Electronic structure of ZrTe3

The Fermi surface topology of the layered superconducting charge density wave compound ZrTe3is investigated by angle resolved photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory. The Fermi surface is dominated by bands originating from two perpendicular systems of quasi one-dimensional chains. Nesting and opening of a pseudogap at temperatures as high as 250K are signatures of a Peierls transition in one of these chains. The nesting properties are also studied for high pressure simulated crystal structure.