REAL

Optically Engineering the Topological Properties of a Spin Hall Insulator

Dóra, Balázs and Cayssol, J. and Simon, F. and Moessner, R. (2012) Optically Engineering the Topological Properties of a Spin Hall Insulator. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS, 108 (5). Paper-056602. ISSN 0031-9007

[img]
Preview
Text
PhysRevLett.108.056602.pdf

Download (238kB) | Preview

Abstract

Time-periodic perturbations can be used to engineer topological properties of matter by altering the Floquet band structure. This is demonstrated for the helical edge state of a spin Hall insulator in the presence of monochromatic circularly polarized light. The inherent spin structure of the edge state is influenced by the Zeeman coupling and not by the orbital effect. The photocurrent (and the magnetization along the edge) develops a finite, helicity-dependent expectation value and turns from dissipationless to dissipative with increasing radiation frequency, signalling a change in the topological properties. The connection with Thouless' charge pumping and nonequilibrium zitterbewegung is discussed, together with possible experiments.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: TRANSPORT; STATE; HGTE QUANTUM-WELLS
Subjects: Q Science / természettudomány > QC Physics / fizika
SWORD Depositor: MTMT SWORD
Depositing User: MTMT SWORD
Date Deposited: 21 Mar 2014 13:27
Last Modified: 21 Mar 2014 21:52
URI: http://real.mtak.hu/id/eprint/11051

Actions (login required)

Edit Item Edit Item