Effective lifting of the topological protection of quantum spin Hall edge states by edge coupling

R. Stühler (), A. Kowalewski, F. Reis, D. Jungblut, F. Dominguez, B. Scharf, G. Li, J. Schäfer, E. M. Hankiewicz and R. Claessen ()
Additional contact information
R. Stühler: Physikalisches Institut and Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat, Universität Würzburg
A. Kowalewski: Physikalisches Institut and Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat, Universität Würzburg
F. Reis: Physikalisches Institut and Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat, Universität Würzburg
D. Jungblut: Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik and Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat, Universität Würzburg
F. Dominguez: Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik and Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat, Universität Würzburg
B. Scharf: Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik and Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat, Universität Würzburg
G. Li: Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik and Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat, Universität Würzburg
J. Schäfer: Physikalisches Institut and Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat, Universität Würzburg
E. M. Hankiewicz: Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik and Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat, Universität Würzburg
R. Claessen: Physikalisches Institut and Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat, Universität Würzburg

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract The scientific interest in two-dimensional topological insulators (2D TIs) is currently shifting from a more fundamental perspective to the exploration and design of novel functionalities. Key concepts for the use of 2D TIs in spintronics are based on the topological protection and spin-momentum locking of their helical edge states. In this study we present experimental evidence that topological protection can be (partially) lifted by pairwise coupling of 2D TI edges in close proximity. Using direct wave function mapping via scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) we compare isolated and coupled topological edges in the 2D TI bismuthene. The latter situation is realized by natural lattice line defects and reveals distinct quasi-particle interference (QPI) patterns, identified as electronic Fabry-Pérot resonator modes. In contrast, free edges show no sign of any single-particle backscattering. These results pave the way for novel device concepts based on active control of topological protection through inter-edge hybridization for, e.g., electronic Fabry-Pérot interferometry.

Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-30996-z Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-30996-z

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30996-z

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().