TY - JOUR T1 - Spin-Resolved Electronic Response to the Phase Transition in MoTe2 JF - PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS Y1 - 2018 A1 - Weber, Andrew P. A1 - Ruessmann, Philipp A1 - Xu, Nan A1 - Muff, Stefan A1 - Fanciulli, Mauro A1 - Magrez, Arnaud A1 - Bugnon, Philippe A1 - Berger, Helmuth A1 - Plumb, Nicholas C. A1 - Shi, Ming A1 - Blügel, Stefan A1 - Mavropoulos, Phivos A1 - Dil, J. Hugo AB - The semimetal MoTe2 is studied by spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy across the centrosymmetry-breaking structural transition temperature of the bulk. A three-dimensional spin- texture is observed in the bulk Fermi surface in the low temperature, noncentrosymmetric phase that is consistent with first-principles calculations. The spin texture and two types of surface Fermi arc are not completely suppressed above the bulk transition temperature. The lifetimes of quasiparticles forming the Fermi arcs depend on thermal history and lengthen considerably upon cooling toward the bulk structural transition. The results indicate that a new form of polar instability exists near the surface when the bulk is largely in a centrosymmetric phase. VL - 121 ER -