Evolution of the Surface Phase Transitions in IrTe
Affiliations
The phase transitions in IrTe have been extensively studied but the symmetry at each phase is yet to be settled. Employing second harmonic generation (SHG) measurements over a temperature range of 4 -300 K, we probe the evolution of the symmetry of IrTe. Our results indicate shifts in two distinct transition temperatures (T and T with T > T) through thermal cycling, providing an explanation for the variations of reported values in literature. The SHG polarimetry measurements identify symmetries in different temperature ranges, confirming the trigonal symmetry above T, the triclinic symmetry between T and T, and the coexistence of multiple stripe phases below T. The most striking feature is the reemergence of a trigonal phase as reflected by six-fold symmetry below ~ 10 K which is likely responsible for phenomena observed at low temperatures.