Competing energy scales in topological superconducting heterostructures

Zang , Yunyi; Küster, Felix; Zhang, Jibo; Liu, Defa; Pal, Banabir; Deniz, Hakan; Sessi, Paolo; Gilbert, Matthew J.; Parkin, Stuart S. P.

doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c04648

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Competing energy scales in topological superconducting heterostructures

MPS-Authors

Zang , Yunyi
Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins and Electrons, Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Max Planck Society;

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Küster, Felix
Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins and Electrons, Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Max Planck Society;

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Zhang, Jibo
Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins and Electrons, Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Max Planck Society;

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Liu, Defa
Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins and Electrons, Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Max Planck Society;

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Pal, Banabir
Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins and Electrons, Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Max Planck Society;

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Deniz, Hakan
Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins and Electrons, Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Max Planck Society;

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Sessi, Paolo
Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins and Electrons, Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Max Planck Society;

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Parkin, Stuart S. P.
Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins and Electrons, Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Max Planck Society;

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https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c04648
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Citation

Zang, Y., Küster, F., Zhang, J., Liu, D., Pal, B., Deniz, H., et al. (2021). Competing energy scales in topological superconducting heterostructures. Nano Letters, 21(7), 2758-2765. doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c04648.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-0008-B78E-A

Abstract

Artificially engineered topological superconductivity has emerged as a viable route to create Majorana modes. In this context, proximity-induced super-conductivity in materials with a sizable spin-orbit coupling has been intensively investigated in recent years. Although there is convincing evidence that superconductivity may indeed be induced, it has been difficult to elucidate its topological nature. Here, we engineer an artificial topological superconductor by progressively introducing superconductivity (Nb), strong spin-orbital coupling (Pt), and topological states (Bi₂Te₃). Through spectroscopic imaging of superconducting vortices within the bare s-wave superconducting Nb and within proximitized Pt and Bi₂Te₃ layers, we detect the emergence of a zero-bias peak that is directly linked to the presence of topological surface states. Our results are rationalized in terms of competing energy trends which are found to impose an upper limit to the size of the minigap separating Majorana and trivial modes, its size being ultimately linked to fundamental materials properties.