Tunneling through ferromagnetic barriers on the surface of a topological insulator

Jinhua Gao, Wei-Qiang Chen, Xiao-Yong Feng, X. C. Xie, Fu-Chun Zhang

Published 2009-09-02Version 1

We study the transmission through single and double ferromagnetic barriers on the surface of a topological insulator. By adjusting the gate voltage and magnetization oreintation, the ferromagnetic barrier can be tuned into various transmission regions, where the wavevector-dependent tunnelings are quite different. We find that the Klein tunneling can be manipulated or even be turned off. These special properties offer the possibility to control electron beams on the "topological metal". Various novel devices, such as electronic collimation, wavevector filter, magnetic and electric switchs, and wavevector-based spin valve, may be constructed based on our observed phenomena.