In-plane magnetic anisotropy of Fe atoms on Bi2Se3(111)
Abstract
The robustness of the gapless topological surface state hosted by a 3D topological insulator against perturbations of magnetic origin has been the focus of recent investigations. We present a comprehensive study of the magnetic properties of Fe impurities on a prototypical 3D topological insulator Bi2Se3 using local low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and integral x-ray magnetic circular dichroism techniques. Single Fe adatoms on the Bi2Se3 surface, in the coverage range ≈ 1% are heavily relaxed into the surface and exhibit a magnetic easy axis within the surface-plane, contrary to what was assumed in recent investigations on the opening of a gap. Using ab initio approaches, we demonstrate that an in-plane easy axis arises from the combination of the crystal field and dynamic hybridization effects.
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