Bismuthene under cover: graphene intercalation of a large gap quantum spin Hall insulator

The quantum spin Hall insulator bismuthene, a two-third monolayer of bismuth on SiC(0001), is distinguished by helical metallic edge states that are protected by a groundbreaking 800 meV topological gap, making it ideal for room temperature applications. This massive gap inversion arises from a unique synergy between flat honeycomb structure, strong spin orbit coupling, and an orbital filtering effect that is mediated by the substrate. However, the rapid oxidation of bismuthene in air has severely hindered the development of applications, so far confining experiments to ultra-high vacuum conditions. Intercalating bismuthene between SiC and a protective sheet of graphene, this barrier is successfully overcome...

Adv. Mater. 37, 2502412 (2025)

Momentum microscopy with combined hemispherical and time-of-flight electron analyzers at the soft X-ray beamline I09 of the diamond light source

The three-dimensional recording scheme of time-of-flight momentum microscopes (ToF-MMs) is advantageous for fast mapping of the photoelectron distribution in (E,k) parameter space over the entire Brillouin zone. However, the 2 ns pulse period of most synchrotrons is too short for pure ToF photoelectron spectroscopy. The use of a hemispherical analyzer (HSA) as a pre-filter allows ToF-MM at such high pulse rates. The first HSA & ToF hybrid MM is operated at the soft X-ray branch of beamline I09 at the Diamond Light Source, UK. The photon energy ranges from 105 eV to 2 keV, with circular polarization available for hν ≥145 eV. The HSA reduces the transmitted energy band to typically 0.5 eV, which is then further analyzed by ToF recording... 

Ultramicroscopy (2025) 114169

Chirality in the kagome metal CsV₃Sb₅

Using x-ray photoelectron diffraction (XPD) and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we study photoemission intensity changes related to changes in the geometric and electronic structure in the kagome metal CsV3⁢Sb5 upon transition to an unconventional charge density wave (CDW) state. The XPD patterns reveal the presence of a chiral atomic structure in the CDW phase. Furthermore, using circularly polarized x-rays, we have found a pronounced nontrivial circular dichroism in the angular distribution of the valence band photoemission in the CDW phase, indicating a chirality of the electronic structure. This observation is consistent with the proposed orbital loop current order. ...

Phys. Rev. Lett. 134, 096401 (2025)

Nanophysics at surfaces

The research activities of our group are concerned with the physics of low-dimensional systems, where the electron states resulting from dimensional confinement lead to unusual conduction properties and to phase transitions as a function of temperature.

Oxide interfaces

Our group focusses on the electronic structure of correlated systems in transition metal oxides (TMOs). Special interest lies in the interplay of different degrees of freedom (charge, spin, orbital, lattice) in the light of metal-insulator and other phase transitions.

Neutron and resonant X-ray spectroscopy

In our group we investigate complex, functional materials such as transition metal oxides, which are used in the emerging field of correlated nanoelectronics. Unlike with conventional semiconductors, exotic superconducting, orbital and magnetic states can be realized at the interfaces in layered structures comprising such materials.