Affiliation:
1. Facultad de Física Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Vicuña Mackenna 4860 Santiago 7820436 Chile
2. Center for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials CIEN‐UC Avenida Vicuña Mackenna 4860 Santiago 7820436 Chile
Abstract
AbstractThe probability density distribution is analyzed in a topological insulator (TI) slab of finite thickness, where the bulk and surface states are allowed to hybridize. By using an effective continuum Hamiltonian approach as a theoretical framework, the wave functions are analytically obtained for each state near the ‐point. The results reveal that, under particular combinations of the hybridized bulk and surface states, the spatial symmetry of the electronic probability density with respect to the center of the slab can be spontaneously broken. This symmetry breaking arises as a combination of the parity of the solutions, their spin projection, and the material constants.
Funder
Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico