Detection of the Spin-Chemical Potential in Topological Insulators Using Spin-Polarized Four-Probe STM

Saban M. Hus; X. G. Zhang; Giang D. Nguyen; Wonhee Ko; Arthur P. Baddorf; Yong P. Chen; An Ping Li

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.137202

Detection of the Spin-Chemical Potential in Topological Insulators Using Spin-Polarized Four-Probe STM

Saban M. Hus
, X. G. Zhang
, Giang D. Nguyen
, Wonhee Ko
, Arthur P. Baddorf
, Yong P. Chen
, An Ping Li

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Group

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

We demonstrate a new method for the detection of the spin-chemical potential in topological insulators using spin-polarized four-probe scanning tunneling microscopy on in situ cleaved Bi2Te2Se surfaces. Two-dimensional (2D) surface and 3D bulk conductions are separated quantitatively via variable probe-spacing measurements, enabling the isolation of the nonvanishing spin-dependent electrochemical potential from the Ohmic contribution. This component is identified as the spin-chemical potential arising from the 2D charge current through the spin momentum locked topological surface states (TSS). This method provides a direct measurement of spin current generation efficiency and opens a new avenue to access the intrinsic spin transport associated with pristine TSS.

Original language	English
Article number	137202
Journal	Physical Review Letters
Volume	119
Issue number	13
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.137202
State	Published - Sep 27 2017

Funding

This research was conducted at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, which is a DOE Office of Science User Facility. The crystal growth and characterization at Purdue was supported by DARPA MESO program (Grant No. N66001-11-1-4107).

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10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.137202

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title = "Detection of the Spin-Chemical Potential in Topological Insulators Using Spin-Polarized Four-Probe STM",

abstract = "We demonstrate a new method for the detection of the spin-chemical potential in topological insulators using spin-polarized four-probe scanning tunneling microscopy on in situ cleaved Bi2Te2Se surfaces. Two-dimensional (2D) surface and 3D bulk conductions are separated quantitatively via variable probe-spacing measurements, enabling the isolation of the nonvanishing spin-dependent electrochemical potential from the Ohmic contribution. This component is identified as the spin-chemical potential arising from the 2D charge current through the spin momentum locked topological surface states (TSS). This method provides a direct measurement of spin current generation efficiency and opens a new avenue to access the intrinsic spin transport associated with pristine TSS.",

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AU - Hus, Saban M.

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AU - Nguyen, Giang D.

AU - Ko, Wonhee

AU - Baddorf, Arthur P.

AU - Chen, Yong P.

AU - Li, An Ping

PY - 2017/9/27

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AB - We demonstrate a new method for the detection of the spin-chemical potential in topological insulators using spin-polarized four-probe scanning tunneling microscopy on in situ cleaved Bi2Te2Se surfaces. Two-dimensional (2D) surface and 3D bulk conductions are separated quantitatively via variable probe-spacing measurements, enabling the isolation of the nonvanishing spin-dependent electrochemical potential from the Ohmic contribution. This component is identified as the spin-chemical potential arising from the 2D charge current through the spin momentum locked topological surface states (TSS). This method provides a direct measurement of spin current generation efficiency and opens a new avenue to access the intrinsic spin transport associated with pristine TSS.

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ER -

Detection of the Spin-Chemical Potential in Topological Insulators Using Spin-Polarized Four-Probe STM

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