Interaction between interface and massive states in multivalley topological heterostructures

TL;DR

This study investigates the interaction between topological interface states and massive states in multivalley heterostructures, revealing valley sensitivity, anisotropy effects, and state interactions through magneto-optical spectroscopy and theoretical modeling.

Contribution

It provides a detailed experimental and theoretical analysis of valley-dependent topological interface states in multivalley TCI heterostructures, highlighting their shape, penetration, and interaction with massive states.

Findings

Valley anisotropy affects the shape of 2D Fermi surfaces.

Deep penetration of interface states into barriers influences valley behavior.

Significant anti-crossings indicate strong interaction between topological and massive states.

Abstract

Topological interface states in multivalley systems are studied to unravel their valley sensitivity. For this purpose, multivalley IV-VI topological crystalline insulator (TCI) heterostructures are explored using magneto-optical Landau level spectroscopy up to 34 teslas. We characterize the topological interface states emerging from the distinct L-valleys in Pb1-xSnxSe multi quantum wells grown along the [111] direction. It is shown that the shape of the 2D Fermi surfaces of topological interface states residing at the TCI/trivial insulator interfaces are strongly affected by the valley anisotropy of topologically trivial Pb1-yEuySe barriers. This phenomenon is shown to be due to the deep penetration of the topological interface states into the barriers. For the valleys tilted with respect to the confinement direction, a significant interaction between topological states and the conventional massive quantum well states is observed, evidenced by the resulting large anti-crossings between Landau levels. These are theoretically well-described by a k.p model that takes into account tilt and anisotropy of the valleys in two dimensions. Therefore, our work provides a precise characterization of the topological interface state valley splitting, as well as an accurate determination of the anisotropy of their Dirac cone dispersion.