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Nuclear-spin-induced localization of edge states in two-dimensional topological insulators

Chen-Hsuan Hsu, Peter Stano, Jelena Klinovaja, and Daniel Loss
Phys. Rev. B 96, 081405(R) – Published 18 August 2017
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Abstract

We investigate the influence of nuclear spins on the resistance of helical edge states of two-dimensional topological insulators (2DTIs). Via the hyperfine interaction, nuclear spins allow electron backscattering, otherwise forbidden by time-reversal symmetry. We identify two backscattering mechanisms, depending on whether the nuclear spins are ordered or not. Their temperature dependence is distinct but both give resistance, which increases with the edge length, decreasing temperature, and increasing strength of the electron-electron interaction. Overall, we find that the nuclear spins will typically shut down the conductance of the 2DTI edges at zero temperature.

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  • Received 20 February 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.96.081405

©2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Chen-Hsuan Hsu1, Peter Stano1,2, Jelena Klinovaja1,3, and Daniel Loss1,3

  • 1RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
  • 2Institute of Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 11 Bratislava, Slovakia
  • 3Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland

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Issue

Vol. 96, Iss. 8 — 15 August 2017

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