Evidence of higher-order topology in multilayer WTe(2)from Josephson coupling through anisotropic hinge states

Abstract

Td-WTe2(non-centrosymmetric and orthorhombic), a type-II Weyl semimetal, is expected to have higher-order topological phases with topologically protected, helical one-dimensional hinge states when its Weyl points are annihilated. However, the detection of these hinge states is difficult due to the semimetallic behaviour of the bulk. In this study, we have spatially resolved the hinge states by analysing the magnetic field interference of the supercurrent in Nb-WTe2-Nb proximity Josephson junctions. The Josephson current along theaaxis of the WTe(2)crystal, but not along thebaxis, showed a sharp enhancement at the edges of the junction, and the amount of enhanced Josephson current was comparable to the upper limits of a single one-dimensional helical channel. Our experimental observations suggest a higher-order topological phase in WTe(2)and its corresponding anisotropic topological hinge states, in agreement with theoretical calculations. Our work paves the way for the study of hinge states in topological transition-metal dichalcogenides and analogous phases. Transport measurements and calculations show that WTe(2)may be a higher-order topological insulator with topological hinge states.