Ta2Pd3Te5 topological thermometer

TL;DR

This paper introduces Ta2Pd3Te5 as a topological thermometer with tunable properties, capable of accurate temperature measurement from millikelvin to room temperature, leveraging its edge states and power-law resistance behavior.

Contribution

It demonstrates the use of Ta2Pd3Te5's topological edge states for efficient, tunable thermometry across a wide temperature range, a novel application of topological insulators.

Findings

Exhibits power-law resistance behavior at low temperatures

Can be tuned via doping, thickness, and gate voltage

Offers high sensitivity and resolution for temperature measurement

Abstract

In recent decades, there has been a persistent pursuit of applications for surface/edge states in topological systems, driven by their dissipationless transport effects. However, there have been limited tangible breakthroughs in this field. This work demonstrates the remarkable properties of the topological insulator Ta2Pd3Te5, as a thermometer. This material exhibits a power-law correlation in temperature-dependent resistance at low temperatures, stemming from its Luttinger liquid behavior of edge states, while exhibiting semiconductor behavior at high temperatures. The power-law behavior effectively addresses the issue of infinite resistance in semiconductor thermometers at ultra-low temperatures, thereby playing a crucial role in enabling efficient thermometry in refrigerators supporting millikelvin temperatures or below. By employing chemical doping, adjusting thickness, and controlling gate voltage, its power-law behavior and semiconductor behavior can be effectively modulated. This enables efficient thermometry spanning from millikelvin temperatures to room temperature, and allows for precise local temperature measurement. Furthermore, this thermometer exhibits excellent temperature sensitivity and resolution, and can be fine-tuned to show small magnetoresistance. In summary, the Ta2Pd3Te5 thermometer, also referred to as a topological thermometer, exhibits outstanding performance and significant potential for measuring a wider range of temperatures compared to conventional low-temperature thermometers.