# Simultaneous detection of quantum oscillations from bulk and topological surface states in metallic Bi2Se2.1Te0.9

## TL;DR

This study investigates quantum oscillations in Bi2Se2.1Te0.9, revealing distinct surface and bulk contributions at different magnetic fields, and elucidates the role of cyclotron mass differences in their detection.

## Contribution

It demonstrates the simultaneous detection and differentiation of surface and bulk quantum oscillations in a topological insulator using magnetic field dependence.

## Key findings

- Surface oscillations dominate at low magnetic fields.
- Bulk oscillations dominate at high magnetic fields.
- Cyclotron mass difference explains the separation of oscillations.

## Abstract

Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations in metallic Bi2Se2.1Te0.9 are studied in magnetic fields up to 35 Tesla. It is demonstrated that two characteristic frequencies determine the quantum oscillations of the conductivity. Angle dependent measurements and calculations of the Berry phase show that the two frequencies F1 and F2 describe oscillations from surface and bulk carriers, respectively. At low magnetic fields, only SdH oscillation from topological surface states can be detected whereas at high magnetic field the bulk oscillations dominate. The origin of the separation of bulk and surface SdH oscillations into different magnetic field ranges is revealed in the difference of the cyclotron masses mc. The bulk mc is nearly three times larger than the surface cyclotron mass resulting in a stronger attenuation of the bulk oscillation amplitude upon decreasing magnetic field. This makes it possible to detect and characterize the surface SdH oscillations in the low-field range and the bulk oscillations at high magnetic fields.