Abstract
We calculate a supercurrent across a two-dimensional topological insulator subjected to an external magnetic field. When the edge states of a narrow two-dimensional topological insulator are hybridized, an external magnetic field can close the hybridization gap, thus driving a quantum phase transition from insulator to semimetal states of the topological insulator. We find a sign reversal of the supercurrent at the quantum phase transition revealing intrinsic properties of topological insulators via the Josephson effect.
- Received 28 July 2015
- Revised 16 October 2015
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.92.174515
©2015 American Physical Society