arXiv subjects

Gerard Sullivan

Publications and source records attributed to Gerard Sullivan.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2019

Interaction-induced crossover between weak anti-localization and weak localization in a disordered InAs/GaSb double quantum well

We present magneto-transport study in an InAs/GaSb double quantum well structure in the weak localization regime. As the charge carriers are depleted using a top gate electrode, we observe a crossover from weak anti-localization (WAL) to weak localization (WL), when the inelastic phase breaking time decreases below spin-orbit characteristic time as a result of enhanced electron-electron interactions at lower carrier concentrations. The same crossover is observed with increasing temperature. The linear temperature behavior of inelastic scattering rate indicates that the dominant phase breaking mechanism in our 2D system is due to electron-electron interaction.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Localization of trivial edge states in InAs/GaSb composite quantum wells

InAs/GaSb heterostructure is one of the systems where quantum spin Hall effect is predicted to arise. However, as confirmed by recent experimental studies, the most significant highlight of the effect i.e., the conductance quantization due to non-trivial edge states is obscured by spurious conductivity arising from trivial edge states. In this work, we present experimental observation of strong localization of trivial edge modes in an InAs/GaSb heterostructure which was weakly disordered by silicon delta-like dopants within the InAs layer. The edge conduction which is characterized by a temperature-independent behavior at low temperatures and a power law at high temperatures is observed to be exponentially scaled with the length of the edge. Comprehensive analysis on measurements with a range of devices is in agreement with the localization theories in quasi one-dimensional electronic systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Anomalous Conductance Oscillations in the Hybridization Gap of InAs/GaSb Quantum Wells

We observe the magnetic oscillation of electric conductance in the two-dimensional InAs/GaSb quantum spin Hall insulator. Its insulating bulk origin is unambiguously demonstrated by the antiphase oscillations of the conductance and the resistance. Characteristically, the in-gap oscillation frequency is higher than the Shubnikov-de Haas oscillation close to the conduction band edge in the metallic regime. The temperature dependence shows both thermal activation and smearing effects, which cannot be described by the Lifshitz-Kosevich theory. A two-band Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang model with a large quasiparticle self-energy in the insulating regime is proposed to capture the main properties of the in-gap oscillations.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Resistive signature of excitonic coupling in an electron-hole double layer with a middle barrier

We study the interlayer scattering mediated by long-range Coulomb interaction between electrons (density n) and holes (p) in a double-layer system. The gated device is made of InAs (e) and InGaSb (h) quantum wells separated by a AlSb middle barrier such that the interlayer tunneling is negligibly small. By using independent-layer contacts we measure the transport tensor \r{ho}_xx and \r{ho}_xy that are solely from the InAs layer, while sweeping p in the InGaSb layer. We found a strongly enhanced resistive scattering signal as the carrier densities approach a total charge neutrality, n = p, which cannot be described by the Fermi-liquid theory. Results of data analysis for density, temperature, and magnetic field dependences are consistent with the emergence of excitonic coupling between the two layers, stressing the dominance of Coulomb interaction even in the presence of disorder.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Microwave Photocurrent from the Helical Edge state of InAs/GaInSb Bilayers

We measure microwave photocurrent in devices made from InAs/GaInSb bilayers where both insulating bulk state and conducting edge state were observed in the inverted-band regime, consistent with the theoretical prediction for a quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulator. It has been theoretically proposed that microwave photocurrent could be a unique probe in studying the properties of QSH edge states. To distinguish possible photoresponse between bulk state and helical edge state, we prepare Hall bar and Corbino disk from the same wafer. Results show that the Corbino disk samples have a negligible photocurrent in the bulk gap while clear photocurrent signals from the Hall bar samples are observed. This finding suggests that the photocurrent may carry information concerning the electronic properties of the edge states.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Low-Temperature Conductivity of Weakly Interacting Quantum Spin Hall Edges in Strained-Layer InAs/GaInSb

We report low-temperature transport measurements in strained InAs/Ga0.68In0.32Sb quantum wells, which supports time-reversal symmetry-protected helical edge states. The temperature and bias voltage dependence of the helical edge conductance for devices of various sizes are consistent with the theoretical expectation of a weakly interacting helical edge state. Moreover, we found that the magnetoresistance of the helical edge states is related to the edge interaction effect and the disorder strength.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Tuning Edge States in Strained-Layer InAs/GaInSb Quantum Spin Hall Insulators

We report on a class of quantum spin Hall insulators (QSHIs) in strained-layer InAs/GaInSb quantum wells, in which the bulk gaps are enhanced by up to five folds as compared to the binary InAs/GaSb QSHI. Remarkably, with consequently increasing edge velocity, the edge conductance at zero and applied magnetic fields manifests time reversal symmetry (TRS) -protected properties consistent with Z2 topological insulator. The InAs/GaInSb bilayers offer a much sought-after platform for future studies and applications of the QSHI.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Effective g-factors of carriers in inverted InAs/GaSb bilayers

We perform tilt-field transport experiment on inverted InAs/GaSb which hosts quantum spin Hall insulator. By means of coincidence method, Landau level (LL) spectra of electron and hole carriers are systematically studied at different carrier densities tuned by gate voltages. When Fermi level stays in the conduction band, we observe LL crossing and anti-crossing behaviors at odd and even filling factors respectively, with a corresponding g-factor of 11.5. It remains nearly constant for varying filling factors and electron densities. On the contrary, for GaSb holes only a small Zeeman splitting is observed even at large tilt angles, indicating a g-factor of less than 3.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Gate-Tuned Spontaneous Exciton Insulator in Double-Quantum Wells

It was proposed that a dilute semimetal is unstable against the formation of an exciton insulator, however experimental confirmations have remained elusive. We investigate the origin of bulk energy gap in inverted InAs/GaSb quantum wells (QWs) which naturally host spatially-separated electrons and holes, using charge-neutral point density (no~po) in gated-device as a tuning parameter. We find two distinct regimes of gap formation, that for I), no >> 5x1010/cm2, a soft gap opens predominately by electron-hole hybridization; and for II), approaching the dilute limit no~ 5x1010/cm2, a hard gap opens leading to a true bulk insulator with quantized edge states. Moreover, the gap is dramatically reduced as the QWs are tuned to less dilute. We further examine the response of gaps to in-plane magnetic fields, and find that for I) the gap closes at B// > ~ 10T, consistent with hybridization while for II) the gap opens continuously for B// as high as 35T. Our analyses show that the hard gap in II) cannot be explained by single-particle hybridization. The data are remarkably consistent with the formation of a nontrivial exciton insulator in very dilute InAs/GaSb QWs.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Observation of a Helical Luttinger-Liquid in InAs/GaSb Quantum Spin Hall Edges

We report on the observation of a helical Luttinger-liquid in the edge of InAs/GaSb quantum spin Hall insulator, which shows characteristic suppression of conductance at low temperature and low bias voltage. Moreover, the conductance shows power-law behavior as a function of temperature and bias voltage. The results underscore the strong electron-electron interaction effect in transport of InAs/GaSb edge states. Because of the fact that the Fermi velocity of the edge modes is controlled by gates, the Luttinger parameter can be fine tuned. Realization of a tunable Luttinger-liquid offers a one-dimensional model system for future studies of predicted correlation effects.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Images of edge current in InAs/GaSb quantum wells

Quantum spin Hall devices with edges much longer than several microns do not display ballistic transport: that is, their measured conductances are much less than $e^2/h$ per edge. We imaged edge currents in InAs/GaSb quantum wells with long edges and determined an effective edge resistance. Surprisingly, although the effective edge resistance is much greater than $h/e^2$, it is independent of temperature up to 30 K within experimental resolution. Known candidate scattering mechanisms do not explain our observation of an effective edge resistance that is large yet temperature-independent.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Observation of Quantum Spin Hall States in InAs/GaSb Bilayers under Broken Time-Reversal Symmetry

Topological insulators (TIs) are a novel class of materials with nontrivial surface or edge states. Time-reversal symmetry (TRS) protected TIs are characterized by the Z2 topological invariant and their helical property becomes lost in an applied magnetic field. Currently there exist extensive efforts searching for TIs that are protected by symmetries other than TRS. Here we show, a topological phase characterized by a spin Chern topological invariant is realized in an inverted electron-hole bilayer engineered from indium arsenide-gallium antimonide (InAs/GaSb) semiconductors which retains robust helical edges under a strong magnetic field. Wide conductance plateaus of 2e2/h value are observed; they persist to 12T applied in-plane magnetic field without evidence for transition to a trivial insulator. In a perpendicular magnetic field up to 8T, there exists no signature to the bulk gap closing. While the Fermi energy remains inside the bulk gap, the longitudinal conductance increases from 2e2/h in strong magnetic fields suggesting a trend towards chiral edge transport. Our findings are first evidences for a quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulator protected by a spin Chern invariant. These results demonstrate that InAs/GaSb bilayers are a novel system for engineering the robust helical edge channels much needed for spintronics and for creating and manipulating Majorana particles in solid state.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2011

Perfect Andreev Reflection of Helical Edge Modes in InAs/GaSb Quantum Wells

We present an experimental study of inverted InAs/GaSb composite quantum wells in the hybridization regime and contacted by superconducting electrodes. A front gate is used to vary the Fermi level into the mini-gap, where recent experiments indicate existence of helical edge modes [arXiv:1105.0137]. Zero bias dips in differential resistance are observed across the mini-gap, suggesting transport dominated by Andreev reflection processes. Evolution of the mini-gap differential resistance with applied bias as well as measured mini-gap excess current of 150 nA are in good agreement with the prediction of perfect Andreev reflection of the helical edge modes, which is necessitated by the absence of back-scattering channels. The perfect Andreev reflection occurs in spite of a finite barrier at the interface and shows strong sensitivity to time-reversal breaking - hallmarks of the helical nature of quantum spin Hall edges.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2011

Evidence for Helical Edge Modes in Inverted InAs/GaSb Quantum Wells

We present an experimental study of low temperature electronic transport in the hybridization gap of inverted InAs/GaSb composite quantum wells. Electrostatic gate is used to push the Fermi level into the gap regime, where the conductance as a function of sample length and width is measured. Our analysis shows strong evidence for the existence of helical edge modes proposed by Liu et al [Phys. Rev. Lett., 100, 236601 (2008)]. Edge modes persist inspite of sizable bulk conduction and show only a weak magnetic field dependence - a direct consequence of gap opening away from zone center.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2010

Finite Conductivity in Mesoscopic Hall Bars of Inverted InAs/GaSb Quantum Wells

We have studied experimentally the low temperature conductivity of mesoscopic size InAs/GaSb quantum well Hall bar devices in the inverted regime. Using a pair of electrostatic gates we were able to move the Fermi level into the electron-hole hybridization state, and observe a mini gap. Temperature dependence of the conductivity in the gap shows residual conductivity, which can be consistently explained by the contributions from the free as well as the hybridized carriers in the presence of impurity scattering, as proposed by Naveh and Laikhtman [Euro. Phys. Lett., 55, 545-551 (2001)]. Experimental implications for the stability of proposed helical edge states will be discussed.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗