Stationary phase approximation approach to the quasiparticle interference on the surface of a strong topological insulator
Abstract
Topological insulators have surface states with unique spin-orbit coupling. With impurities on the surface, the quasiparticle interference pattern is an effective way to reveal the topological nature of the surface states, which can be probed by scanning tunneling microscopy. In this paper, we present a general analytic formulation of the local density of states using the stationary phase approximation. The power laws of Friedel oscillations are discussed for a constant energy contour with a generic shape. In particular, we predict unique signature of magnetic impurities in comparison with nonmagnetic impurities for a surface state trapped in a “magnetic wall.”
- Publication:
-
Physical Review B
- Pub Date:
- March 2012
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevB.85.125314
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1202.1611
- Bibcode:
- 2012PhRvB..85l5314L
- Keywords:
-
- 68.37.Ef;
- 72.25.Dc;
- 73.50.Bk;
- 73.20.-r;
- Scanning tunneling microscopy;
- Spin polarized transport in semiconductors;
- General theory scattering mechanisms;
- Electron states at surfaces and interfaces;
- Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
- E-Print:
- 9 pages, 5 figures, 4 tables