$\pi$ phase difference between Hall oscillation and SdH oscillation and non trivial Berry Phase in a topological insulator

TL;DR

This study investigates quantum oscillations in a topological insulator, revealing a non-trivial Berry phase and a unique 180° phase difference between Hall and SdH oscillations, linked to scattering mechanisms.

Contribution

It demonstrates the coexistence of non-trivial Berry phase detection with unusual Hall oscillation behavior, highlighting the role of intra Landau Level scattering in topological insulators.

Findings

Non-trivial Berry phase of 1% in Sb2Te2Se

Hall oscillation exhibits 180° phase difference from SdH oscillation

Phase difference is independent of magnetic field strength

Abstract

The quantum oscillation is an important probe for the detection of a topological insulator(TI) surface states by means of electrical transport since the Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations allow to extract the Berry Phase which is the key test to detect the topological surface states. Here we have extracted the non trivial Berry Phase of 1$\%$ Sn doped strong TI $Sb_2Te_2Se$. We observed oscillation in Hall resistance as well and showed that this does not arise neither from the dominance of the SdH on Hall data nor this is the precursor of quantum Hall effect, rather this happens due to the pinning of the Fermi Level. Also The Hall oscillation has exactly 180$^\circ$ phase difference from SdH oscillation and this phase shift is independent of the magnetic field strength. It is argued that this unusual phenomenon stems from the predominance of the intra Landau Level scattering over the inter Landau Level scattering and it depends on the strength of the scattering potential. Thus our work paves the way of understanding the physics of scattering via quantum oscillations.