Skip to main content

Spatial fluctuations of helical Dirac fermions on the surface of topological insulators

Author(s): Beidenkopf, Haim; Roushan, Pedram; Seo, Jungpil; Gorman, Lindsay; Drozdov, Ilya; et al

Download
To refer to this page use: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/pr14t6p
Abstract: Surfaces of topological insulators host a new class of states(1) with Dirac dispersion(2-4) and helical spin texture(5). Potential quantum computing and spintronic applications using these states require manipulation of their electronic properties at the Dirac energy of their band structure by inducing magnetism or superconductivity through doping and the proximity effect(6-9). Yet, the response of these states near the Dirac energy in their band structure to various perturbations has remained unexplored. Here we use spectroscopic mapping with the scanning tunnelling microscope to study their response to magnetic and non-magnetic bulk dopants in Bi2Te3 and Bi2Se3. Far from the Dirac energy, helicity provides remarkable resilience to backscattering even in the presence of ferromagnetism. However, approaching the Dirac point, where the surface states’ wavelength diverges, bulk doping results in pronounced nanoscale spatial fluctuations of energy, momentum and helicity. Our results and their connection with similar studies of Dirac electrons in graphene(10-13) demonstrate that although backscattering and localization are absent for Dirac topological surface states, reducing charge defects is required for both tuning the chemical potential to the Dirac energy and achieving high electrical mobility for these novel states.
Publication Date: Dec-2011
Electronic Publication Date: 9-Oct-2011
Citation: Beidenkopf, Haim, Roushan, Pedram, Seo, Jungpil, Gorman, Lindsay, Drozdov, Ilya, Hor, Yew San, Cava, RJ, Yazdani, Ali. (2011). Spatial fluctuations of helical Dirac fermions on the surface of topological insulators. NATURE PHYSICS, 7 (939 - 943. doi:10.1038/NPHYS2108
DOI: doi:10.1038/NPHYS2108
ISSN: 1745-2473
EISSN: 1745-2481
Pages: 939 - 943
Type of Material: Journal Article
Journal/Proceeding Title: NATURE PHYSICS
Version: Author's manuscript



Items in OAR@Princeton are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.