Probing surface states: A study of UCF and WAL in Bi1.9Sb0.1Te2Se topological insulator

In the exploration of three-dimensional quaternary topological insulators, understanding surface states has become pivotal for unraveling the underlying physics and tapping into potential applications. Our study delves into the temperature and magnetic field-angle dependence of universal conductance fluctuations (UCF) and weak anti-localization (WAL) effects in a Bi1.9Sb0.1Te2Se topological insulator-based mesoscopic device. Conventionally, other low-temperature transport phenomena in probing surface states may inevitably face interference from three-dimensional bulk conductance. However, we experimentally demonstrate that, at low temperatures, UCF reflects the properties of two-dimensional topological surface states more accurately, thereby providing a more reliable and distinct way to confirm their existence. Moreover, we carefully analyze the temperature-dependent WAL using the Hikami–Larkin–Nagaoka model, proposing a crucial role for charge puddles associated with electrostatic fluctuations in the electron dephasing process. Our findings not only emphasize the key role of UCF in unveiling the underlying behavior of topological surface states but also offer a deeper understanding of phase-coherent transport in quaternary topological insulators.