Induced spin texture in semiconductor/topological insulator heterostructures

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that semiconductor films can develop complex spin textures through proximity effects from topological insulators, enabling new ways to probe surface states and interface properties in heterostructures.

Contribution

It introduces a novel heterostructure design where semiconductor spin textures are induced by topological insulators, offering a platform for interface and surface state investigations.

Findings

Semiconductor films acquire non-trivial spin textures via topological insulator coupling.

Surface modes can be broadened and shifted by metallic contacts.

Proposed heterostructure enables measurement of interface properties.

Abstract

We show that a semiconductor thin film can acquire a non-trivial spin texture due to the proximity effect induced by a topological insulator. The effect stems from coupling to the topological surface states and is present even when the insulator is doped. We propose a semiconductor/topological insulator heterostructure as a device that allows measuring interface properties and probing surface states in uncompensated samples. We also find that the topological insulator surface modes can be significantly broadened and shifted by the presence of metallic contacts.