Electronic states and spin-filter effect in three-dimensional topological insulator Bi_2Se_3 nanoribbons

We study the electronic band structure, density distribution, and transport of a Bi_2Se_3 nanoribbon. We find that the density distribution of the surface states is dependent on not only the shape and size of the transverse cross section of the nanoribbon, but also the energy of the electron. We demonstrate that a transverse electric field can eliminate the coupling between surface states on the walls of the nanoribbon, remove the gap of the surface states, and restore the quantum spin Hall effects. In addition, we study the spin-dependent transport property of the surface states transmitting from top and bottom surfaces(x-y plane) to the side surfaces(z-x plane) of a Bi_2Se_3 nanoribbon. We find that transverse electric fields can open two surface channels for spin-up and-down Dirac electrons, and then switch off one channel for the spin-up Dirac electron. Our results may provide a simple way for the design of a spin filter based on topological insulator nanostructures.     

Conductance for a Quantum Wire with Weak Rashba Spin-Orbit Coupling

We theoretically study the low temperature electron transport properties of a weak Rashba spin-orbit coupling （SOC） semiconductor quantum wire connected nonadiabatically to two electrode leads without SOC. The wire and the leads are defined by a parabolic confining potential, and the influence of both the wire-lead connection and the Rashba SOC on the electron transport is treated analytically by means of scattering matrix within effective free-electron approximation. From analytical analysis and numerical examples, we find that the system shows some fractional quantum conductance behaviour, and for some particular wire width a pure spin polarized current exists. Our result may imply a simple method for the design of a spin filter without involving any magnetic materials or magnetic fields.     

磁控溅射参数对（Ba,Sr）TiO3薄膜择优取向生长的影响

采用磁控溅射法在Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si衬底上制备了(Ba,Sr)TiO3薄膜。基于薄膜的形核理论,研究了溅射气压、靶基距、衬底温度和溅射功率等溅射参数对(Ba,Sr)TiO3薄膜择优取向生长的影响。实验结果表明:磁控溅射中,较高衬底温度(600℃)有助于钙钛矿成相;通过改变磁控溅射参数,能得到(111)、(001)、(110)择优取向的薄膜。