Manipulating charge density wave state in kagome compound RbV₃Sb₅

Abstract

Owing to the unique electronic structure, kagome materials AV3Sb5 (A=K, Rb, Cs) provide a fertile platform of quantum phenomena such as the strongly correlated state and topological Dirac band. It is well known that RbV3Sb5 exhibits a 2×2 unconventional charge density wave (CDW) state at low temperature, and the mechanism is controversial. Here, by using scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS), we successfully manipulated the CDW state in the Sb plane of RbV3Sb5, and realized a new √ 3×√ 3 modulation together with the ubiquitous 2×2 period in the CDW state of RbV3Sb5. The work provides a new understanding of the collective quantum ground states in the kagome materials.

Chemical effect on the Van Hove singularity in superconducting kagome metal AV3Sb5 (A = K, Rb, and Cs)

“…While these features are common to these metals with some degree of quantitative differences, distinctive features or material dependence have also been clearly observed. For example, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) studies have reported a 4 × 1 charge order in CsV 3 Sb 5 4,8,22 and RbV 3 Sb 5 , 13,23,24 whereas it is not observed in KV 3 Sb 5 . 5,8,12 The CDW modulation pattern along the c -axis direction varies depending on the type of alkali metal.…”