Magnetic torque oscillations from warped helical surface states in topological insulators

A magnetic torque method is proposed that probes the warping and mass gap of Dirac cone surface states in topological insulators like Bi2X3 (X=Se,Te). A rotating field parallel to the surface induces a paramagnetic moment in the helical surface states for nonzero warping. It is non-collinear with the applied field and therefore produces torque oscillations as function of the field angle which are a direct signature of the surface states. The torque dependence on field strength and angle, the chemical potential and the Dirac cone parameters like warping strength and mass gap is calculated. It is shown that the latter leads to a symmetry reduction in the fourfold torque oscillations.

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