2015/06/08 by F. Boschini, M. Mansurova, G. Mussler +12
Physics and Astronomy · #cond-mat.mes-hall #cond-mat.mtrl-sci
paper · pdf · doi:10.1038/srep15304
published as Scientific Reports 5, 15304 (2015) · 14 pages, 4 figures
arxiv created 2015/06/08 · arxiv updated 2016/01/27
Topological insulators are candidates to open up a novel route in spin based electronics. Different to traditional ferromagnetic materials, where the carrier spin-polarization and magnetization are based on the exchange interaction, the spin properties in topological insulators are based on the coupling of spin- and orbit interaction connected to its momentum. Specific ways to control the spin-polarization with light have been demonstrated: the energy momentum landscape of the Dirac cone provides spin-momentum locking of the charge current and its spin. The directionality of spin and momentum, as well as control with light has been demonstrated. Here we demonstrate a coherent femtosecond control of spin-polarization for states in the valence band at around the Dirac cone.