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Shou-Cheng Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Shou-Cheng Zhang.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
arXiv2010

Model Hamiltonian for Topological Insulators

In this paper we give the full microscopic derivation of the model Hamiltonian for the three dimensional topological insulators in the $Bi_2Se_3$ family of materials ($Bi_2Se_3$, $Bi_2Te_3$ and $Sb_2Te_3$). We first give a physical picture to understand the electronic structure by analyzing atomic orbitals and applying symmetry principles. Subsequently, we give the full microscopic derivation of the model Hamiltonian introduced by Zhang {\it et al} [\onlinecite{zhang2009}] based both on symmetry principles and the ${\bf k}\cdot{\bf p}$ perturbation theory. Two different types of $k^3$ terms, which break the in-plane full rotation symmetry down to three fold rotation symmetry, are taken into account. Effective Hamiltonian is derived for the topological surface states. Both the bulk and the surface models are investigated in the presence of an external magnetic field, and the associated Landau level structure is presented. For more quantitative fitting to the first principle calculations, we also present a new model Hamiltonian including eight energy bands.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2010

Chiral Topological Superconductor From the Quantum Hall State

The chiral topological superconductor in two dimensions has a full pairing gap in the bulk and a single chiral Majorana state at the edge. The vortex of the chiral superconducting state carries a Majorana zero mode which is responsible for the non-abelian statistics of the vortices. Despite intensive searches, this novel superconducting state has not yet been identified in nature. In this paper, we consider a quantum Hall or a quantum anomalous Hall state near the plateau transition, and in proximity to a fully gapped s-wave superconductor. We show that this hybrid system realizes the long sought after chiral superconductor state, and propose several experimental methods for its observation.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2010

Landau Quantization of Massless Dirac Fermions in Topological Insulator

The recent theoretical prediction and experimental realization of topological insulators (TI) has generated intense interest in this new state of quantum matter. The surface states of a three-dimensional (3D) TI such as Bi_2Te_3, Bi_2Se_3 and Sb_2Te_3 consist of a single massless Dirac cones. Crossing of the two surface state branches with opposite spins in the materials is fully protected by the time reversal (TR) symmetry at the Dirac points, which cannot be destroyed by any TR invariant perturbation. Recent advances in thin-film growth have permitted this unique two-dimensional electron system (2DES) to be probed by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS). The intriguing TR symmetry protected topological states were revealed in STM experiments where the backscattering induced by non-magnetic impurities was forbidden. Here we report the Landau quantization of the topological surface states in Bi_2Se_3 in magnetic field by using STM/STS. The direct observation of the discrete Landau levels (LLs) strongly supports the 2D nature of the topological states and gives direct proof of the nondegenerate structure of LLs in TI. We demonstrate the linear dispersion of the massless Dirac fermions by the square-root dependence of LLs on magnetic field. The formation of LLs implies the high mobility of the 2DES, which has been predicted to lead to topological magneto-electric effect of the TI.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2010

Theoretical Prediction of Topological Insulators in Thallium-based III-V-VI$_2$ Ternary Chalcogenides

We predict a new class of three dimensional topological insulators in thallium-based III-V-VI$_2$ ternary chalcogenides, including TlBiQ$_2$ and TlSbQ$_2$ (Q = Te, Se and S). These topological insulators have robust and simple surface states consisting of a single Dirac cone at the $Γ$ point. The mechanism for topological insulating behavior is elucidated using both first principle calculations and effective field theory models. Remarkably, one topological insulator in this class, TlBiTe$_2$ is also a superconductor when doped with $p$-type carriers. We discuss the possibility that this material could be a topological superconductor. Another material TlSbS$_2$ is on the border between topological insulator and trivial insulator phases, in which a topological phase transition can be driven by pressure.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗
arXiv2010

Quasiparticle Interference on the Surface of the Topological Insulator Bi$_2$Te$_3$

The quasiparticle interference of the spectroscopic imaging scanning tunneling microscopy has been investigated for the surface states of the large gap topological insulator Bi$_2$Te$_3$ through the T-matrix formalism. Both the scalar potential scattering and the spin-orbit scattering on the warped hexagonal isoenergy contour are considered. While backscatterings are forbidden by time-reversal symmetry, other scatterings are allowed and exhibit strong dependence on the spin configurations of the eigenfunctions at k points over the isoenergy contour. The characteristic scattering wavevectors found in our analysis agree well with recent experiment results.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2009

Growth dynamics and thickness-dependent electronic structure of topological insulator Bi2Te3 thin films on Si

We use real-time reflection high energy electron diffraction intensity oscillation to establish the Te-rich growth dynamics of topological insulator thin films of Bi2Te3 on Si(111) substrate by molecular beam epitaxy. In situ angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), scanning tunneling microscopy and ex situ transport measurements reveal that the as-grown Bi2Te3 films without any doping are an intrinsic topological insulator with its Fermi level intersecting only the metallic surface states. Experimentally, we find that the single-Dirac-cone surface state develops at a thickness of two quintuple layers (2 QL). Theoretically, we show that the interaction between the surface states from both sides of the film, which is determined by the penetration depth of the topological surface state wavefunctions, sets this lower thickness limit.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2009

Quintet pairing and non-Abelian vortex string in spin-3/2 cold atomic systems

We study the s-wave quintet Cooper pairing phase ($S_{tot}=2$) in spin-3/2 cold atomic systems and identify various novel features which do not appear in the spin-1/2 counterpart. A single quantum vortex is shown to be energetically less stable than a pair of half-quantum vortices (HQV). The HQV exhibits the global analogue of the non-Abelian Alice string and SO(4) Cheshire charge in gauge theories. The non-Abelian HQV loop enables topological generation of quantum entanglement.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2009

Detecting the Majorana fermion surface state of $^3$He-B through spin relaxation

The concept of the Majorana fermion has been postulated more than eighty years ago; however, this elusive particle has never been observed in nature. The non-local character of the Majorana fermion can be useful for topological quantum computation. Recently, it has been shown that the 3He-B phase is a time-reversal invariant topological superfluid, with a single component of gapless Majorana fermion state localized on the surface. Such a Majorana surface state contains half the degrees of freedom of the single Dirac surface state recently observed in topological insulators. We show here that the Majorana surface state can be detected through an electron spin relaxation experiment. The Majorana nature of the surface state can be revealed though the striking angular dependence of the relaxation time on the magnetic field direction, $1/T_1 \propto sin^2 θ$ where $θ$ is the angle between the magnetic field and the surface normal. The temperature dependence of the spin relaxation rate can reveal the gapless linear dispersion of the Majorana surface state. We propose a spin relaxation experiment setup where we inject an electron inside a nano-sized bubble below the helium liquid surface.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2009

Oscillatory crossover from two dimensional to three dimensional topological insulators

We investigate the crossover regime from three dimensional topological insulators $Bi_2Te_3$ and $Bi_2Se_3$ to two dimensional topological insulators with quantum spin Hall effect when the layer thickness is reduced. Using both analytical models and first-principles calculations, we find that the crossover occurs in an oscillatory fashion as a function of the layer thickness, alternating between topologically trivial and non-trivial two dimensional behavior.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2009

Collective modes of a helical liquid

We study low energy collective modes and transport properties of the "helical metal" on the surface of a topological insulator. At low energies, electrical transport and spin dynamics at the surface are exactly related by an operator identity equating the electric current to the in-plane components of the spin degrees of freedom. From this relation it follows that an undamped spin wave always accompanies the sound mode in the helical metal -- thus it is possible to `hear' the sound of spins. In the presence of long range Coulomb interactions, the surface plasmon mode is also coupled to the spin wave, giving rise to a hybridized "spin-plasmon" mode. We make quantitative predictions for the spin-plasmon in ${\rm Bi}_2{\rm Se}_3$, and discuss its detection in a spin-grating experiment.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2009

Fermi Surface Topological Invariants for Time Reversal Invariant Superconductors

A time reversal invariant (TRI) topological superconductor has a full pairing gap in the bulk and topologically protected gapless states on the surface or at the edge. In this paper, we show that in the weak pairing limit, the topological quantum number of a TRI superconductor can be completely determined by the Fermi surface properties, and is independent of the electronic structure away from the Fermi surface. In three dimensions (3D), the integer topological quantum number in a TRI superconductor is determined by the sign of the pairing order parameter and the first Chern number of the Berry phase gauge field on the Fermi surfaces. In two (2D) and one (1D) dimension, the $Z_2$ topological quantum number of a TRI superconductor is determined simply by the sign of the pairing order parameter on the Fermi surfaces. We also obtain a generic and explicit expression of the $Z_2$ topological invariant in 1D and 2D.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2009

Aharonov-Bohm interference in topological insulator nanoribbons

Topological insulators represent novel phases of quantum matter with an insulating bulk gap and gapless edges or surface states. The two-dimensional topological insulator phase was predicted in HgTe quantum wells and confirmed by transport measurements. Recently, Bi2Se3 and related materials have been proposed as three-dimensional topological insulators with a single Dirac cone on the surface and verified by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy experiments. Here, we show unambiguous transport evidence of topological surface states through periodic quantum interference effects in layered single-crystalline Bi2Se3 nanoribbons. Pronounced Aharonov-Bohm oscillations in the magnetoresistance clearly demonstrate the coverage of two-dimensional electrons on the entire surface, as expected from the topological nature of the surface states. The dominance of the primary h/e oscillation and its temperature dependence demonstrate the robustness of these electronic states. Our results suggest that topological insulator nanoribbons afford novel promising materials for future spintronic devices at room temperature.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2009

Dynamical Axion Field in Topological Magnetic Insulators

Axions are very light, very weakly interacting particles postulated more than 30 years ago in the context of the Standard Model of particle physics. Their existence could explain the missing dark matter of the universe. However, despite intensive searches, they have yet to be detected. In this work, we show that magnetic fluctuations of topological insulators couple to the electromagnetic fields exactly like the axions, and propose several experiments to detect this dynamical axion field. In particular, we show that the axion coupling enables a nonlinear modulation of the electromagnetic field, leading to attenuated total reflection. We propose a novel optical modulators device based on this principle.

cond-mat.other↗
arXiv2009

Quantum spin Hall effect in a transition metal oxide Na2IrO3

We study theoretically the electronic states in a $5d$ transition metal oxide Na$_2$IrO$_3$, in which both the spin-orbit interaction and the electron correlation play crucial roles. Tight-binding model analysis together with the fisrt-principles band structure calculation predicts that this material is a layered quantum spin Hall system. Due to the electron correlation, an antiferromagnetic order first develops at the edge, and later inside the bulk at low temperatures.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2009

Kondo effect in the helical edge liquid of the quantum spin Hall state

Following the recent observation of the quantum spin Hall (QSH) effect in HgTe quantum wells, an important issue is to understand the effect of impurities on transport in the QSH regime. Using linear response and renormalization group methods, we calculate the edge conductance of a QSH insulator as a function of temperature in the presence of a magnetic impurity. At high temperatures, Kondo and/or two-particle scattering give rise to a logarithmic temperature dependence. At low temperatures, for weak Coulomb interactions in the edge liquid the conductance is restored to unitarity with unusual power-laws characteristic of a `local helical liquid', while for strong interactions transport proceeds by weak tunneling through the impurity where only half an electron charge is transferred in each tunneling event.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2009

Supersymmetric Valence Bond Solid States

In this work we investigate the supersymmetric version of the valence bond solid (SVBS) state. In one dimension, the SVBS states continuously interpolate between the valence bond states for integer and half-integer spin chains, and they generally describe superconducting valence bond liquid states. Spin and superconducting correlation functions can be computed exactly for these states, and their correlation lengths are equal at the supersymmetric point. In higher dimensions, the wave function for the SVBS states can describe resonating valence bond states (RVB). The SVBS states for the spin models are shown to be precisely analogous to the bosonic Pfaffian states of the quantum Hall effect. We also give microscopic Hamiltonians for which the SVBS state is the exact ground state.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2009

Pairing State with a time-reversal symmetry breaking in FeAs based superconductors

We investigate the competition between the extended $s_{\pm}$-wave and $d_{x^2-y^2}$-wave pairing order parameters in the iron-based superconductors. Because of the frustrating pairing interactions among the electron and the hole fermi pockets, a time reversal symmetry breaking $s+id$ pairing state could be favored. We analyze this pairing state within the Ginzburg-Landau theory, and explore the experimental consequences. In such a state, spatial inhomogeneity induces supercurrent near a non-magnetic impurity and the corners of a square sample. The resonance mode between the $s_{\pm}$ and $d_{x^2-y^2}$-wave order parameters can be detected through the $B_{1g}$-Raman spectroscopy.

cond-mat.supr-con↗