Visualizing the interplay of Dirac mass gap and magnetism at nanoscale in intrinsic magnetic topological insulators

Liu, Mengke; Lei, Chao; Kim, Hyunsue; Li, Yanxing; Frammolino, Lisa; Yan, Jiaqiang; Macdonald, Allan H.; Shih, Chih-Kang

doi:10.1073/pnas.2207681119

Visualizing the interplay of Dirac mass gap and magnetism at nanoscale in intrinsic magnetic topological insulators

Journal Article · Mon Oct 10 00:00:00 EDT 2022 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2207681119· OSTI ID:1909084

^[1]; Lei, Chao ^[1]; Kim, Hyunsue ^[1]; Li, Yanxing ^[1]; Frammolino, Lisa ^[1]; ^[2]; ^[1]; Shih, Chih-Kang ^[1]

Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

In intrinsic magnetic topological insulators, Dirac surface-state gaps are prerequisites for quantum anomalous Hall and axion insulating states. Unambiguous experimental identification of these gaps has proved to be a challenge, however. Here, we use molecular beam epitaxy to grow intrinsic MnBi₂Te₄ thin films. Using scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy, we directly visualize the Dirac mass gap and its disappearance below and above the magnetic order temperature. We further reveal the interplay of Dirac mass gaps and local magnetic defects. We find that, in high defect regions, the Dirac mass gap collapses. Ab initio and coupled Dirac cone model calculations provide insight into the microscopic origin of the correlation between defect density and spatial gap variations. Finally, this work provides unambiguous identification of the Dirac mass gap in MnBi₂Te₄ and, by revealing the microscopic origin of its gap variation, establishes a material design principle for realizing exotic states in intrinsic magnetic topological insulators.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division; Welch Foundation

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 1909084

Journal Information:: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Journal Issue: 42 Vol. 119; ISSN 0027-8424

Publisher:: National Academy of SciencesCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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