ABSTRACT
The breaking of time reversal symmetry (TRS) in three-dimensional (3D) topological insulators (TIs), and thus the opening of a 'Dirac-mass gap' in the linearly dispersed Dirac surface state, is a prerequisite for unlocking exotic physical states. Introducing ferromagnetic long-range order by transition metal doping has been shown to break TRS. Here, we present the study of lanthanide (Ln) doped Bi2Te3, where the magnetic doping with high-moment lanthanides promises large energy gaps. Using molecular beam epitaxy, single-crystalline, rhombohedral thin films with Ln concentrations of up to ~35%, substituting on Bi sites, were achieved for Dy, Gd, and Ho doping. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy shows the characteristic Dirac cone for Gd and Ho doping. In contrast, for Dy doping above a critical doping concentration, a gap opening is observed via the decreased spectral intensity at the Dirac point, indicating a topological quantum phase transition persisting up to room-temperature.
ABSTRACT
Breaking the time-reversal symmetry (TRS) in topological insulators (TIs) through ferromagnetic doping is an essential prerequisite for unlocking novel physical phenomena and exploring potential device applications. Here, we report the successful growth of high-quality (Dy(x)Bi(1-x))2Te3 thin films with Dy concentrations up to x = 0.355 by molecular beam epitaxy. Bulk-sensitive magnetisation studies using superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry find paramagnetic behaviour down to 2 K for the entire doping series. The effective magnetic moment, µeff, is strongly doping concentration-dependent and reduces from â¼12.6 µ(B) Dy(-1) for x = 0.023 to â¼4.3 µ(B) Dy(-1) for x = 0.355. X-ray absorption spectra and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) at the Dy M4,5 edge are employed to provide a deeper insight into the magnetic nature of the Dy(3+)-doped films. XMCD, measured in surface-sensitive total-electron-yield detection, gives µ(eff )= 4.2 µ(B) Dy(-1). The large measured moments make Dy-doped films interesting TI systems in which the TRS may be broken via the proximity effect due to an adjacent ferromagnetic insulator.
ABSTRACT
We reexamine the mechanism of ferromagnetism in doped TiO(2) anatase, using epitaxial Cr:TiO(2) with excellent structural quality as a model system. In contrast to highly oriented but defective Cr:TiO(2) (approximately 0.5 micro(b)/Cr), these structurally superior single crystal films exhibit negligible ferromagnetism. Similar results were obtained for Co:TiO(2). We show for the first time that charge-compensating oxygen vacancies alone, as predicted by F-center mediated exchange, are not sufficient to activate ferromagnetism. Instead, the onset of ferromagnetism correlates with the presence of structural defects.
