Skip to main content

Unconventional transformation of spin Dirac phase across a topological quantum phase transition

Author(s): Xu, Su-Yang; Neupane, Madhab; Belopolski, Ilya; Liu, Chang; Alidoust, Nasser; et al

Download
To refer to this page use: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/pr1833mz72
Abstract: The topology of a topological material can be encoded in its surface states. These surface states can only be removed by a bulk topological quantum phase transition into a trivial phase. Here we use photoemission spectroscopy to image the formation of protected surface states in a topological insulator as we chemically tune the system through a topological transition. Surprisingly, we discover an exotic spin-momentum locked, gapped surface state in the trivial phase that shares many important properties with the actual topological surface state in anticipation of the change of topology. Using a spin-resolved measurement, we show that apart from a surface bandgap these states develop spin textures similar to the topological surface states well before the transition. Our results offer a general paradigm for understanding how surface states in topological phases arise from a quantum phase transition and are suggestive for the future realization of Weyl arcs, condensed matter supersymmetry and other fascinating phenomena in the vicinity of a quantum criticality.
Publication Date: 17-Apr-2015
Electronic Publication Date: 17-Apr-2015
Citation: Xu, Su-Yang, Neupane, Madhab, Belopolski, Ilya, Liu, Chang, Alidoust, Nasser, Bian, Guang, Jia, Shuang, Landolt, Gabriel, Slomski, Batosz, Dil, J Hugo, Shibayev, Pavel P, Basak, Susmita, Chang, Tay-Rong, Jeng, Horng-Tay, Cava, Robert J, Lin, Hsin, Bansil, Arun, Hasan, M Zahid. (2015) Unconventional transformation of spin Dirac phase across a topological quantum phase transition. Nature Communications, 6 (1), 10.1038/ncomms7870
DOI: doi:10.1038/ncomms7870
EISSN: 2041-1723
Language: en
Type of Material: Journal Article
Journal/Proceeding Title: Nature Communications
Version: Final published version. This is an open access article.



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