1. Aharonov-Bohm interference and phase-coherent surface-state transport in topological insulator rings
- Author
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Behner, Gerrit, Jalil, Abdur Rehman, Heffels, Dennis, Kölzer, Jonas, Moors, Kristof, Mertens, Jonas, Zimmermann, Erik, Mussler, Gregor, Schüffelgen, Peter, Lüth, Hans, Grützmacher, Detlev, and Schäpers, Thomas
- Subjects
Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics - Abstract
We present low-temperature magnetotransport measurements on selectively-grown Sb$_2$Te$_3$-based topological insulator ring structures. These topological insulator ring geometries display clear Aharonov-Bohm oscillations in the conductance originating from phase-coherent transport around the ring. The temperature dependence of the oscillation amplitude indicates that the Aharonov-Bohm oscillations originate from ballistic transport along the ring arms. The oscillations can therefore be attributed to topological surface states, which can maintain a quasi-ballistic transport regime in the presence of disorder. Further insight on the phase coherence is gained by comparing with similar Aharonov-Bohm-type oscillations in topological insulator nanoribbons exposed to an axial magnetic field. Here, quasi-ballistic phase-coherent transport is confirmed for closed-loop topological surface states in transverse direction enclosing the cross-section of the nanoribbon. In contrast, the appearance of universal conductance fluctuations indicates phase-coherent transport in the diffuse regime, which is attributed to bulk carrier transport. Thus, it appears that even in the presence of diffusive $p$-type charge carriers in Aharonov-Bohm ring structures, phase-coherent quasi-ballistic transport of topologically protected surface states is maintained over long distances., Comment: 11 pages (including Supplementary Material), 5 figures, 4 supplementary figures
- Published
- 2023
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