Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
8162196 | Physica B: Condensed Matter | 2014 | 5 Pages |
Abstract
We study the penetration depth (PD) of surface state into the bulk, the local density of states (LDOS) and the spin-polarized STM tip tunneling conductance (TG) for a smoothly varying step described by an asymptotic model, on the surface of a three-dimensional (3D) topological insulator (TI). Using curvilinear coordinates for calculation, we find that the PD shows two peaks near step edges with maximum surface curvature and a dip value of flat surface at step middle with zero curvature. In contrast, the LDOS exhibits a double valley (dip) pattern, in which it rapidly declines from the highest value for flat surface to the dip value near step edges, and then shows a small peak at step middle. This interesting small peak is in good agreement with experimentally observed LDOS peak within a step of definite span on a 3D TI surface. Moreover, the calculated surface spin-polarized STM tip TG also confirms the LDOS qualitatively. The findings here may provide a further understanding of 3D TI surface with step line defects.
Keywords
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Physics and Astronomy
Condensed Matter Physics
Authors
Ma Zhou, Yiman Liu, Huaihua Shao, Xiaoying Zhou, Guanghui Zhou,