This represents the tuning of topological behavior with electric field, an effect that would lead to spin-separated, gapless edge states. This is a collaborated work with Prof. Adalberto Fazzio鈥檚 group. Qihang is the first author.
Thus explaining the formation of 2DEG and critical thickness without a polar catastrophe scenario. Liping (now a research associate professor in Temple University) is the first author.
Group theory is used to establish a complete picture of spin-polarization effects in nonmagnetic crystals originated fundamentally from specific atomic site asymmetries. Reviewed by Nature Physics | News and Views: 鈥淪pin鈥搊rbit interactions: Hide and seek鈥 by Bart Partoens, 鈥淚t is remarkable that this insight has been overlooked for so long 鈥 it seems the reigning paradigm has been too strong. The results presented by Zhang and colleagues will certainly lead to some changes in the next editions of textbooks discussing spin effects in solids. The work carried out by the authors is a beautiful example of how first-principles calculations can provide fundamental new insights into the properties of matter. This is a collaborated work with Prof. Arthur J. Freeman鈥檚 group. Xiuwen and Qihang are the co-first authors.