Coherent Interlayer Coupling in Quasi-Two-Dimensional Dirac Fermions in ?-(BEDT-TTF)2I3

Theoretical and experimental studies have supported that the electronic structure of alpha-(BEDT-TTF)2I3 under pressure is described by two-dimensional Dirac fermions. When the interlayer tunneling is coherent, the electronic structure of the system becomes three-dimensional, and we expect the peak structure to appear in the interlayer resistivity under magnetic fields. We theoretically and experimentally show that the peak appears in the interlayer resistivity at low temperatures and high magnetic fields. From the experiment, we estimate that the magnitude of the interlayer tunneling is t1 similar to 1 meV. Our result opens the door to investigating the three-dimensional electronic structure of alpha-(BEDT-TTF)2I3.

Automated summary

Theoretical and experimental studies have shown that the electronic structure of alpha-(BEDT-TTF)2I3 can be described as two-dimensional Dirac fermions under pressure. When the interlayer tunneling is coherent, the system's electronic structure becomes three-dimensional, and a peak structure is expected to appear in the interlayer resistivity under magnetic fields. We have theoretically and experimentally observed this peak in the interlayer resistivity at low temperatures and high magnetic fields. From the experiment, we estimated the magnitude of the interlayer tunneling to be around 1 meV. Our results provide an opportunity for investigating the three-dimensional electronic structure of alpha-(BEDT-TTF)2I3.