Electronic topological transition in zinc metal? A 67Zn-Mössbauer investigation

Abstract

The question concerning the existence of an electronic topological transition (ETT) in Zn metal under quasi-hydrostatic pressure at ∼6.6 GPa caused a considerable controversy in the literature. We briefly review low-temperature 67Zn-Mossbauer data and scalar-relativistic augmented plane wave calculations and give a consistent interpretation in terms of an ETT. To highlight some important aspects of the controversy two theoretical and two experimental publications will be discussed in more detail. At present the existence of an ETT in Zn metal is disputed both from an experimental and from a theoretical point of view. The suggestion of a transition to a commensurate spin-density wave at ∼6.6 GPa instead of an ETT may reconcile the seemingly contradictory results of 67Zn-Mossbauer experiments at 4.2 K and of room temperature inelastic neutron scattering measurements. However, it does not explain the anomalies found in theoretical calculations performed for Zn metal in this pressure range. Considerable experimental and theoretical efforts are required to confirm - or rule out - a spin-density-wave transition.