Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Conductivity of a two-dimensional HgTe layer near the critical width : The role of developed edge states network and random mixture of p-and n-domains. / Mahmoodian, M. M.; Entin, M. V.
In: Physical Review B, Vol. 101, No. 12, 125415, 15.03.2020.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Conductivity of a two-dimensional HgTe layer near the critical width
T2 - The role of developed edge states network and random mixture of p-and n-domains
AU - Mahmoodian, M. M.
AU - Entin, M. V.
PY - 2020/3/15
Y1 - 2020/3/15
N2 - The conductivity of a two-dimensional HgTe quantum well with a width ∼6.3nm, close to the transition from ordinary to topological insulating phases, is studied. The Fermi level is supposed to get to the overall energy gap. The consideration is based on the percolation theory. We have found that the width fluctuations convert the system to a random mixture of domains with positive and negative energy gaps with internal edge states formed near zero gap lines. In the case with no potential fluctuations, the conductance of a finite sample is provided by a random edge states network. The zero-Temperature conductivity of an infinite sample is determined by the free motion of electrons along the zero-gap lines and tunneling between them. The conductance of a single p-n junction, which is crossed by the edge state, is found. The result is applied to the situation when potential fluctuations transform the system to a mixture of p-and n-domains. It is stated that the tunneling across p-n junctions forbids the low-Temperature conductivity of a random system, but the latter is restored due to the random edge states crossing the junctions.
AB - The conductivity of a two-dimensional HgTe quantum well with a width ∼6.3nm, close to the transition from ordinary to topological insulating phases, is studied. The Fermi level is supposed to get to the overall energy gap. The consideration is based on the percolation theory. We have found that the width fluctuations convert the system to a random mixture of domains with positive and negative energy gaps with internal edge states formed near zero gap lines. In the case with no potential fluctuations, the conductance of a finite sample is provided by a random edge states network. The zero-Temperature conductivity of an infinite sample is determined by the free motion of electrons along the zero-gap lines and tunneling between them. The conductance of a single p-n junction, which is crossed by the edge state, is found. The result is applied to the situation when potential fluctuations transform the system to a mixture of p-and n-domains. It is stated that the tunneling across p-n junctions forbids the low-Temperature conductivity of a random system, but the latter is restored due to the random edge states crossing the junctions.
KW - SINGLE DIRAC CONE
KW - INSULATOR
KW - PERCOLATION
KW - ELECTRONS
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85083319524&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevB.101.125415
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevB.101.125415
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85083319524
VL - 101
JO - Physical Review B
JF - Physical Review B
SN - 2469-9950
IS - 12
M1 - 125415
ER -
ID: 24160622