Coulomb gap in a two-dimensional electron gas with a close metallic electrode

Temperature-Induced Lifshitz Transition and Possible Excitonic Instability in ZrSiSe

The nodal-line semimetals have attracted immense interest due to the unique electronic structures such as the linear dispersion and the vanishing density of states as the Fermi energy approaching the nodes. Here, we report temperature-dependent transport and scanning tunneling microscopy (spectroscopy) [STM(S)] measurements on nodal-line semimetal ZrSiSe. Our experimental results and theoretical analyses consistently demonstrate that the temperature induces Lifshitz transitions at 80 and 106 K in ZrSiSe, which results in the transport anomalies at the same temperatures. More strikingly, we observe a V-shaped dip structure around Fermi energy from the STS spectrum at low temperature, which can be attributed to co-effect of the spin-orbit coupling and excitonic instability. Our observations indicate the correlation interaction may play an important role in ZrSiSe, which owns the quasi-two-dimensional electronic structures.

Observation of Coulomb gap in the quantum spin Hall candidate single-layer 1T'-WTe2

The two-dimensional topological insulators host a full gap in the bulk band, induced by spin–orbit coupling (SOC) effect, together with the topologically protected gapless edge states. However, it is usually challenging to suppress the bulk conductance and thus to realize the quantum spin Hall (QSH) effect. In this study, we find a mechanism to effectively suppress the bulk conductance. By using the quasiparticle interference technique with scanning tunneling spectroscopy, we demonstrate that the QSH candidate single-layer 1T’-WTe₂ has a semimetal bulk band structure with no full SOC-induced gap. Surprisingly, in this two-dimensional system, we find the electron–electron interactions open a Coulomb gap which is always pinned at the Fermi energy (E_F). The opening of the Coulomb gap can efficiently diminish the bulk state at the E_F and supports the observation of the quantized conduction of topological edge states.

The conductance from bulk bands in a topological insulator usually blurs effects arising from edge states. Here, Song et al. report a Coulomb gap opened by electron–electron interactions, which effectively suppress the bulk conductance and promote observation of topological edge states in the single-layer 1T’-WTe₂.

Sequence of Quantum Phase Transitions in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O(8+δ) Cuprates Revealed by In Situ Electrical Doping of One and the Same Sample

Our recently discovered electrical doping technique allows a broad-range variation of carrier concentration without changing the chemical composition. We show that it is possible to induce superconductivity in a nondoped insulating sample and to tune it reversibly all the way to an overdoped metallic state. This way, we can investigate the whole doping diagram of one and the same sample. Our study reveals two distinct critical points. The one at the overdoped side is associated with the onset of the pseudogap and with the metal-to-insulator transition in the c-axis transport. The other at optimal doping is associated with the appearance of a "dressed" electron energy. Our study confirms the existence of multiple phase transitions under the superconducting dome in cuprates.

Probing electron-electron interaction in quantum Hall systems with scanning tunneling spectroscopy

Using low-temperature scanning tunneling spectroscopy applied to the Cs-induced two-dimensional electron system (2DES) on p-type InSb(110), we probe electron-electron interaction effects in the quantum Hall regime. The 2DES is decoupled from bulk states and exhibits spreading resistance within the insulating quantum Hall phases. In quantitative agreement with calculations we find an exchange enhancement of the spin splitting. Moreover, we observe that both the spatially averaged as well as the local density of states feature a characteristic Coulomb gap at the Fermi level. These results show that electron-electron interaction can be probed down to a resolution below all relevant length scales.