Weak Localization Effects as Evidence for Bulk Quantization in Thin Films Bi2Se3

Abstract

Strong spin-orbit coupling in topological insulators results in the ubiquitously observed weak antilocalization feature in their magnetoresistance. Here we present magnetoresistance measurements in ultra thin films of the topological insulator Bi_2Se_3, and show that in the 2D quantum limit, in which the topological insulator bulk becomes quantized, an additional negative magnetoresistance feature appears. Detailed analysis associates this feature with weak localization of the quantized bulk channels, providing thus evidence for this quantization. Examination of the dephasing fields at different temperatures indicates different scattering mechanism in the bulk vs the surface states.