Atomic-Scale Visualization of Quasiparticle Interference on a Type-II Weyl Semimetal Surface

Phys Rev Lett. 2016 Dec 23;117(26):266804. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.266804. Epub 2016 Dec 23.

Abstract

We combine quasiparticle interference simulation (theory) and atomic resolution scanning tunneling spectromicroscopy (experiment) to visualize the interference patterns on a type-II Weyl semimetal Mo_{x}W_{1-x}Te_{2} for the first time. Our simulation based on first-principles band topology theoretically reveals the surface electron scattering behavior. We identify the topological Fermi arc states and reveal the scattering properties of the surface states in Mo_{0.66}W_{0.34}Te_{2}. In addition, our result reveals an experimental signature of the topology via the interconnectivity of bulk and surface states, which is essential for understanding the unusual nature of this material.