Kondo-effect protected topological surface states on Sb(111)

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that the Kondo effect can protect topological surface states on Sb(111) by screening magnetic impurities, suppressing backscattering, as shown through scanning tunneling spectroscopy.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence that the Kondo effect can shield topological surface states from magnetic impurity scattering on Sb(111).

Findings

Kondo resonance observed near Fermi energy.

Backscattering channels are suppressed by the Kondo effect.

Magnetic impurities are fully screened, protecting surface states.

Abstract

Local density of states and quasiparticle interference phenomena of Co/Sb(111) were investigated by scanning tunneling spectroscopy. A sharp peak observed near the Fermi energy is interpreted as a fingerprint of the conventional Kondo resonance with the Kondo temperature of K. Moreover, by identifying the interference wavevectors, only the scattering channels relating to backscattering confinements are observed for surfaces with and without the Co deposition. It reveals that the Kondo effect fully screens the magnetic impurities and thereby suppresses the backscattering of the topological surface state.