Experimental determination of the topological phase diagram in Cerium monopnictides

Abstract

We use bulk-sensitive soft X-ray angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and investigate bulk electronic structures of Ce monopnictides (CeX; X=P, As, Sb and Bi). By exploiting a paradigmatic study of the band structures as a function of their spin-orbit coupling (SOC), we draw the topological phase diagram of CeX and unambiguously reveal the topological phase transition from a trivial to a nontrivial regime in going from CeP to CeBi induced by the band inversion. The underlying mechanism of the topological phase transition is elucidated in terms of SOC in concert with their semimetallic band structures. Our comprehensive observations provide a new insight into the band topology hidden in the bulk of solid states.