Temperature and excitation wavelength dependence of circular and linear photogalvanic effect in a three dimensional topological insulator Bi2Se3.

The circular (CPGE) and linear photogalvanic effect (LPGE) of a three-dimensional topological insulator Bi2Se3 thin film of seven quintuple layers excited by near-infrared (1064 nm) and mid-infrared (10.6 [Formula: see text]m) radiations have been investigated. The comparison of the CPGE current measured parallel and perpendicular to the incident plane, together with the comparison of the CPGE current under front and back illuminations, indicates that the CPGE under front illumination of 1064 nm light is dominated by the top surface states of the Bi2Se3 thin film. The CPGE current excited by 10.6 [Formula: see text]m light is about one order larger than that excited by 1064 nm light, which may be attributed to the smaller cancelation effect of the CPGE generated in the two-dimensional electron gas when excited by 10.6 [Formula: see text]m light. Under the excitation of 1064 nm light, the LPGE current is dominated by the component which shows an even parity of incident angles, while the LPGE current excited by 10.6 [Formula: see text]m light is mainly contributed by the component which is an odd parity of incident angles. Both of the CPGE and LPGE currents excited by 1064 nm decrease with increasing temperature, which may be owing to the decrease of the momentum relaxation time and the stronger electron-electron scattering with increasing temperature, respectively.