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Scattering symmetry-breaking induced spin photocurrent from out-of-plane spin texture in a 3D topological insulator.
- Source :
- Scientific Reports; 6/30/2020, Vol. 10 Issue 1, p1-8, 8p
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- We theoretically study helicity-dependent photocurrent in a three-dimensional topological insulator Bi<subscript>2</subscript>Te<subscript>3</subscript> under elastic scattering of different symmetries. By exploring spin-selective optical transitions and symmetry-breaking scattering, we are able to address the out-of-plane spin texture of the topological helical surface states and to generate directional, spin-polarization tunable photocurrent that is otherwise forbidden for the original C<subscript>3v</subscript> symmetry of the surface. This can be achieved regardless of the Fermi level, even under the condition when the topological states are inaccessible in dark. This work paves the way to robustly explore the out-of-plane spin texture for harvesting opto-spintronic functionalities of topological insulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- PHOTOCURRENTS
ELASTIC scattering
SURFACE states
TOPOLOGY
THERMAL insulation
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20452322
- Volume :
- 10
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Scientific Reports
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 144315547
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-67612-3