Breakdown of bulk-projected isotropy in surface electronic states of topological Kondo insulator SmB$_6$(001)

Abstract

The topology and spin-orbital polarization of two-dimensional (2D) surface electronic states have been extensively studied in this decade. One major interest in them is their close relationship with the parities of the bulk (3D) electronic states. In this context, the surface is often regarded as a simple truncation of the bulk crystal. Here we show breakdown of the bulk-related in-plane rotation symmetry in the topological surface states of the Kondo insulator SmB 6 . Angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES) performed on the vicinal SmB 6 (001)-p(2×2) surface showed that the topological surface states are anisotropic and that the Fermi contour lacks the fourfold rotation symmetry maintained in the bulk. This result emphasizes the important role of the surface atomic structure even in the topological surface electronic states. Moreover, the characteristic anisotropy of the SmB 6 (001) surface states provides a new pathway to interpret the exotic electronic phenomena in the small Kondo gap of SmB 6 , whose origin, from the 3D bulk or 2D surface, is still controversial.

Recent progress in clean-surface formation of topological Kondo insulators and topological surface states observed there

“…As an alternative solution to avoid the multi-domain problem, we have just tried to apply a small miscut angle on the (001) surface. Although the whole discussion of this sample is still under review, the surface bands themselves were observed clearly there [63].…”