Chiral Spin Mode on the Surface of a Topological Insulator

Abstract

Using polarization-resolved resonant Raman spectroscopy, we explore collective spin excitations of the chiral surface states in a three dimensional topological insulator, Bi$_2$Se$_3$. We observe a sharp peak at 150 meV in the pseudovector $A_2$ symmetry channel of the Raman spectra. By comparing the data with calculations, we identify this peak as the transverse collective spin mode of surface Dirac fermions. This mode, unlike a Dirac plasmon or a surface plasmon in the charge sector of excitations, is analogous to a spin wave in a partially polarized Fermi liquid, with spin-orbit coupling playing the role of an effective magnetic field.

9 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Lett