A Tight-Binding Investigation of the NaxCoO2 Fermi Surface

Abstract

We perform an orthogonal basis tight binding fit to an LAPW calculation of paramagnetic Na$_x$CoO$_2$ for several dopings. The optimal position of the apical oxygen at each doping is resolved, revealing a non-trivial dependence of the band structure and Fermi surface on oxygen height. We find that the small e$_{g'}$ hole pockets are preserved throughout all investigated dopings and discuss some possible reasons for the lack of experimental evidence for these Fermi sheets.