Quantum interference in macroscopic crystals of nonmetallic Bi2Se3

Photoemission experiments have shown that Bi2Se3 is a topological insulator. By controlled doping, we have obtained crystals of Bi2Se3 with nonmetallic conduction. At low temperatures, we uncover a novel type of magnetofingerprint signal which involves the spin degrees of freedom. Given the mm-sized crystals, the observed amplitude is 200-500× larger than expected from universal conductance fluctuations. The results point to very long phase-breaking lengths in an unusual conductance channel in these nonmetallic samples. We discuss the nature of the in-gap conducting states and their relation to the topological surface states.