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arXiv · 1109.3638

Measurement of an Exceptionally Weak Electron-Phonon Coupling on the Surface of the Topological Insulator Bi$_2$Se$_3$ Using Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy

Z. -H. Pan·A. V. Fedorov·D. Gardner·Y. S. Lee·S. Chu·T. Valla
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Abstract

Gapless surface states on topological insulators are protected from elastic scattering on non-magnetic impurities which makes them promising candidates for low-power electronic applications. However, for wide-spread applications, these states should have to remain coherent at ambient temperatures. Here, we studied temperature dependence of the electronic structure and the scattering rates on the surface of a model topological insulator, Bi$_2$Se$_3$, by high resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We found an extremely weak broadening of the topological surface state with temperature and no anomalies in the state's dispersion, indicating exceptionally weak electron-phonon coupling. Our results demonstrate that the topological surface state is protected not only from elastic scattering on impurities, but also from scattering on low-energy phonons, suggesting that topological insulators could serve as a basis for room temperature electronic devices.

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Z. -H. Pan, A. V. Fedorov, D. Gardner, Y. S. Lee, S. Chu, T. Valla. 2011-09-16. Measurement of an Exceptionally Weak Electron-Phonon Coupling on the Surface of the Topological Insulator Bi$_2$Se$_3$ Using Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.108.187001

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