Absence of a Dirac gap in ferromagnetic Cr$_x$(Bi$_{0.1}$Sb$_{0.9}$)$_{2-x}$Te$_3$ (2012.05884v1)

Abstract: Magnetism breaks the time reversal symmetry expected to open a Dirac gap in 3D topological insulators that consequently leads to quantum anomalous Hall effect. The most common approach of inducing ferromagnetic state is by doping magnetic 3$d$ elements into bulk of 3D topological insulators. In Cr${0.15}$(Bi${0.1}$Sb${0.9}$)${1.85}$Te$3$, the material where the quantum anomalous Hall effect was initially discovered at temperatures much lower than the ferromagnetic transition, $T_C$, the scanning tunneling microscopy studies have reported a large Dirac gap $\sim20-100$ meV. The discrepancy between the low temperature of quantum anomalous Hall effect ($\ll T_C$) and large spectroscopic Dirac gaps ($\gg T_C$) found in magnetic topological insulators remains puzzling. Here, we used angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to study the surface electronic structure of pristine and potassium doped surface of Cr${0.15}$(Bi${0.1}$Sb${0.9}$)$_{1.85}$Te$_3$. Upon potassium deposition, the $p$-type surface state of pristine sample was turned into an $n$-type, allowing spectroscopic observation of Dirac point. We find a gapless surface state, with no evidence of a large Dirac gap reported in tunneling studies.