Electronic Structure of the Weak Topological Insulator Candidate Zintl Ba_(3)Cd_(2)Sb_(4)

One of the greatest triumph of condensed matter physics in the past ten years is the classification of materials by the principle of topology.The existence of topological protected dissipationless surface state makes topological insulators great potential for applications and hotly studied.However,compared with the prosperity of strong topological insulators,theoretical predicted candidate materials and experimental confirmation of weak topological insulators(WTIs) are both extremely rare.By combining systematic first-principles calculation and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements,we have studied the electronic structure of the dark surface of the WTI candidate Zintl Ba_(3)Cd_(2)Sb_(4)and another related material Ba_(3)Cd_(2)As_(4).The existence of two Dirac surface states on specific side surfaces predicted by theoretical calculations and the observed two band inversions in the Brillouin zone give strong evidence to prove that the Ba_(3)Cd_(2)Sb_(4)is a WTI.The spectroscopic characterization of this Zintl Ba_(3)Cd_(2)N_(4)(N = As and Sb) family materials will facilitate applications of their novel topological properties.