Rui-Rui Du

Evidence for Helical Edge Modes in Inverted InAs / GaSb Quantum Wells

We present an experimental study of low temperature electronic transport in the hybridization gap of inverted InAs/GaSb composite quantum wells. An electrostatic gate is used to push the Fermi level into the gap regime, where the conductance as a function of sample length and width is measured. Our analysis shows strong evidence for the existence of helical edge modes proposed by Liu et al [Phys. Rev. Lett. 100, 236601 (2008)]. Edge modes persist in spite of sizable bulk conduction and show only a weak magnetic field dependence-a direct consequence of a gap opening away from the zone center.

Evidence for a new dissipationless effect in 2D electronic transport.

In an ultraclean 2D electron system (2DES) subjected to crossed millimeterwave (30-150 GHz) and weak (B<2 kG) magnetic fields, a series of apparently dissipationless states emerges as the system is detuned from cyclotron resonances. Such states are characterized by an exponentially vanishing low-temperature diagonal resistance and a classical Hall resistance. The activation energies associated with such states exceed the Landau level spacing by an order of magnitude. Our findings are likely indicative of a collective ground state previously unknown for 2DES.

Strongly anisotropic transport in higher two-dimensional Landau levels

Abstract Low-temperature, electronic transport in Landau levels N > 1 of a two-dimensional electron system is strongly anisotropic. At half-filling of either spin level of each such Landau level the magnetoresistance either collapses to form a deep minimum or is peaked in a sharp maximum, depending on the in-plane current direction. Such anisotropies are absent in the N=0 and N=1 Landau level, which are dominated by the states of the fractional quantum Hall effect. The transport anisotropies may be indicative of a new many particle state, which forms exclusively in higher Landau levels.

Robust Helical Edge Transport in Gated InAs / GaSb Bilayers

Topological insulators (TIs) are a novel class of materials with nontrivial surface or edge states. Time-reversal symmetry (TRS) protected TIs are characterized by the Z2 topological invariant and their helical property becomes lost in an applied magnetic field. Currently there exist extensive efforts searching for TIs that are protected by symmetries other than TRS. Here we show, a topological phase characterized by a spin Chern topological invariant is realized in an inverted electron-hole bilayer engineered from indium arsenide-gallium antimonide (InAs/GaSb) semiconductors which retains robust helical edges under a strong magnetic field. Wide conductance plateaus of 2e2/h value are observed; they persist to 12T applied in-plane magnetic field without evidence for transition to a trivial insulator. In a perpendicular magnetic field up to 8T, there exists no signature to the bulk gap closing. While the Fermi energy remains inside the bulk gap, the longitudinal conductance increases from 2e2/h in strong magnetic fields suggesting a trend towards chiral edge transport. Our findings are first evidences for a quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulator protected by a spin Chern invariant. These results demonstrate that InAs/GaSb bilayers are a novel system for engineering the robust helical edge channels much needed for spintronics and for creating and manipulating Majorana particles in solid state.

Strongly Anisotropic Electronic Transport at Landau Level Filling Factor {nu} =9/2 and {nu} =5/2 under a Tilted Magnetic Field

We have investigated the influence of an increasing in-plane magnetic field on the states of half filling of Landau levels ([nu]=11/2, 9/2, 7/2, thinspandthinsp 5/2) of a two-dimensional electron system. In the electrically anisotropic phase at [nu]=9/2 and 11/2 an in-plane magnetic field of [approximately]1[endash]2 T overcomes its initial pinning to the crystal lattice and [ital reorients] this phase. In the initially isotropic phases at [nu]=5/2 and 7/2 an in-plane magnetic field [ital induces ] a strong electrical anisotropy. In all cases, for high in-plane fields the high-resistance axis is parallel to the direction of the in-plane field. [copyright] [ital 1999] [ital The American Physical Society ]

Observation of microwave-induced zero-conductance state in Corbino rings of a two-dimensional electron system

Using Corbino samples we have observed oscillatory conductance in a high-mobility two-dimensional electron system subjected to crossed microwave and magnetic fields. On the strongest of the oscillation minima the conductance is found to be vanishingly small, possibly indicating an insulating state associated with these minima.

Zener tunneling between Landau orbits in a high-mobility two-dimensional electron gas.

Magnetotransport in a laterally confined two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) can exhibit modified scattering channels owing to a tilted Hall potential. Transitions of electrons between Landau levels with shifted guiding centers can be accomplished through a Zener tunneling mechanism, and make a significant contribution to the magnetoresistance. A remarkable oscillation effect in weak field magnetoresistance has been observed in high-mobility 2DEGs in GaAs -Al Ga 0.3As (0.7) heterostructures, and can be well explained by the Zener mechanism.

Andreev reflection of helical edge modes in InAs/GaSb quantum spin Hall insulator.

We present an experimental study of S-N-S junctions, with N being a quantum spin Hall insulator made of InAs/GaSb. A front gate is used to vary the Fermi level into the minigap, where helical edge modes exist [Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 136603 (2011)]. In this regime we observe a ~2e(2)/h Andreev conductance peak, consistent with a perfect Andreev reflection on the helical edge modes predicted by theories. The peak diminishes under a small applied magnetic field due to the breaking of time-reversal symmetry. This work thus demonstrates the helical property of the edge modes in a quantum spin Hall insulator.

Images of Edge Current in InAs/GaSb Quantum Wells

Quantum spin Hall devices with edges much longer than several microns do not display ballistic transport; that is, their measured conductances are much less than e(2)/h per edge. We imaged edge currents in InAs/GaSb quantum wells with long edges and determined an effective edge resistance. Surprisingly, although the effective edge resistance is much greater than h/e(2), it is independent of temperature up to 30 K within experimental resolution. Known candidate scattering mechanisms do not explain our observation of an effective edge resistance that is large yet temperature independent.

Ultradense phosphorous delta layers grown into silicon from PH3 molecular precursors

Phosphorous δ-doping layers were fabricated in silicon by PH3 deposition at room temperature, followed by low-temperature Si epitaxy. Scanning tunneling microscope images indicate large H coverage, and regions of c(2×2) structure. Hall data imply full carrier activation with mobility <40 cm2/V s when the surface coverage is ≲0.2 ML. Conductivity measurements show a ln(T) behavior at low temperatures, characteristic of a high-density two-dimensional conductor. Possible future applications to atom-scale electronics and quantum computation are briefly discussed.