$Z_2$ topology of bismuth

Abstract

While first-principles calculations with different levels of sophistication predict a topologically trivial $Z_2$ state for bulk bismuth, some photoemission experiments show surface states consistent with the interpretation of bismuth being in a topologically non-trivial $Z_2$ state. We resolve this contradiction between theory and experiment by showing, based on quasiparticle self-consistent $GW$ calculations, that the experimental surface states interpreted as supporting a non-trivial phase are actually consistent with a trivial $Z_2$ invariant. We identify this contradiction as the result of a crosstalk effect arising from the extreme penetration depth of the surface states into the bulk of Bi. A film of Bi can be considered bulk-like only for thicknesses of about 1000 bilayers ($\approx$ 400 nm) and more.

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• A field-induced reentrant insulator state of a gap-closed topological insulator (Bi_{1-x}Sb_x) in quantum-limit states
• Quantized Thermal Hall Conductance and the Topological Phase Diagram of a Superconducting Bismuth Bilayer
• Topological blocking at the Bi(111) surface due to surface relaxation
• Magneto transport and first principle study of strong topological insulator gray Arsenic
• Long-range permeation of wave function and superficial surface state due to strong quantum size effects in topological Bi/BiSb heterojunctions