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Gapless Dirac surface states in the antiferromagnetic topological insulator MnBi2Te4

Journal Article · · Physical Review B
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [3];  [1]
  1. Ames Lab., and Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
  2. Ames Lab., Ames, IA (United States)
  3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)

We used angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and density functional theory calculations to study the electronic properties of MnBi2 Te4, a material that was predicted to be an intrinsic antiferromagnetic (AFM) topological insulator. In striking contrast to earlier literature showing a full gap opening between two surface band manifolds on the (0001) surface, we observed a gapless Dirac surface state with a Dirac point sitting at EB = -280 meV . Furthermore, our ARPES data revealed the existence of a second Dirac cone sitting closer to the Fermi level. Surprisingly, these surface states remain intact across the AFM transition. The presence of gapless Dirac states in this material may be caused by different ordering at the surface from the bulk or weaker magnetic coupling between the bulk and surface. Whereas the surface Dirac cones seem to be remarkably insensitive to the AFM ordering most likely due to weak coupling to magnetism, we did observe a splitting of the bulk band accompanying the AFM transition. Finally, with a moderately high ordering temperature and interesting gapless Dirac surface states, MnBi2 Te4 provides a unique platform for studying the interplay between magnetic ordering and topology.

Research Organization:
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Center for the Advancement of Topological Semimetals (CATS); Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division; National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-07CH11358
OSTI ID:
1616740
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1615105
OSTI ID: 1649054
Report Number(s):
IS-J 9,990
Journal Information:
Physical Review B, Journal Name: Physical Review B Journal Issue: 16 Vol. 101; ISSN 2469-9950; ISSN PRBMDO
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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