Correlation-driven organic 3D topological insulator with relativistic fermions.

Exploring new topological phenomena and functionalities induced by strong electron correlation has been a central issue in modern condensed-matter physics. One example is a topological insulator (TI) state and its functionality driven by the Coulomb repulsion rather than a spin-orbit coupling. Here, we report a 'correlation-driven' TI state realized in an organic zero-gap system α-(BETS)₂I₃. The topological surface state and chiral anomaly are observed in temperature and field dependences of resistance, indicating a three-dimensional TI state at low temperatures. Moreover, we observe a topological phase switching between the TI state and non-equilibrium Dirac semimetal state by a dc current, which is a unique functionality of a correlation-driven TI state. Our findings demonstrate that correlation-driven TIs are promising candidates not only for practical electronic devices but also as a field for discovering new topological phenomena and phases. Topological properties can theoretically be generated by electron correlation rather than spin-orbit coupling. Here, the authors report a correlation-driven topological insulator state in the organic material α-(BETS)₂I₃, and its current-driven switching to a Dirac semimetal state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]