Quantum electrical transport properties of topological insulator Bi 2 Te 3 nanowires

We investigate the quantum transport properties of surface electrons on a topological insulator Bi2Te3 nanowire in a magnetotransport study. Although the nanowires are synthesized by using a relatively coarse method of electrochemical deposition, clear Aharonov–Bohm oscillations of phases 0 and π are observed, owing to the highly coherent surface electron channel. The oscillation amplitude exhibits exponential temperature dependence, suggesting that the phase coherence length Lφ is inversely proportional to the temperature, as in quasi-ballistic systems. In addition, a weak antilocalization analysis on the surface channel by using a one-dimensional localization theory, enabled by successful extraction of the surface contribution from the magnetoconductance data, is provided in support of the temperature dependence of Lφ.