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How to probe the spin contribution to momentum relaxation in topological insulators

Author

Listed:
  • Moon-Sun Nam

    (University of Oxford)

  • Benjamin H. Williams

    (University of Oxford)

  • Yulin Chen

    (University of Oxford)

  • Sonia Contera

    (University of Oxford)

  • Shuhua Yao

    (Nanjing University)

  • Minghui Lu

    (Nanjing University)

  • Yan-Feng Chen

    (Nanjing University)

  • Grigore A. Timco

    (The University of Manchester)

  • Christopher A. Muryn

    (The University of Manchester)

  • Richard E. P. Winpenny

    (The University of Manchester)

  • Arzhang Ardavan

    (University of Oxford)

Abstract

Topological insulators exhibit a metallic surface state in which the directions of the carriers’ momentum and spin are locked together. This characteristic property, which lies at the heart of proposed applications of topological insulators, protects carriers in the surface state from back-scattering unless the scattering centres are time-reversal symmetry breaking (i.e. magnetic). Here, we introduce a method of probing the effect of magnetic scattering by decorating the surface of topological insulators with molecules, whose magnetic degrees of freedom can be engineered independently of their electrostatic structure. We show that this approach allows us to separate the effects of magnetic and non-magnetic scattering in the perturbative limit. We thereby confirm that the low-temperature conductivity of SmB6 is dominated by a surface state and that the momentum of quasiparticles in this state is particularly sensitive to magnetic scatterers, as expected in a topological insulator.

Suggested Citation

  • Moon-Sun Nam & Benjamin H. Williams & Yulin Chen & Sonia Contera & Shuhua Yao & Minghui Lu & Yan-Feng Chen & Grigore A. Timco & Christopher A. Muryn & Richard E. P. Winpenny & Arzhang Ardavan, 2018. "How to probe the spin contribution to momentum relaxation in topological insulators," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-02420-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02420-4
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