• Letter

Z2 topology of bismuth

Irene Aguilera, Hyun-Jung Kim, Christoph Friedrich, Gustav Bihlmayer, and Stefan Blügel
Phys. Rev. Materials 5, L091201 – Published 17 September 2021
PDFHTMLExport Citation

Abstract

While first-principles calculations with different levels of sophistication predict a topologically trivial Z2 state for bulk bismuth, some photoemission experiments show surface states consistent with the interpretation of bismuth being in a topologically nontrivial Z2 state. We resolve this contradiction between theory and experiment by showing, based on quasiparticle self-consistent GW calculations, that the experimental surface states interpreted as supporting a nontrivial phase are actually consistent with a trivial Z2 invariant. We identify this contradiction as the result of a crosstalk effect arising from the extreme penetration depth of the surface states into the bulk of Bi. A film of Bi can be considered bulklike only for thicknesses of about 1000 bilayers (400 nm) and more.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 21 May 2021
  • Accepted 23 August 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.5.L091201

©2021 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Irene Aguilera*, Hyun-Jung Kim, Christoph Friedrich, Gustav Bihlmayer, and Stefan Blügel

  • Peter Grünberg Institute and Institute for Advanced Simulation, Forschungszentrum Jülich and JARA, 52425 Jülich, Germany

  • *Corresponding author: i.aguilera@fz-juelich.de; Present address: IEK5-Photovoltaik, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany.

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 5, Iss. 9 — September 2021

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Materials

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×