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Scientific article
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English

Emergent quantum confinement at topological insulator surfaces

Published inNature communications, vol. 3, no. 1159
Publication date2012
Abstract

Bismuth-chalchogenides are model examples of three-dimensional topological insulators. Their ideal bulk-truncated surface hosts a single spin-helical surface state, which is the simplest possible surface electronic structure allowed by their non-trivial Z2 topology. However, real surfaces of such compounds, even if kept in ultra-high vacuum, rapidly develop a much more complex electronic structure whose origin and properties have proved controversial. Here we demonstrate that a conceptually simple model, implementing a semiconductor-like band bending in a parameter-free tight-binding supercell calculation, can quantitatively explain the entire measured hierarchy of electronic states. In combination with circular dichroism in angle-resolved photoemission experiments, we further uncover a rich three-dimensional spin texture of this surface electronic system, resulting from the non-trivial topology of the bulk band structure. Moreover, our study sheds new light on the surface-bulk connectivity in topological insulators, and reveals how this is modified by quantum confinement.

Keywords
  • Physical sciences
  • Condensed matter
  • Materials science
Research group
Citation (ISO format)
BAHRAMY, M.S. et al. Emergent quantum confinement at topological insulator surfaces. In: Nature communications, 2012, vol. 3, n° 1159. doi: 10.1038/ncomms2162
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Article (Published version)
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ISSN of the journal2041-1723
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