Confined vs. extended Dirac surface states in topological crystalline insulator nanowires
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Published:2023-03-13
Issue:1
Volume:6
Page:
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ISSN:2666-9366
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Container-title:SciPost Physics Core
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language:
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Short-container-title:SciPost Phys. Core
Author:
Majlin Skiff Roni1,
de Juan Fernando23,
Queiroz Raquel4,
Mathimalar Subramanian4,
Beidenkopf Haim4,
Ilan Roni1
Affiliation:
1. Tel Aviv University
2. Donostia International Physics Center
3. Ikerbasque
4. Weizmann Institute of Science
Abstract
Confining two dimensional Dirac fermions on the surface of
topological insulators has remained an outstanding conceptual challenge.
Here we show that Dirac fermion confinement is achievable in topological
crystalline insulators (TCI), which host multiple surface Dirac cones
depending on the surface termination and the symmetries it preserves.
This confinement is most dramatically reflected in the flux dependence
of these Dirac states in the nanowire geometry, where different facets
connect to form a closed surface. Using SnTe as a case study, we show
how wires with all four facets of the \langle 100 \rangle‹100›
type display novel Aharonov-Bohm oscillations, while nanowires with the
four facets of the \langle 110 \rangle‹110›
type such oscillations are absent due to strong confinement of the Dirac
states to each facet separately. Our results place TCI nanowires as a
versatile platform for confining and manipulating Dirac surface
states.
Funder
European Research Council
Israel Science Foundation
Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
United States - Israel Binational Science Foundation
Publisher
Stichting SciPost
Subject
Statistical and Nonlinear Physics,Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics,Nuclear and High Energy Physics,Condensed Matter Physics