Microwave photocurrent from the edge states of InAs/GaInSb bilayers

Abstract

We measure microwave photocurrent in devices made from InAs/GaInSb bilayers where both insulating bulk state and conducting edge state were observed in the inverted-band regime, consistent with the theoretical prediction for a quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulator. It has been theoretically proposed that microwave photocurrent could be a unique probe in studying the properties of QSH edge states. To distinguish possible photoresponse between bulk state and helical edge state, we prepare Hall bar and Corbino disk from the same wafer. Results show that the Corbino disk samples have a negligible photocurrent in the bulk gap while clear photocurrent signals from the Hall bar samples are observed. This finding suggests that the photocurrent may carry information concerning the electronic properties of the edge states.