Coherent ultrafast spin-dynamics probed in three dimensional topological insulators

Abstract

Topological insulators are candidates to open up a novel route in spin based electronics. Different to traditional ferromagnetic materials, where the carrier spin-polarization and magnetization are based on the exchange interaction, the spin properties in topological insulators are based on the coupling of spin- and orbit interaction connected to its momentum. Specific ways to control the spin-polarization with light have been demonstrated: the energy momentum landscape of the Dirac cone provides spin-momentum locking of the charge current and its spin. The directionality of spin and momentum, as well as control with light has been demonstrated. Here we demonstrate a coherent femtosecond control of spin-polarization for states in the valence band at around the Dirac cone.

14 pages, 4 figures

References in corpus (5)

• Quantum Spin Hall Insulator State in HgTe Quantum Wells
• Direct mapping of the formation of a persistent spin helix: Supplementary information
• Ultrafast helicity control of surface currents in topological insulators with near-unity fidelity
• Intrinsic and non-local Gilbert damping in polycrystalline nickel studied by Ti:Sapphire laser fs spectroscopy
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• Role of matrix elements in the time-resolved photoemission signal
• Direct imprinting of arbitrary spin textures using programmable structured light in a semiconductor two-dimensional electron gas
• Photon Energy Dependence of Kerr Rotation in Chalcogenide Superlattices
• Observation of spin Nernst photocurrents in topological insulators
• Research on topological materials using ultrafast spectroscopy