Proving Nontrivial Topology of Pure Bismuth by Quantum Confinement

Abstract

The topology of pure Bi is controversial because of its very small ($\sim$10 meV) band gap. Here we perform high-resolution angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy measurements systematically on 14$-$202 bilayers Bi films. Using high-quality films, we succeed in observing quantized bulk bands with energy separations down to $\sim$10 meV. Detailed analyses on the phase shift of the confined wave functions precisely determine the surface and bulk electronic structures, which unambiguously show nontrivial topology. The present results not only prove the fundamental property of Bi but also introduce a capability of the quantum-confinement approach.

6 pages, 5 figures

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Cited by in corpus (29)

• Resolving the Topological Classification of Bismuth with Topological Defects
• Visualizing topological edge states of single and double bilayer Bi supported on multibilayer Bi(111) films
• Engineering Multiple Topological Phases in Nanoscale Van der Waals Heterostructures: Realisation of $\alpha$-Antimonene
• In-Plane Magnetization Induced Quantum Anomalous Hall Effect in Atomic Crystals of Group-V Elements
• Topologically entangled Rashba-split Shockley states on the surface of grey arsenic
• Photo-induced electronic and spin topological phase transitions in monolayer bismuth
• Topological surface states on Bi(111) based on empirical tight-binding calculations
• Tuning spin-charge interconversion with quantum confinement in ultrathin Bi/Ge(111) films
• Superconductivity in the Bi/Ni bilayer
• Terahertz Faraday and Kerr rotation spectroscopy of Bi${}_{1-x}$Sb${}_x$ films in high magnetic fields up to 30 Tesla
• $Z_2$ topology of bismuth
• Electronic properties of bismuth nanostructures
• Effect of strain and many-body corrections on the band inversions and topology of bismuth
• Visualization of spin-polarized electronic states by imaging-type spin-resolved photoemission microscopy
• Quantum well states in fractured crystals of the heavy fermion material CeCoIn${}_5$
• Analytical Solutions for the Surface States of Bi${}_{1-x}$Sb${}_x$ ($0\le x\lesssim 0.1$)
• Orbital origin of fourfold anisotropic magnetoresistance in Dirac materials
• Alkali-metal induced band structure deformation investigated by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and first-principles calculations
• Temperature-driven modification of surface electronic structure on bismuth, a topological border material
• Quantum Confinement and Heavy Surface States of Dirac Fermions in Bismuth (111) Films: an Analytical Approach
• A field-induced reentrant insulator state of a gap-closed topological insulator (Bi_{1-x}Sb_x) in quantum-limit states
• Quantum geometric bounds in spinful systems with trivial band topology
• Quantum materials interfaces: graphene/Bismuth (111) heterostructures
• Do equidistant energy levels necessitate a harmonic potential?
• Moiré superlattices of antimonene on a Bi(111) substrate with van Hove singularity and Rashba-type spin polarization
• Topological blocking at the Bi(111) surface due to surface relaxation
• High-field immiscibility of electrons belonging to adjacent twinned bismuth crystals
• Long-range permeation of wave function and superficial surface state due to strong quantum size effects in topological Bi/BiSb heterojunctions
• Observation of Yamaji magic angles in bismuth surfaces