Quasiparticle scattering from topological crystalline insulator SnTe (001) surface states

TL;DR

This study uses low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy to investigate quasiparticle scattering on SnTe topological crystalline insulator surface states, revealing interference patterns, energy dispersion features, and potential spin textures.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed experimental analysis of quasiparticle interference and spin texture on SnTe (001) surface states, advancing understanding of topological crystalline insulator surface phenomena.

Findings

Observed quasiparticle interference patterns on SnTe (001) surface.

Identified energy features related to surface band crossing points.

Compared experimental data with calculations to suggest spin textures.

Abstract

Recently, the topological classification of electronic states has been extended to a new class of matter known as topological crystalline insulators. Similar to topological insulators, topological crystalline insulators also have spin-momentum locked surface states; but they only exist on specific crystal planes that are protected by crystal reflection symmetry. Here, we report an ultra-low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy study on topological crystalline insulator SnTe nanoplates grown by molecular beam epitaxy. We observed quasiparticle interference patterns on the SnTe (001) surface that can be interpreted in terms of electron scattering from the four Fermi pockets of the topological crystalline insulator surface states in the first surface Brillouin zone. A quantitative analysis of the energy dispersion of the quasiparticle interference intensity shows two high energy features related to the crossing point beyond the Lifshitz transition when the two neighboring low energy surface bands near the point merge. A comparison between the experimental and computed quasiparticle interference patterns reveals possible spin texture of the surface states.