Результаты исследований: Научные публикации в периодических изданиях › статья › Рецензирование
Topological Protection Brought to Light by the Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking. / Piatrusha, S. U.; Tikhonov, E. S.; Kvon, Z. D. и др.
в: Physical Review Letters, Том 123, № 5, 056801, 02.08.2019.Результаты исследований: Научные публикации в периодических изданиях › статья › Рецензирование
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Topological Protection Brought to Light by the Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking
AU - Piatrusha, S. U.
AU - Tikhonov, E. S.
AU - Kvon, Z. D.
AU - Mikhailov, N. N.
AU - Dvoretsky, S. A.
AU - Khrapai, V. S.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2019 American Physical Society.
PY - 2019/8/2
Y1 - 2019/8/2
N2 - Recent topological band theory distinguishes electronic band insulators with respect to various symmetries and topological invariants, most commonly, the time reversal symmetry and the Z2 invariant. The interface of two topologically distinct insulators hosts a unique class of electronic states - the helical states, which shortcut the gapped bulk and exhibit spin-momentum locking. The magic and so far elusive property of the helical electrons, known as topological protection, prevents them from coherent backscattering as long as the underlying symmetry is preserved. Here we present an experiment that brings to light the strength of topological protection in one-dimensional helical edge states of a Z2 quantum spin-Hall insulator in HgTe. At low temperatures, we observe the dramatic impact of a tiny magnetic field, which results in an exponential increase of the resistance accompanied by giant mesoscopic fluctuations and a gap opening. This textbook Anderson localization scenario emerges only upon the time-reversal symmetry breaking, bringing the first direct evidence of the topological protection strength in helical edge states.
AB - Recent topological band theory distinguishes electronic band insulators with respect to various symmetries and topological invariants, most commonly, the time reversal symmetry and the Z2 invariant. The interface of two topologically distinct insulators hosts a unique class of electronic states - the helical states, which shortcut the gapped bulk and exhibit spin-momentum locking. The magic and so far elusive property of the helical electrons, known as topological protection, prevents them from coherent backscattering as long as the underlying symmetry is preserved. Here we present an experiment that brings to light the strength of topological protection in one-dimensional helical edge states of a Z2 quantum spin-Hall insulator in HgTe. At low temperatures, we observe the dramatic impact of a tiny magnetic field, which results in an exponential increase of the resistance accompanied by giant mesoscopic fluctuations and a gap opening. This textbook Anderson localization scenario emerges only upon the time-reversal symmetry breaking, bringing the first direct evidence of the topological protection strength in helical edge states.
KW - ANDERSON LOCALIZATION
KW - WEAK-LOCALIZATION
KW - QUANTUM
KW - TRANSITION
KW - TRANSPORT
KW - ABSENCE
KW - BACKSCATTERING
KW - DIFFUSION
KW - ELECTRONS
KW - NOISE
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85070257840&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.056801
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.056801
M3 - Article
C2 - 31491287
AN - SCOPUS:85070257840
VL - 123
JO - Physical Review Letters
JF - Physical Review Letters
SN - 0031-9007
IS - 5
M1 - 056801
ER -
ID: 21255090