Quasiparticle scattering from topological crystalline insulator SnTe (001) surface states

Published

June 27, 2014

Author(s)

Duming Zhang, Hongwoo H. Baek, Jeonghoon Ha, Tong Zhang, Jonathan E. Wyrick, Albert Davydov, Young Kuk, Joseph A. Stroscio

Abstract

Recently, the topological classification of electronic states has been extended to a new class of matter known as topological crystalline insulators. Similar to topological insulators, topological crystalline insulators also have spin-momentum locked surface states; but they only exist on specific crystal planes that are protected by crystal reflection symmetry. Here, we report an ultra-low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy study on topological crystalline insulator SnTe nanoplates grown by molecular beam epitaxy. We observed quasiparticle interference patterns on the SnTe (001) surface that can be interpreted in terms of electron scattering from the four Fermi pockets of the topological crystalline surface states in the first surface Brillouin zone. Our quantitative analysis of the energy resolved quasiparticle interference patterns indicates the observation of the second Dirac point beyond the Lifshitz transition. A comparison between the experimental and computed quasiparticle interference patterns reveals possible spin texture of the surface states.

Citation

Physical Review B

Volume

89

Issue

24

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.89.245445

Keywords

Quasiparticle scattering, scanning tunneling microscopy, scanning tunneling spectroscopy, SnTe, topological insulator

Citation

Zhang, D. , Baek, H. , Ha, J. , Zhang, T. , Wyrick, J. , Davydov, A. , Kuk, Y. and Stroscio, J. (2014), Quasiparticle scattering from topological crystalline insulator SnTe (001) surface states, Physical Review B, [online], https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.89.245445 (Accessed October 12, 2025)