Optical properties of helical edge channels in zinc-blende-type topological insulators: Selection rules, circular and linear dichroism, circular and linear photocurrents

Abstract

We develop a theory of electron-photon interaction for helical edge channels in two-dimensional topological insulators based on zinc-blende-type quantum wells. It is shown that the lack of space inversion symmetry in such structures enables the electro-dipole optical transitions between the spin branches of the topological edge states. Further, we demonstrate the linear and circular dichroism associated with the edge states and the generation of edge photocurrents controlled by radiation polarization.

10 pages, 4 figures, 1 table

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Cited by in corpus (7)

• Topological insulators based on HgTe
• Nonlinear optical absorption and photocurrents in topological insulators
• Microwave Photoresistance of a Two-Dimensional Topological Insulator in a HgTe Quantum Well
• Universal transparency and fine band structure near the Dirac point in HgTe quantum wells
• Long-range perturbation of helical edge states by nonmagnetic defects in two-dimensional topological insulators
• Effects of electron-hole asymmetry on electronic structure of helical edge states in HgTe/HgCdTe quantum wells
• Microwave Photocurrent from the Helical Edge state of InAs/GaInSb Bilayers