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Emergence of a hidden-order phase well below the charge density wave transition in a topological Weyl semimetal
Phys. Rev. B 113, 045114 – Published 8 January, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/cds9-pnfr
Abstract
The emergence of a charge density wave (CDW) in a Weyl semimetal—a correlated topological phase—is exceptionally rare in condensed matter systems. In this context, the quasi-one-dimensional type-III Weyl semimetal ( undergoes a CDW transition at , providing an exceptional platform to investigate correlated topological CDW states. Here, we uncover an additional hidden-order phase transition at , well below the CDW onset, using low-frequency resistance noise spectroscopy, electrical transport, and thermoelectric measurements. This transition is characterized by a sharp enhancement in the noise exponent () and variance of resistance fluctuations. Analysis of higher-order statistics of resistance fluctuations reveals the correlated dynamics underlying the transition. A pronounced anomaly in the Seebeck coefficient near further suggests a Fermi surface reconstruction. First-principles calculations reveal a structural distortion from the high-symmetry phase to a low-symmetry phase, via an intermediate symmetry. This leads to renormalization of the electronic structure near the Fermi level and opening of a bandgap in the hidden-order phase. These findings demonstrate a previously unidentified correlated phase transition in the topological CDW-Weyl semimetal (, enriching the phase diagram of this material and establishing it as an ideal platform for studying intertwined electronic and structural orders.