Quasiparticle spectroscopy as a probe of the topological phase in graphene with heavy adatoms

Paul Soulé 1, 2 Marcel Franz 2, 3

4 pages, 2 figures; Version 2 : references added, minor changes. 2014

Electrons in graphene with heavy adatoms (such as In or Tl) have been predicted to form a 2D topological insulator phase with a substantial spectral gap potentially suitable for future practical applications. In order to facilitate the ongoing experimental efforts to identify this phase we perform a theoretical study of its spectral properties in a model graphene system with randomly distributed adatoms. Our extensive modeling shows that random heavy adatoms produce a full spectral gap (as opposed to a mobility gap) accompanied by distinctive quasiparticle interference patterns observable by means of Fourier-transform scanning tunneling spectroscopy.

  • 1. LPTMS – Laboratoire de Physique Théorique et Modèles Statistiques
  • 2. Department of Physics and Astronomy
  • 3. Quantum Matter Institute
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