No Arabic abstract
We study the effects of electron-hole asymmetry on the electronic structure of helical edge states in HgTe/HgCdTe quantum wells. In the framework of the four-band kp-model, which takes into account the absence of a spatial inversion centre, we obtain analytical expressions for the energy spectrum and wave functions of edge states, as well as the effective g-factor tensor and matrix elements of electro-dipole optical transitions between the spin branches of the edge electrons. We show that when two conditions are simultaneously satisfied -- electron-hole asymmetry and the absence of an inversion centre -- the spectrum of edge electrons deviates from the linear one, in that case we obtain corrections to the linear spectrum.
The solutions for the helical edge states for an effective continuum model for the quantum spin Hall effect in HgTe/CdTe quantum wells are presented. For a sample of a large size, the solution gives the linear dispersion for the edge states. However, in a finite strip geometry, the edge states at two sides will couple with each other, which leads to a finite energy gap in the spectra. The gap decays in an exponential law of the width of sample. The magnetic field dependence of the edge states illustrates the difference of the edge states from those of a conventional quantum Hall strip of two-dimensional electron gas.
We propose a minimal effective two-dimensional Hamiltonian for HgTe/CdHgTe quantum wells (QWs) describing the side maxima of the first valence subband. By using the Hamiltonian, we explore the picture of helical edge states in tensile and compressively strained HgTe QWs. We show that both dispersion and probability density of the edge states can differ significantly from those predicted by the Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang (BHZ) model. Our results pave the way towards further theoretical investigations of HgTe-based quantum spin Hall insulators with direct and indirect band gaps beyond the BHZ model.
HgTe/HgCdTe quantum wells with the inverted band structure have been probed using far infrared magneto-spectroscopy. Realistic calculations of Landau level diagrams have been performed to identify the observed transitions. Investigations have been greatly focused on the magnetic field dependence of the peculiar pair of zero-mode Landau levels which characteristically split from the upper conduction and bottom valence bands, and merge under the applied magnetic field. The observed avoided crossing of these levels is tentatively attributed to the bulk inversion asymmetry of zinc blend compounds.
We report on the observation of the terahertz radiation induced circular (CPGE) and linear (LPGE) photogalvanic effects in HgTe quantum wells. The current response is well described by the phenomenological theory of CPGE and LPGE.
We report on beating appearance in Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations in conduction band of 18-22nm HgTe quantum wells under applied top-gate voltage. Analysis of the beatings reveals two electron concentrations at the Fermi level arising due to Rashba-like spin splitting of the first conduction subband H1. The difference dN_s in two concentrations as a function of the gate voltage is qualitatively explained by a proposed toy electrostatic model involving the surface states localized at quantum well interfaces. Experimental values of dN_s are also in a good quantitative agreement with self-consistent calculations of Poisson and Schrodinger equations with eight-band kp Hamiltonian. Our results clearly demonstrate that the large spin splitting of the first conduction subband is caused by surface nature of $H1$ states hybridized with the heavy-hole band.