Unconventional transformation of spin Dirac phase across a topological quantum phase transition

Abstract

The topology of a topological material can be encoded in its surface states. These surface states can only be removed by a bulk topological quantum phase transition into a trivial phase. Here we use photoemission spectroscopy to image the formation of protected surface states in a topological insulator as we chemically tune the system through a topological transition. Surprisingly, we discover an exotic spin-momentum locked, gapped surface state in the trivial phase that shares many important properties with the actual topological surface state in anticipation of the change of topology. Using a spin-resolved measurement, we show that apart from a surface band-gap these states develop spin textures similar to the topological surface states well-before the transition. Our results offer a general paradigm for understanding how surface states in topological phases arise and are suggestive for future realizing Weyl arcs, condensed matter supersymmetry and other fascinating phenomena in the vicinity of topological quantum criticality.

20 pages, 5 Figures, Related papers at http://physics.princeton.edu/zahidhasangroup/index.html, Accepted for publication in Nature Commun.(2015)

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Cited by in corpus (24)

• Colloquium: Topological Band Theory
• Electronic structure of quantum materials studied by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy
• Fermi level dependent charge-to-spin current conversion by Dirac surface state of topological insulators
• Multiple topological states in iron-based superconductors
• Visualization of the strain-induced topological phase transition in a quasi-one-dimensional superconductor TaSe3
• Spin-Polarized Surface Resonances Accompanying Topological Surface State Formation
• Resolving the Topological Classification of Bismuth with Topological Defects
• Spin- and angle-resolved photoemission on topological materials
• Topological phase diagram and saddle point singularity in a tunable topological crystalline insulator
• Anomalous behavior of the electronic structure of (Bi${}_{1-x}$In${}_x$)${}_2$Se${}_3$ across the quantum-phase transition from topological to trivial insulator
• Emergent vortex Majorana zero mode in iron-based superconductors
• Universal response of the type-II Weyl semimetals phase diagram
• Signatures of dephasing by mirror-symmetry breaking in weak-antilocalization magnetoresistance across the topological transition in Pb${}_{1-x}$Sn${}_x$Se
• Facet Dependent Topological Phase Transition in Bi4Br4
• Sudden gap-closure across the topological phase transition in Bi${}_{2-x}$In${}_x$Se${}_3$
• Topological Phase Transition-Induced Tri-Axial Vector Magnetoresistance in (Bi1-xInx)2Se3 Nanodevices
• Shear viscosity as a probe of nodal topology
• Dynamic Opening of a Gap in Dirac Surface States of the Thin-Film 3D Topological Insulator Bi2Se3 Driven by the Dynamic Rashba Effect
• Spin-polarization of topological crystalline and normal insulator Pb${}_{1-x}$Sn${}_x$Se (111) epilayers probed by photoelectron spectroscopy
• Quantum anomalous Hall effect with field-tunable Chern number near Z2 topological critical point
• Massive Dirac fermions in layered BaZnBi${}_2$
• Quantum oscillations and nontrivial transport in (Bi0.92In0.08)2Se3
• Optical manipulation of the topological phase in ZrTe5 revealed by time- and angle-resolved photoemission
• Discovery of magnetic topological crystals