Skyrmion-induced bound states on the surface of three-dimensional topological insulators

Journal Article · Sat May 21 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4950759· OSTI ID:22596986

Andrikopoulos, Dimitrios; De Boeck, Jo ^[1]; Sorée, Bart ^[1]

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1. KU Leuven, ESAT, Kasteelpark Arenberg 10, Leuven B-3001 (Belgium)

The interaction between the surface of a 3D topological insulator and a skyrmion/anti-skyrmion structure is studied in order to investigate the possibility of electron confinement due to the skyrmion presence. Both hedgehog (Néel) and vortex (Bloch) skyrmions are considered. For the hedgehog skyrmion, the in-plane components cannot be disregarded and their interaction with the surface state of the topological insulator (TI) has to be taken into account. A semi-classical description of the skyrmion chiral angle is obtained using the variational principle. It is shown that both the hedgehog and the vortex skyrmion can induce bound states on the surface of the TI. However, the number and the properties of these states depend strongly on the skyrmion type and the skyrmion topological number N{sub Sk}. The probability densities of the bound electrons are also derived where it is shown that they are localized within the skyrmion region.

• OSTI ID: 22596986
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 119, Issue 19; Other Information: (c) 2016 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
BOUND STATE
CHIRALITY
CONFINEMENT
DENSITY
ELECTRONS
INTERACTIONS
PROBABILITY
SKYRME POTENTIAL
SURFACES
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TOPOLOGY
VARIATIONAL METHODS
VORTICES