Evolution of one-dimensional electronic dynamics in Nb2n+1SinTe4n+2

Abstract

The electronic dynamics in ${\mathrm{Nb}}_{2n+1}{\mathrm{Si}}_{n}{\mathrm{Te}}_{4n+2}$ with varying component $n$ are systematically investigated by low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS). Our quasiparticle interferences reveal a nondecay standing wave at the Fermi level, proving the one-dimensional (1D) nature of the charge carriers (holes) in the materials. The energy and component dependence of phase relaxation length ${l}_{\ensuremath{\phi}}$ and lifetime $\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\tau}$ of 1D holes are unveiled and found to be consistent with the Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid theory. Our work demonstrates ${\mathrm{Nb}}_{2n+1}{\mathrm{Si}}_{n}{\mathrm{Te}}_{4n+2}$ as a platform to manipulate 1D physics and offers an alternative perspective for studying electronic dynamics of non-Fermi liquids through STM experiments.