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Gate-tuned normal and superconducting transport at the surface of a topological insulator

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  • Benjamin Sacépé

    (University of Geneva, 24 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
    Group of Applied Physics, University of Geneva, 24 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
    Present address : Institut Néel, CNRS and Université Joseph Fourier, BP 166, 38042 Grenoble, France (B.S.); .)

  • Jeroen B. Oostinga

    (University of Geneva, 24 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
    Group of Applied Physics, University of Geneva, 24 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
    Physikalisches Institut (EP3), University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, D-97074, Würzburg, Germany (J.B.O.).)

  • Jian Li

    (University of Geneva, 24 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.)

  • Alberto Ubaldini

    (University of Geneva, 24 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.)

  • Nuno J.G. Couto

    (University of Geneva, 24 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
    Group of Applied Physics, University of Geneva, 24 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.)

  • Enrico Giannini

    (University of Geneva, 24 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.)

  • Alberto F. Morpurgo

    (University of Geneva, 24 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
    Group of Applied Physics, University of Geneva, 24 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.)

Abstract

Three-dimensional topological insulators are characterized by the presence of a bandgap in their bulk and gapless Dirac fermions at their surfaces. New physical phenomena originating from the presence of the Dirac fermions are predicted to occur, and to be experimentally accessible via transport measurements in suitably designed electronic devices. Here we study transport through superconducting junctions fabricated on thin Bi2Se3 single crystals, equipped with a gate electrode. In the presence of perpendicular magnetic field B, sweeping the gate voltage enables us to observe the filling of the Dirac fermion Landau levels, whose character evolves continuously from electron- to hole-like. When B=0, a supercurrent appears, whose magnitude can be gate tuned, and is minimum at the charge neutrality point determined from the Landau level filling. Our results demonstrate how gated nano-electronic devices give control over normal and superconducting transport of Dirac fermions at an individual surface of a three-dimensional topological insulators.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin Sacépé & Jeroen B. Oostinga & Jian Li & Alberto Ubaldini & Nuno J.G. Couto & Enrico Giannini & Alberto F. Morpurgo, 2011. "Gate-tuned normal and superconducting transport at the surface of a topological insulator," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 2(1), pages 1-7, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:2:y:2011:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1586
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1586
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