Terahertz single conductance quantum and topological phase transitions in topological insulator Bi2Se3 ultrathin films

Byung Cheol Park, Tae-Hyeon Kim, Kyung Ik Sim, Boyoun Kang, Jeong Won Kim, Beongki Cho, Kwang-Ho Jeong, Mann-Ho Cho () and Jae Hoon Kim ()
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Byung Cheol Park: Yonsei University
Tae-Hyeon Kim: Yonsei University
Kyung Ik Sim: Yonsei University
Boyoun Kang: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST)
Jeong Won Kim: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS)
Beongki Cho: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST)
Kwang-Ho Jeong: Yonsei University
Mann-Ho Cho: Yonsei University
Jae Hoon Kim: Yonsei University

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Strong spin-orbit interaction and time-reversal symmetry in topological insulators generate novel quantum states called topological surface states. Their study provides unique opportunities to explore exotic phenomena such as spin Hall effects and topological phase transitions, relevant to the development of quantum devices for spintronics and quantum computation. Although ultrahigh-vacuum surface probes can identify individual topological surface states, standard electrical and optical experiments have so far been hampered by the interference of bulk and quantum well states. Here, with terahertz time-domain spectroscopy of ultrathin Bi2Se3 films, we give evidence for topological phase transitions, a single conductance quantum per topological surface state, and a quantized terahertz absorbance of 2.9% (four times the fine structure constant). Our experiment demonstrates the feasibility to isolate, detect and manipulate topological surface states in the ambient at room temperature for future fundamental research on the novel physics of topological insulators and their practical applications.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7552

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