Ab initio k.p theory of spin-momentum locking: Application to topological surface states

I. A. Nechaev, E. E. Krasovskii

Published 2020-05-29Version 1

Based on ab initio relativistic ${\mathbf k}\cdot{\mathbf p}$ theory, we derive an effective two-band model for surface states of three-dimensional topological insulators up to seventh order in $\mathbf{k}$. It provides a comprehensive description of the surface spin structure characterized by a non-orthogonality between momentum and spin. We show that the oscillation of the non-orthogonality with the polar angle of $\mathbf{k}$ with a $\pi/3$ periodicity can be seen as due to effective six-fold symmetric spin-orbit magnetic fields with a quintuple and septuple winding of the field vectors per single rotation of $\mathbf{k}$. Owing to the dominant effect of the classical Rashba field, there remains a single-winding helical spin structure but with a periodic few-degree deviation from the orthogonal locking between momentum and spin.