Spontaneous ferromagnetism and finite surface energy gap in the topological insulator Bi$_2$Se$_3$ from surface Bi$_\rm{{Se}}$ antisite defects

Abstract

We perform ab-initio calculations on Bi$_\mathrm{{Se}}$ antisite defects in the surface of Bi$_2$Se$_3$, finding strong low-energy defect resonances with a spontaneous ferromagnetism, fixed to an out-of-plane orientation due to an exceptional large magnetic anisotropy energy. For antisite defects in the surface layer, we find semi-itinerant ferromagnetism and strong hybridization with the Dirac surface state, generating a finite energy gap. For deeper lying defects, such hybridization is largely absent, the magnetic moments becomes more localized, and no energy gap is present.