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arXiv · 1608.03029

Topologically entangled Rashba-split Shockley states on the surface of grey arsenic

Peng Zhang·J. -Z. Ma·Y. Ishida·L. -X. Zhao·Q. -N. Xu·B. -Q. Lv·K. Yaji·G. -F. Chen·H. -M. Weng·X. Dai·Z. Fang·X. -Q. Chen·L. Fu·T. Qian·H. Ding·S. Shin
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Abstract

We discover a pair of spin-polarized surface bands on the (111) face of grey arsenic by using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). In the occupied side, the pair resembles typical nearly-free-electron Shockley states observed on noble-metal surfaces. However, pump-probe ARPES reveals that the spin-polarized pair traverses the bulk band gap and that the crossing of the pair at $\bar\Gamma$ is topologically unavoidable. First-principles calculations well reproduce the bands and their non-trivial topology; the calculations also support that the surface states are of Shockley type because they arise from a band inversion caused by crystal field. The results provide compelling evidence that topological Shockley states are realized on As(111).

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Peng Zhang, J. -Z. Ma, Y. Ishida, L. -X. Zhao, Q. -N. Xu, B. -Q. Lv, K. Yaji, G. -F. Chen, H. -M. Weng, X. Dai, Z. Fang, X. -Q. Chen, L. Fu, T. Qian, H. Ding, S. Shin. 2016-08-10. Topologically entangled Rashba-split Shockley states on the surface of grey arsenic. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.118.046802

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