Topological Phase Buried in a Chalcogenide Superlattice Monitored by Helicity-Dependent Kerr Measurement

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
Richarj MondalMuneaki Hase

Abstract

Chalcogenide superlattices (SLs), formed by the alternate stacking of GeTe and Sb2Te3 layers, also referred to as interfacial phase-change memory (iPCM), are a leading candidate for spin-based memory device applications. Theoretically, the iPCM structure has been predicted to form a three-dimensional topological insulator or Dirac semimetal phase depending on the constituent layer thicknesses. Here, we experimentally investigate the topological insulating nature of chalcogenide SLs using a helicity-dependent time-resolved Kerr measurement. The helicity-dependent Kerr signal is observed to exhibit a four-cycle oscillation with π/2 periodicity, suggesting the existence of a Dirac-like cone in some chalcogenide SLs. Furthermore, we found that increasing the thickness of the GeTe layer dramatically changed the periodicity, indicating a phase transition from a Dirac semimetal into a trivial insulator. Our results demonstrate that thickness-tuned chalcogenide SLs can play an important role in the manipulation of topological states, which may open up new possibilities for spintronic devices based on chalcogenide SLs.

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Mar 4, 2018·Scientific Reports·Richarj MondalMuneaki Hase

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Citations

Jul 3, 2019·Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal·Takara SuzukiMuneaki Hase
Sep 5, 2019·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Yu Kyoung RyuAndres Castellanos-Gomez

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