Rashba Spin-Splitting Control at the Surface of the Topological Insulator Bi$_2$Se$_3$

ORAL

Abstract

The electronic structure of Bi$_2$Se$_3$ is studied by angle-resolved photoemission and density functional theory. We show that the instability of the surface electronic properties, observed even in ultra-high-vacuum conditions, can be overcome via {\it in situ} potassium deposition. In addition to accurately setting the carrier concentration, new Rashba-like spin-polarized states are induced, with a tunable, reversible, and highly stable spin splitting. {\it Ab initio} slab calculations reveal that these Rashba states are derived from the 5-quintuple-layer quantum-well states. While the K-induced potential gradient enhances the spin splitting, this may be present on pristine surfaces due to the symmetry breaking of the vacuum-solid interface. Phys.Rev.Lett. 107 186405 (2011)

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Authors

  • Zhihuai Zhu

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada

  • G. Levy

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada

  • B. Ludbrook

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada

  • C.N. Veenstra

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada

  • J.A. Rosen

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada

  • R. Comin

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada

  • D. Wong

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada

  • P. Dosanjh

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada

  • A. Ubaldini

    • Department of Physics, University of Geneva, Switzerland

  • P. Syers

    • CNAM, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA

  • N.P. Butch

    • CNAM, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA

  • J. Paglione

    • CNAM, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA

  • I.S. Elfimov

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, Quantum Matter Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada

  • A. Damascelli

    • Department of Physics and Astronomy, Quantum Matter Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada