Probing crossover from analogous weak antilocalization to localization by an Aharonov-Bohm interferometer on topological insulator surface

We propose a scanning tunneling microscopy Aharonov-Bohm (AB) interferometer on the surface of a topological insulator (TI) to probe the crossover from analogous weak antilocalization (WAL) to weak localization (WL) phenomenon via the AB oscillations in spin-resolved local density of states (LDOS). Based on our analytical and numerical results, we show that with increasing the energy gap of TI surface states, the $\Phi_{0}/2$=$hc/2e$ periodic AB oscillations in spin-resolved LDOS gradually transit into the $\Phi_{0}$ periodic oscillations.Comment: 4.2 APL pages, 2 figure

Aharonov-Bohm oscillations in the local density of topological surface states

We study Aharonov-Bohm (AB) oscillations in the local density of states (LDOS) for topological insulator (TI) and conventional metal Au(111) surfaces with spin-orbit interaction, which can be probed by spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. We show that the spacial AB oscillatory period in the total LDOS is a flux quantum $\Phi_{0}\mathtt{=}hc/e$ (weak localization) in both systems. Remarkably, an analogous weak antilocalization with $\Phi_{0}/2$ periodic spacial AB oscillations in spin components of LDOS for TI surface is observed, while it is absent in Au(111).Comment: 4 APL pages, 3 figure

Quantum Corrals and Quantum Mirages on the Surface of a Topological Insulator

We study quantum corrals on the surface of a topological insulator (TI). Different resonance states induced by nonmagnetic (NM), antiferromagnetic (AFM), and ferromagnetic (FM) corrals are found. Intriguingly, the spin is clearly energy-resolved in a FM corral, which can be effectively used to operate surface carrier spins of TI. We also show that an observable quantum mirage of a magnetic impurity can be projected from the occupied into the empty focus of a FM elliptic corral, while in NM and AFM corrals the mirage signal becomes negligibly weak. In addition, the modulation of the interaction between two magnetic impurities in the quantum corrals is demonstrated. These prominent effects may be measured by spin-polarized STM experiments.Comment: 5 PRB pages, 4 figure

Transverse electric current induced by optically injected spin current in cross-shaped InGaAs/InAlAs system

We examine electric response of a linearly polarized light normally shed on a cross-shaped quasi 2-dimensional InGaAs/InAlAs system with structure inversion asymmetry. The photo-excited conduction electrons carry a pure spin current with in-plane spin polarization due to the Rashba spin-orbit interaction. We use Landauer-B\"{u}ttiker formalism to show that this spin current induces two inward or outward transverse charge currents, which are observable in experiments. This effect may serve as an experimental probe of certain types of spin current.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Observation of electric current induced by optically injected spin current

A normally incident light of linear polarization injects a pure spin current in a strip of 2-dimensional electron gas with spin-orbit coupling. We report observation of an electric current with a butterfly-like pattern induced by such a light shed on the vicinity of a crossbar shaped InGaAs/InAlAs quantum well. Its light polarization dependence is the same as that of the spin current. We attribute the observed electric current to be converted from the optically injected spin current caused by scatterings near the crossing. Our observation provides a realistic technique to detect spin currents, and opens a new route to study the spin-related science and engineering in semiconductors.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure