Abstract
We have investigated the nature of surface states in the Bi₂Te₃ family of three-dimensional topological insulators using first-principles calculations as well as a model Hamiltonian approach. When the surface Dirac cone is warped due to Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling in rhombohedral structures, the spin acquires a finite out-of-the-plane component. We provide a simple, minimal model to describe the in-plane spin texture of the warped surface Dirac cone observed in experiments where spins are seen to be not aligned perpendicular to the electron momentum. Our k·p model calculation reveals that this in-plane spin texture requires fifth-order Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling terms
Keywords
Bi₂Te₃, model Hamiltonian, spin texture, Dirac cone surface states, topological insulators
Subject Categories
Electric insulators and insulation
Disciplines
Physics
Publisher
American Physical Society
Publication Date
9-6-2011
Rights Information
Copyright 2011 American Physical Society
Rights Holder
American Physical Society
Recommended Citation
Basak, Susmita; Lin, Hsin; Wray, L. A.; Xu, S. Y.; Fu, L.; Hasan, M. Z.; and Bansil, A., "Spin texture on the warped Dirac-cone surface states in topological insulators" (2011). Physics Faculty Publications. Paper 430.
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Notes
Originally published in Physical Review B v.84 (2011): 121401. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.84.121401