Surface states and Rashba-type spin polarization in antiferromagnetic MnBi$_2$Te$_4$
cond-mat.str-el
/ Authors
R. C. Vidal, H. Bentmann, T. R. F. Peixoto, A. Zeugner, S. Moser, C. H. Min, S. Schatz, K. Kissner, M. Ünzelmann, C. I. Fornari
and 25 more authors
H. B. Vasili, M. Valvidares, K. Sakamoto, D. Mondal, J. Fujii, I. Vobornik, S. Jung, C. Cacho, T. K. Kim, R. J. Koch, C. Jozwiak, A. Bostwick, J. D. Denlinger, E. Rotenberg, J. Buck, M. Hoesch, F. Diekmann, S. Rohlf, M. Kalläne, K. Rossnagel, M. M. Otrokov, E. V. Chulkov, M. Ruck, A. Isaeva
/ Abstract
The layered van der Waals antiferromagnet MnBi$_2$Te$_4$ has been predicted to combine the band ordering of archetypical topological insulators such as Bi$_2$Te$_3$ with the magnetism of Mn, making this material a viable candidate for the realization of various magnetic topological states. We have systematically investigated the surface electronic structure of MnBi$_2$Te$_4$(0001) single crystals by use of spin- and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy experiments. In line with theoretical predictions, the results reveal a surface state in the bulk band gap and they provide evidence for the influence of exchange interaction and spin-orbit coupling on the surface electronic structure.