Scattering from Surface Step Edges in Strong Topological Insulators

Abstract

We study the characteristics of scattering processes at step edges on the surfaces of Strong Topological Insulators (STI), arising from restrictions imposed on the $S$-matrix \emph{solely} by time reversal symmetry and translational invariance along the step edge. We show that the `perfectly reflecting' step edge that may be defined with these restrictions allow modulations in the Local Density of States (LDOS) near the step edge to decay no slower than $1/x$, where $x$ is the distance from the step edge. This is faster than in 2D Electron Gases (2DEG) --- where the LDOS decays as $1/\sqrt{x}$ --- and shares the same cause as the suppression of backscattering in STI surface states. We also calculate the scattering at a delta function scattering potential and argue that \emph{generic} step edges will produce a $x^{-3/2}$ decay of LDOS oscillations. Experimental implications are also discussed.

4 pages, 3 figures; wording improved to emphasize the broad scope of our calculation.

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Cited by in corpus (30)

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• Ab initio study of $Z_2$ topological phases in perovskite (111) $({\text{SrTiO}}_3{)}_7/({\text{SrIrO}}_3{)}_2$ and $({\text{KTaO}}_3{)}_7/({\text{KPtO}}_3{)}_2$ multilayers
• Surface states scattering from a step defect in topological insulator Bi_{2}Te_{3}
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• Impact of Step Defects on Surface States of Topological Insulators
• Ab-initio transport across Bismuth Selenide surface barriers
• Suppression of Conductance in a Topological Insulator Nanostep Junction
• Experimental search for one-dimensional edge states at surface steps of the topological insulator Bi${}_2$Se${}_3$: Distinguishing between effects and artifacts
• Electronic standing waves on the surface of the topological insulator Bi2Te3
• Connection topology of step edge state bands at the surface of a three dimensional topological insulator
• Confining electrons on a topological insulator surface using potentials and a magnetic field
• Power law decay of local density of states oscillations near a line defect in a system with semi-Dirac points
• Surface Step Defect in 3D Topological Insulators: Electric Manipulation of Spin and Quantum Spin Hall Effect
• Elastic scattering of surface states on three-dimensional topological insulators
• Anisotropic Fabry-Pérot resonant states confined within nano-steps on the topological insulator surface
• Transport in a thin topological insulator with potential and magnetic barriers
• Bound states and controllable currents on Topological Insulator surfaces with extended magnetic defects
• Numerical analysis of surface and edge states in slabs, stripes, rods and surface steps of topological insulators
• Theory of multiple magnetic scattering for quasiparticles on a gapless topological insulator surface
• Distinct quasiparticle interference patterns for surface impurity scattering on various Weyl semimetals
• Experimental Observation of Bound States of 2D Dirac Electrons at Surface Steps of the Topological Insulator Bi${}_2$Se${}_3$
• Probing crossover from analogous weak antilocalization to localization by an Aharonov-Bohm interferometer on topological insulator surface
• Gate-Tunable Resonances and 1D Channel in a Graphene Nanoslide
• Local density of state oscillations in laterally heterostructured topological insulator-semiconductor systems
• Scattering of electronic waves in square and triangular lattice half-planes with monoatomic step