Surface phonons in topological insulator Bi2Te3 investigated by Brillouin light scattering

Sci Rep. 2020 Jul 16;10(1):11812. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-68690-z.

Abstract

High resolution Brillouin spectroscopy was used for the first time to study the dispersion and anisotropy of surface phonons in the single crystal of topological insulator Bi2Te3. Two surface acoustic waves have been observed, which distinguishes this material from other metals or nontransparent materials. The modes were assigned as Rayleigh waves. The obtained results were then simulated by Finite Element Method. The layered structure of the unit cell proposed in simulation reproduced quite well experimental results of the modes dispersion and anisotropy.