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Interplay between fermiology and electron correlation is crucial for realizing exotic quantum phases. Transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) 1T-TaS2 has sparked a tremendous attention owing to its unique Mott-insulating phase coexisting with the charge-density wave (CDW). However, how the fermiology and electron correlation are associated with such properties has yet to be claried. Here we demonstrate that monolayer 1T-NbTe2 is a new class of two-dimensional TMD which has the star-of-David lattice similarly to bulk TaS2 and isostructural monolayer NbSe2, but exhibits a metallic ground state with an unusual lattice periodicity root19xroot19 characterized by the sparsely occupied star-of-David lattice. By using angle-resolved photoemission and scanning-tunneling spectroscopies in combination with first-principles band-structure calculations, we found that the hidden Fermi-surface nesting and associated CDW formation are a primary cause to realize this unique correlated metallic state with no signature of Mott gap. The present result points to a vital role of underlying fermiology to characterize the Mott phase of TMDs., To be published in Physical Review B

Rhizotaxis is established under changing environmental conditions via periodic priming of lateral root (LR) initiation at the root tips and adaptive LR formation along the primary root (PR). In contrast to the adaptable LR formation in response to nutrient availability, there is little information on root development during interactions with beneficial microbes. The Arabidopsis root system is characteristically modified upon colonization by the root endophytic fungus Serendipita indica, accompanied by a marked stimulation of LR formation and the inhibition of PR growth. This root system modification has been attributed to endophyte-derived indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). However, it has yet to be clearly explained how fungal IAA affects the intrinsic LR formation process. In this study, we show that diffusible compounds (chemical signals) other than IAA are present in the coculture medium of Arabidopsis and S. indica and induce auxin-responsive DR5::GUS expression in specific sections within the pericycle layer. The DR5::GUS expression was independent of polar auxin transport and the major IAA biosynthetic pathways, implicating unidentified mechanisms responsible for the auxin response and LR formation. Detailed metabolite analysis revealed the presence of multiple compounds that induce local auxin responses and LR formation. We found that benzoic acid (BA) cooperatively acted with exogenous IAA to generate a local auxin response in the pericycle layer, suggesting that BA is one of the chemical signals involved in adaptable LR formation. Identification and characterization of the chemical signals will contribute to a greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptable root development and to unconventional technologies for sustainable agriculture.

We have performed angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy on epitaxial VTe2 films to elucidate the relationship between the fermiology and charge-density waves (CDW). We found that a two-dimensional triangular pocket in 1 monolayer (ML) VTe2 is converted to a strongly warped quasi-one-dimensional (1D) Fermi surface in the 6ML counterpart, likely associated with the 1T-to-1T' structural phase transition. We also revealed a metallic Fermi edge on the entire Fermi surface in 6ML at low temperature distinct from anisotropic pseudogap in 1ML, signifying a contrast behavior of CDW that is also supported by first-principles band-structure caluculations. The present result points to the importance of simultaneously controlling the structural phase and fermiology to manipulate the CDW properties in ultrathin transition-metal dichalcogenides., Comment: To be published in Physical Review B

We report a tunable OFDM demultiplexer whose major element is a star coupler-based optical DFT circuit. Variable channel number 20 to 100 Gsymbol/s OFDM signals were demultiplexed by selecting delay lines into the star coupler.