arXiv subjects

M. Lanius

Publications and source records attributed to M. Lanius.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2019

Long-lived non-equilibrium superconductivity in a non-centrosymmetric Rashba semiconductor

We report non-equilibrium magnetodynamics in the Rashba-superconductor GeTe, which lacks inversion symmetry in the bulk. We find that at low temperature the system exhibits a non-equilibrium state, which decays on time scales that exceed conventional electronic scattering times by many orders of magnitude. This reveals a non-equilibrium magnetoresponse that is asymmetric under magnetic field reversal and, strikingly, induces a non-equilibrium superconducting state distinct from the equilibrium one. We develop a model of a Rashba system where non-equilibrium configurations relax on a finite timescale which captures the qualitative features of the data. We also obtain evidence for the slow dynamics in another non-superconducting Rashba system. Our work provides novel insights into the dynamics of non-centrosymmetric superconductors and Rashba systems in general.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2017

Infrared/Terahertz Spectra of the Photogalvanic Effect in (Bi,Sb)Te based Three Dimensional Topological Insulators

We report on the systematic study of infrared/terahertz spectra of photocurrents in (Bi,Sb)Te based three dimensional topological insulators. We demonstrate that in a wide range of frequencies, ranging from fractions up to tens of terahertz, the photocurrent is caused by the linear photogalvanic effect (LPGE) excited in the surface states. The photocurrent spectra reveal that at low frequencies the LPGE emerges due to free carrier Drude-like absorption. The spectra allow to determine the room temperature carrier mobilities in the surface states despite the presents of thermally activate residual impurities in the material bulk. In a number of samples we observed an enhancement of the linear photogalvanic effect at frequencies between 30÷60 THz, which is attributed to the excitation of electrons from helical surface to bulk conduction band states. Under this condition and applying oblique incidence we also observed the circular photogalvanic effect driven by the radiation helicity.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2017

Disentangling surface and bulk transport in topological-insulator $p$-$n$ junctions

By combining $n$-type $\mathrm{Bi_2Te_3}$ and $p$-type $\mathrm{Sb_2Te_3}$ topological insulators, vertically stacked $p$-$n$ junctions can be formed, allowing to position the Fermi level into the bulk band gap and also tune between $n$- and $p$-type surface carriers. Here we use low-temperature magnetotransport measurements to probe the surface and bulk transport modes in a range of vertical $\mathrm{Bi_2Te_3/Sb_2Te_3}$ heterostructures with varying relative thicknesses of the top and bottom layers. With increasing thickness of the $\mathrm{Sb_2Te_3}$ layer we observe a change from $n$- to $p$-type behavior via a specific thickness where the Hall signal is immeasurable. Assuming that the the bulk and surface states contribute in parallel, we can calculate and reproduce the dependence of the Hall and longitudinal components of resistivity on the film thickness. This highlights the role played by the bulk conduction channels which, importantly, cannot be probed using surface sensitive spectroscopic techniques. Our calculations are then buttressed by a semi-classical Boltzmann transport theory which rigorously shows the vanishing of the Hall signal. Our results provide crucial experimental and theoretical insights into the relative roles of the surface and bulk in the vertical topological $p$-$n$ junctions.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Photon Drag Effect in (Bi$_{1-x}$Sb$_{x}$)$_{2}$Te$_{3}$ Three Dimensional Topological Insulators

We report on the observation of a terahertz radiation induced photon drag effect in epitaxially grown $n$- and $p$-type (Bi$_{1-x}$Sb$_{x}$)$_{2}$Te$_{3}$ three dimensional topological insulators with different antimony concentrations $x$ varying from 0 to 1. We demonstrate that the excitation with polarized terahertz radiation results in a $dc$ electric photocurrent. While at normal incidence a current arises due to the photogalvanic effect in the surface states, at oblique incidence it is outweighed by the trigonal photon drag effect. The developed microscopic model and theory show that the photon drag photocurrent is due to the dynamical momentum alignment by time and space dependent radiation electric field and implies the radiation induced asymmetric scattering in the electron momentum space.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗