Abstract
We report the direct observation of Landau quantization in thin films by using a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope. In particular, we discovered the zeroth Landau level, which is predicted to give rise to the half-quantized Hall effect for the topological surface states. The existence of the discrete Landau levels (LLs) and the suppression of LLs by surface impurities strongly support the 2D nature of the topological states. These observations may eventually lead to the realization of quantum Hall effect in topological insulators.
- Received 25 May 2010
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.076801
© 2010 The American Physical Society
Viewpoint
Quantized topological surface states promise a quantum Hall state in topological insulators
Published 9 August 2010
The first experimental observation of Landau levels in the surface states of a three-dimensional topological insulator confirms the levels obey unconventional quantization rules.
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