasis on a quantitative description of both in-plane and out-of-plane vibrational modes. We estimate the magnitude of these motions, and calculate via density functional theory their effect on the electronic structure. Based on these results, we predict that phonons periodically modulate the effective mass of carriers in the electron and hole pockets up to 20%. This work opens up new opportunities for modulating the peculiar transport properties of WTe2 on short time scales.
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published
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Journal / series
Volume
6
Pages / Article No.
71
Publisher
Nature
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Subject
PHYSICS; Ultrafast dynamics; 2D Materials; X-ray diffraction; DFT calculations
Organisational unit
03920 - Johnson, Steven / Johnson, Steven
04318 - HPT Hönggerberg
Notes
Funding
192337 - Nonequilbirum multidimensional dynamics of strongly correlated materials (SNF)
179691 - Exploring superconductivity pathways in low dimensional spin-ladder and spin-chain compounds (SNF)
179691 - Exploring superconductivity pathways in low dimensional spin-ladder and spin-chain compounds (SNF)
Related publications and datasets
Is supplemented by: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000575854