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Nonuniversal weak antilocalization effect in cubic topological Kondo insulators

  • Maxim Dzero
  • , Maxim G Vavilov
  • , Kostyantyn Kechedzhi
  • , Victor M Galitskiy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

We study the quantum correction to conductivity on the surface of cubic topological Kondo insulators with multiple Dirac bands. We consider the model of time-reversal invariant disorder which induces the scattering of the electrons within the Dirac bands as well as between the bands. When only intraband scattering is present we find three long-range diffusion modes leading to weak antilocalization correction to conductivity which remains independent of the microscopic details such as Fermi velocities and relaxation times. Interband scattering gaps out two diffusion modes leaving only one long-range mode. We find that depending on the value of the phase coherence time, either three or only one long-range diffusion modes contribute to weak localization correction rendering the quantum correction to conductivity nonuniversal. We provide an interpretation for the results of the recent transport experiments on samarium hexaboride where weak antilocalization has been observed.
Original languageEnglish
Article number165415
Pages (from-to)1-14
Number of pages14
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume92
Issue number16
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

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