Magneto-optical absorption properties of topological insulator thin films

Abstract

We theoretically study the magneto-optical absorption coefficients (MOACs) and the refractive index changes (RICs) due to both intra- and inter-band transitions in topological insulator (TI) thin films. The interplay between Zeeman energy and hybridization contribution leads to a transition between the normal insulator phase and the TI phase. The difference in the optical response in these two phases as well as at the phase transition point has been analyzed. The influence of the electron density, magnetic field, and temperature on the MOACs and RICs in both intra- and inter-band transitions is investigated. Our results show that the electron density affects directly the threshold energy. At a finite temperature, the thermal excitation causes the triggering of some new transitions which do not appear at T = 0 K. Evidence of the half-peak feature of the first inter-band transition is also found in TI thin films.