Observation of a topologically non-trivial surface state in half-Heusler PtLuSb (001) thin films
Abstract
The discovery of topological insulators, materials with bulk band gaps and protected cross-gap surface states in compounds such as Bi2Se3, has generated much interest in identifying topological surface states (TSSs) in other classes of materials. In particular, recent theoretical calculations suggest that TSSs may be found in half-Heusler ternary compounds. If experimentally realizable, this would provide a materials platform for entirely new heterostructure spintronic devices that make use of the structurally identical but electronically varied nature of Heusler compounds. Here we show the presence of a TSS in epitaxially grown thin films of the half-Heusler compound PtLuSb. Spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, complemented by theoretical calculations, reveals a surface state with linear dispersion and a helical tangential spin texture consistent with previous predictions. As a result, this experimental verification of topological behavior is a significant step forward in establishing half-Heusler compounds as a viable material system for future spintronic devices.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1307467
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0014388
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Nature Communications
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 7; Journal ID: ISSN 2041-1723
- Publisher:
- Nature Publishing Group
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
Citation Formats
Logan, J. A., Patel, S. J., Harrington, S. D., Polley, C. M., Schultz, B. D., Balasubramanian, T., Janotti, A., Mikkelsen, A., and Palmstrøm, C. J. Observation of a topologically non-trivial surface state in half-Heusler PtLuSb (001) thin films. United States: N. p., 2016.
Web. doi:10.1038/ncomms11993.
Logan, J. A., Patel, S. J., Harrington, S. D., Polley, C. M., Schultz, B. D., Balasubramanian, T., Janotti, A., Mikkelsen, A., & Palmstrøm, C. J. Observation of a topologically non-trivial surface state in half-Heusler PtLuSb (001) thin films. United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms11993
Logan, J. A., Patel, S. J., Harrington, S. D., Polley, C. M., Schultz, B. D., Balasubramanian, T., Janotti, A., Mikkelsen, A., and Palmstrøm, C. J. Mon .
"Observation of a topologically non-trivial surface state in half-Heusler PtLuSb (001) thin films". United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms11993. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1307467.
@article{osti_1307467,
title = {Observation of a topologically non-trivial surface state in half-Heusler PtLuSb (001) thin films},
author = {Logan, J. A. and Patel, S. J. and Harrington, S. D. and Polley, C. M. and Schultz, B. D. and Balasubramanian, T. and Janotti, A. and Mikkelsen, A. and Palmstrøm, C. J.},
abstractNote = {The discovery of topological insulators, materials with bulk band gaps and protected cross-gap surface states in compounds such as Bi2Se3, has generated much interest in identifying topological surface states (TSSs) in other classes of materials. In particular, recent theoretical calculations suggest that TSSs may be found in half-Heusler ternary compounds. If experimentally realizable, this would provide a materials platform for entirely new heterostructure spintronic devices that make use of the structurally identical but electronically varied nature of Heusler compounds. Here we show the presence of a TSS in epitaxially grown thin films of the half-Heusler compound PtLuSb. Spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, complemented by theoretical calculations, reveals a surface state with linear dispersion and a helical tangential spin texture consistent with previous predictions. As a result, this experimental verification of topological behavior is a significant step forward in establishing half-Heusler compounds as a viable material system for future spintronic devices.},
doi = {10.1038/ncomms11993},
journal = {Nature Communications},
number = ,
volume = 7,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jun 27 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Mon Jun 27 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}
Web of Science
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