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Unexpected edge conduction in mercury telluride quantum wells under broken time-reversal symmetry

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Listed:
  • Eric Yue Ma

    (Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, 476 Lomita Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA
    Stanford University, 348 Via Pueblo Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA)

  • M. Reyes Calvo

    (Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, 476 Lomita Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA
    Stanford University, 348 Via Pueblo Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA)

  • Jing Wang

    (Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, 476 Lomita Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA
    Stanford University, 382 Via Pueblo Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA)

  • Biao Lian

    (Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, 476 Lomita Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA
    Stanford University, 382 Via Pueblo Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA)

  • Mathias Mühlbauer

    (Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, 476 Lomita Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA
    Physikalisches Institut (EP3), Universität Würzburg)

  • Christoph Brüne

    (Physikalisches Institut (EP3), Universität Würzburg)

  • Yong-Tao Cui

    (Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, 476 Lomita Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA)

  • Keji Lai

    (Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, 476 Lomita Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA
    Stanford University, 348 Via Pueblo Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA
    University of Texas at Austin)

  • Worasom Kundhikanjana

    (Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, 476 Lomita Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA
    Stanford University, 348 Via Pueblo Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA)

  • Yongliang Yang

    (Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, 476 Lomita Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA)

  • Matthias Baenninger

    (Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, 476 Lomita Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA
    Stanford University, 382 Via Pueblo Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA)

  • Markus König

    (Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, 476 Lomita Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA
    Stanford University, 382 Via Pueblo Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA)

  • Christopher Ames

    (Physikalisches Institut (EP3), Universität Würzburg)

  • Hartmut Buhmann

    (Physikalisches Institut (EP3), Universität Würzburg)

  • Philipp Leubner

    (Physikalisches Institut (EP3), Universität Würzburg)

  • Laurens W. Molenkamp

    (Physikalisches Institut (EP3), Universität Würzburg)

  • Shou-Cheng Zhang

    (Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, 476 Lomita Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA
    Stanford University, 382 Via Pueblo Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA)

  • David Goldhaber-Gordon

    (Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, 476 Lomita Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA
    Stanford University, 382 Via Pueblo Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA)

  • Michael A. Kelly

    (Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, 476 Lomita Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA)

  • Zhi-Xun Shen

    (Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, 476 Lomita Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA
    Stanford University, 348 Via Pueblo Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA
    Stanford University, 382 Via Pueblo Mall, Stanford, California 94305, USA)

Abstract

The realization of quantum spin Hall effect in HgTe quantum wells is considered a milestone in the discovery of topological insulators. Quantum spin Hall states are predicted to allow current flow at the edges of an insulating bulk, as demonstrated in various experiments. A key prediction yet to be experimentally verified is the breakdown of the edge conduction under broken time-reversal symmetry. Here we first establish a systematic framework for the magnetic field dependence of electrostatically gated quantum spin Hall devices. We then study edge conduction of an inverted quantum well device under broken time-reversal symmetry using microwave impedance microscopy, and compare our findings to a non-inverted device. At zero magnetic field, only the inverted device shows clear edge conduction in its local conductivity profile, consistent with theory. Surprisingly, the edge conduction persists up to 9 T with little change. This indicates physics beyond simple quantum spin Hall model, including material-specific properties and possibly many-body effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Eric Yue Ma & M. Reyes Calvo & Jing Wang & Biao Lian & Mathias Mühlbauer & Christoph Brüne & Yong-Tao Cui & Keji Lai & Worasom Kundhikanjana & Yongliang Yang & Matthias Baenninger & Markus König & Chr, 2015. "Unexpected edge conduction in mercury telluride quantum wells under broken time-reversal symmetry," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-6, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms8252
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8252
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    Cited by:

    1. Weiyan Lin & Yang Feng & Yongchao Wang & Jinjiang Zhu & Zichen Lian & Huanyu Zhang & Hao Li & Yang Wu & Chang Liu & Yihua Wang & Jinsong Zhang & Yayu Wang & Chui-Zhen Chen & Xiaodong Zhou & Jian Shen, 2022. "Direct visualization of edge state in even-layer MnBi2Te4 at zero magnetic field," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
    2. Saquib Shamim & Pragya Shekhar & Wouter Beugeling & Jan Böttcher & Andreas Budewitz & Julian-Benedikt Mayer & Lukas Lunczer & Ewelina M. Hankiewicz & Hartmut Buhmann & Laurens W. Molenkamp, 2022. "Counterpropagating topological and quantum Hall edge channels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.

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