Random-gate-voltage induced Al'tshuler-Aronov-Spivak effect in topological edge states

Abstract

Helical edge states are the hallmark of the quantum spin Hall insulator. Recently, several experiments have observed transport signatures contributed by trivial edge states, making it difficult to distinguish between the topologically trivial and nontrivial phases. Here, we show that helical edge states can be identified by the random-gate-voltage induced $Φ_0/2$-period oscillation of the averaged electron return probability in the interferometer constructed by the edge states. The random gate voltage can highlight the $Φ_0/2$-period Al'tshuler-Aronov-Spivak oscillation proportional to $\sin^2(2πΦ/Φ_0)$ by quenching the $Φ_0$-period Aharonov-Bohm oscillation. It is found that the helical spin texture induced $π$ Berry phase is key to such weak antilocalization behavior with zero return probability at $Φ=0$. In contrast, the oscillation for the trivial edge states may exhibit either weak localization or antilocalization depending on the strength of the spin-orbit coupling, which have finite return probability at $Φ=0$. Our results provide an effective way for the identification of the helical edge states. The predicted signature is stabilized by the time-reversal symmetry so that it is robust against disorder and does not require any fine adjustment of system.