Fine structure of "zero-mode" Landau levels in HgTe/HgCdTe quantum wells

TL;DR

This paper investigates the unique zero-mode Landau levels in HgTe/HgCdTe quantum wells using magneto-spectroscopy, revealing their magnetic field dependence and potential effects of bulk inversion asymmetry.

Contribution

It provides realistic calculations and experimental analysis of zero-mode Landau levels, highlighting their magnetic field behavior and possible asymmetry effects.

Findings

Observation of zero-mode Landau level splitting and merging

Identification of avoided crossing behavior

Attribution to bulk inversion asymmetry effects

Abstract

HgTe/HgCdTe quantum wells with the inverted band structure have been probed using far infrared magneto-spectroscopy. Realistic calculations of Landau level diagrams have been performed to identify the observed transitions. Investigations have been greatly focused on the magnetic field dependence of the peculiar pair of "zero-mode" Landau levels which characteristically split from the upper conduction and bottom valence bands, and merge under the applied magnetic field. The observed avoided crossing of these levels is tentatively attributed to the bulk inversion asymmetry of zinc blend compounds.