Bulk and surface electronic structure of NiBi 3

Abstract

Here, we present a high-resolution, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study of the normal electronic state of the superconducting NiBi 3 . Our experimental results show a complex Fermi surface structure with many sheets along the Γ–$\textit{X}$ and Γ–$\textit{Y}$ directions of the Brillouin zone. The band structure presents a topological surface state (TSS) at the high symmetry Γ point with a surface Dirac point at the energy –0.185 eV. The Dirac-like cone presents a linear dispersion along $k_x$ while it presents saddle-like states along $k_y$ located in the vicinity of the surface Dirac point. Our results are in good agreement with results of density functional theory band structure calculations. We also discuss the topological band structure of the NiBi 3 compound.