The energy loss rate (ELR) of a charged particle in a HgTe/(HgTe, CdTe) quantum well is investigated. We consider scattering of a charged particle by the bulk insulating states in this type of topological insulator. It is found that the ELR characteristics due to the intraband excitation have a linear energy dependence while those due to interband excitation depend on the energy exponentially. An interesting quantitative result is that for a large range of the incident energy, the mean inelastic scattering rate is around a few terahertz.
Funding
Electron and spin transport in topological insulators
Chen, Q., Ang, Y., Wang, X., Lewis, R. A. & Zhang, C. (2013). Energy loss rate of a charged particle in HgTe/(HgTe, CdTe) quantum wells. Applied Physics Letters, 103 192107-1-192107-3.