The quantum spin Hall (QSH) state is a state of matter characterized by a non-trivial topology of its band structure, and associated conducting edge channels. The QSH state was predicted and experimentally demonstrated to be realized in HgTe quantum wells. The existence of the edge channels has been inferred from local and non-local transport measurements in sufficiently small devices. Here we directly confirm the existence of the edge channels by imaging the magnetic fields produced by current flowing in large Hall bars made from HgTe quantum wells. These images distinguish between current that passes through each edge and the bulk. On tuning the bulk conductivity by gating or raising the temperature, we observe a regime in which the edge channels clearly coexist with the conducting bulk, providing input to the question of how ballistic transport may be limited in the edge channels. Our results represent a versatile method for characterization of new QSH materials systems.
%0 Journal Article
%1 nowack2013imaging
%A Nowack, Katja C.
%A Spanton, Eric M.
%A Baenninger, Matthias
%A König, Markus
%A Kirtley, John R.
%A Kalisky, Beena
%A Ames, C.
%A Leubner, Philipp
%A Brüne, Christoph
%A Buhmann, Hartmut
%A Molenkamp, Laurens W.
%A Goldhaber-Gordon, David
%A Moler, Kathryn A.
%D 2013
%I Springer Nature
%J Nature Materials
%K qt
%N 9
%P 787--791
%R 10.1038/nmat3682
%T Imaging currents in HgTe quantum wells in the quantum spin Hall regime
%V 12
%X The quantum spin Hall (QSH) state is a state of matter characterized by a non-trivial topology of its band structure, and associated conducting edge channels. The QSH state was predicted and experimentally demonstrated to be realized in HgTe quantum wells. The existence of the edge channels has been inferred from local and non-local transport measurements in sufficiently small devices. Here we directly confirm the existence of the edge channels by imaging the magnetic fields produced by current flowing in large Hall bars made from HgTe quantum wells. These images distinguish between current that passes through each edge and the bulk. On tuning the bulk conductivity by gating or raising the temperature, we observe a regime in which the edge channels clearly coexist with the conducting bulk, providing input to the question of how ballistic transport may be limited in the edge channels. Our results represent a versatile method for characterization of new QSH materials systems.
@article{nowack2013imaging,
abstract = {The quantum spin Hall (QSH) state is a state of matter characterized by a non-trivial topology of its band structure, and associated conducting edge channels. The QSH state was predicted and experimentally demonstrated to be realized in HgTe quantum wells. The existence of the edge channels has been inferred from local and non-local transport measurements in sufficiently small devices. Here we directly confirm the existence of the edge channels by imaging the magnetic fields produced by current flowing in large Hall bars made from HgTe quantum wells. These images distinguish between current that passes through each edge and the bulk. On tuning the bulk conductivity by gating or raising the temperature, we observe a regime in which the edge channels clearly coexist with the conducting bulk, providing input to the question of how ballistic transport may be limited in the edge channels. Our results represent a versatile method for characterization of new QSH materials systems.},
added-at = {2019-08-12T17:38:23.000+0200},
author = {Nowack, Katja C. and Spanton, Eric M. and Baenninger, Matthias and König, Markus and Kirtley, John R. and Kalisky, Beena and Ames, C. and Leubner, Philipp and Brüne, Christoph and Buhmann, Hartmut and Molenkamp, Laurens W. and Goldhaber-Gordon, David and Moler, Kathryn A.},
biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2502184af588da7c2b9bcb71ff71cb18b/ep3qt},
doi = {10.1038/nmat3682},
interhash = {048e4dea3556893a35afb5eb4efbf75f},
intrahash = {502184af588da7c2b9bcb71ff71cb18b},
journal = {Nature Materials},
keywords = {qt},
month = {6},
number = 9,
pages = {787--791},
publisher = {Springer Nature},
timestamp = {2019-08-12T17:38:23.000+0200},
title = {Imaging currents in {HgTe} quantum wells in the quantum spin Hall regime},
volume = 12,
year = 2013
}