Any axion insulator must be a bulk three-dimensional topological insulator

• DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.103.235111
• Publication Date: 2021-06-03T14:57:20Z
• Authors: K. M. Fijalkowski; N. Liu; M. Hartl; M. Winnerlein; P. Mandal; A. Coschizza; A. Fothergill; S. Grauer; S. Schreyeck; K. Brunner; M. Greiter; R. Thomale; C. Gould; L. W. Molenkamp
• Keywords: Topological insulator

This study demonstrates that, contrary to earlier claims in the field involving analyses of a so-called ``zero Hall plateau'', it is more intricate than expected unambiguously reveal existence an axion insulator. In particular, authors find from their scaling analysis transport experiments on V-doped (Bi,Sb)${}_{2}$Te${}_{3}$ films varying thickness that truly three-dimensional bulk character necessary condition for insulators, likely not satisfied materials exhibiting zero plateau.