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Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy of MnBi<sub>2</sub>Te<sub>4</sub>

ORAL

Abstract

It was recently demonstrated that the layered van der Waals bonded material MnBi2Te4 is an intrinsic antiferromagnetic topological insulator. The opening of an electronic gap in the surface state, originating in the presence of exchange interaction, was experimentally verified by ARPES. However, the presence and magnitude of this gap are still under debate. To develop a comprehensive understanding of this class of materials and ultimately achieve control over their topological phases, more experimental characterization of their spatial heterogeneity is needed.
In this talk we discuss low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy measurements of MnBi2Te4. We first use topographic maps to identify the surface profile, including steps which reflect the septuple-layer structure. Using scanning tunneling spectroscopy, we probe the local density of states and identify a bandgap with the same magnitude as some recent ARPES reports. We observe spatial inhomogeneity in the DOS which could be responsible for the reported differences in the size of this surface state gap. Using spectroscopic maps we characterize the electronic states associated with the presence of edges in the surface.

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Presenters

  • Ryan Plumadore

    Univ of Ottawa, University of Ottawa

Authors

  • Ryan Plumadore

    Univ of Ottawa, University of Ottawa

  • Yanglin Zhu

    The Pennsylvania State University, Physics, Penn State University, Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, Physics, The Pennsylvania State University

  • Yingdong Guan

    Pennsylvania State University, Physics, The Pennsylvania State University

  • Seng Huat Lee

    Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, 2D Crystal Consortium, Materials Research Institute, Penn State University, Materials Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University

  • Zhiqiang Mao

    Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics, Penn State University, The Pennsylvania State University, Penn State University, Physics, Penn State University, Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, Physics, Pennsylvania State University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University

  • Adina A Luican-Mayer

    Univ of Ottawa, University of Ottawa