Controlling electron propagation on a topological insulator surface via proximity interactions

Abstract

The possibility of electron beam guiding is theoretically explored on the surface of a topological insulator through the proximity interaction with a magnetic material. The electronic band modification induced by the exchange coupling at the interface defines the path of electron propagation in analogy to the optical fiber for photons. Numerical simulations indicate the guiding efficiency much higher than that in the "waveguide" formed by an electrostatic potential barrier such as p-n junctions. Further, the results illustrate effective flux control and beam steering that can be realized by altering the magnetization/spin texture of the adjacent magnetic materials. Specifically, the feasibility to switch on/off and make a large-angle turn is demonstrated under realistic conditions. Potential implementation to logic and interconnect applications is also examined in connection with electrically controlled magnetization switching.

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Cited by in corpus (7)

• High-Performance Monolayer WS2 Field-effect Transistors on High-k Dielectrics
• Magnetic Proximity Effect and Interlayer Exchange Coupling of Ferromagnetic/Topological Insulator/Ferromagnetic Trilayer
• Tunneling Planar Hall Effect in Topological Insulators: Spin-Valves and Amplifiers
• Planar Josephson Hall effect in topological Josephson junctions
• High-performance nanoscale topological energy transduction
• Time Evolution of Electron Waves in Graphene Superlattices
• Transport in Selectively Magnetically Doped Topological Insulator Wires