Aharonov-Bohm interference in topological insulator nanoribbons

ORAL

Abstract

Topological insulators represent novel phases of quantum matter with an insulating bulk gap and gapless edges or surface states. Barrier exists in studying topological surface states by direct transport measurements, presumably due to the predominance of bulk carriers from crystal defects or thermal excitations. Topological insulator nanoribbons are promising candidate to manifest the surface effects due to larger surface-to-volume ratio than bulk materials. We provide unambiguous transport evidence of topological surface states from magnetoresistance measurements of topological insulator material Bi$_{2}$Se$_{3}$ nanoribbons. Pronounced Aharonov-Bohm magnetoresistance oscillations clearly demonstrate the coherent propagation of two-dimensional electrons around the perimeter of the nanoribbon surface, as expected from the topological nature of the surface states.

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Authors

  • D. Kong

    Stanford University, Dept. Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford Univ

  • Hailin Peng

    College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking Univ

  • Keji Lai

    Dept. Applied Physics, Stanford Univ, Stanford University, Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University

  • S. Meister

    Stanford University, Dept. Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford Univ

  • Yulin Chen

    Department of Physics and SIMES, Stanford University, Dept. Applied Physics, Stanford Univ, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

  • Xiao-Liang Qi

    Stanford University, Dept. Physics, Stanford Univ, Microsoft Station Q, Department of Physics, Stanford University

  • Shoucheng Zhang

    Stanford University, Dept. Physics, Stanford Univ, Department of Physics, Stanford University

  • Zhi-Xun Shen

    Stanford University, Department of Physics and SIMES, Stanford University, Dept. Applied Physics, Stanford Univ, Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University

  • Yi Cui

    Stanford University, Dept. Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford Univ, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University