Engineering artificial topological phases via superlattices (1808.10829v2)

Abstract: The search for new topological materials and states of matter is presently at the forefront of quantum materials research. One powerful approach to novel topological phases beyond the thermodynamic space is to combine different topological/functional materials into a single materials platform in the form of superlattices. However, despite some previous efforts, there has been a significant gap between theories and experiments in this direction. Here, we provide the first detailed set of experimentally-verifiable phase diagrams of topological superlattices composed of archetypal topological insulator (TI), Bi${2}$Se${3}$, and normal insulator (NI), In${2}$Se${3}$, by combining molecular-level materials control, low-temperature magnetotransport measurements, and field theoretical calculations. We show how the electronic properties of topological superlattices evolve with unit-layer thicknesses and utilize the weak antilocalization effect as a tool to gain quantitative insights into the evolution of conducting channels within each set of heterostructures. This orchestrated study opens the door to the possibility of creating a variety of artificial-topological-phases by combining topological materials with various other functional building blocks such as superconductors and magnetic materials.