Theory of quantum decoherence in macroscopic topological insulators

TL;DR

This paper develops a comprehensive theory of quantum decoherence in macroscopic topological insulators, revealing its impact on quantum spin Hall effects and uncovering new mechanisms affecting spin transport.

Contribution

It introduces a quantitative framework for decoherence effects in topological insulators and identifies a novel second-order skew-scattering process linked to decoherence.

Findings

Decoherence corrections scale quadratically with impurity density.

A new extrinsic spin Hall effect mechanism is identified, stronger than traditional mechanisms.

Spin Hall conductivity scales quadratically with longitudinal conductivity, serving as an experimental signature.

Abstract

Quantum decoherence-the loss of quantum coherence due to interactions with an environment-plays a central role in quantum transport, and controlling this ubiquitous yet inevitable phenomenon is essential for practical quantum technologies. Despite its importance, the microscopic mechanisms of decoherence in infinite-size topological insulators remain poorly understood. Here, we develop a comprehensive theory that quantitatively investigates how quantum decoherence shapes the quantum spin Hall effect in macroscopic topological insulators, and reveal that decoherence-induced corrections scale quadratically with impurity density. Besides, we uncover a previously unidentified mechanism of the extrinsic spin Hall effect: a second-order skew-scattering process intrinsically tied to quantum decoherence-fundamentally distinct from, yet substantially stronger than, the conventional third-order skew-scattering mechanism. Furthermore, we predict a new scaling law in which the decoherence-induced spin Hall conductivity scales quadratically with the longitudinal conductivity, providing a clear experimental signature of decoherence effects. Our results establish the essential role of decoherence in quantum transport of topological insulators and reveal that macroscopic topological insulators offer a promising platform for next-generation spintronic applications.