Proximity-Induced Superconductivity in a 2D Kondo Lattice of an f-Electron-Based Surface Alloy
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Realizing hybrids of low-dimensional Kondo lattices and superconducting substrates leads to fascinating platforms for studying the exciting physics of strongly correlated electron systems with induced superconducting pairing. Here, we report a scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy study of a new type of two-dimensional (2D) La-Ce alloy grown epitaxially on a superconducting Re(0001) substrate. We observe the characteristic spectroscopic signature of a hybridization gap evidencing the coherent spin screening in the 2D Kondo lattice realized by the ultrathin La-Ce alloy film on normal conducting Re(0001). Upon lowering the temperature below the critical temperature of rhenium, a superconducting gap is induced exhibiting an energy asymmetry of the coherence peaks that arises from the interaction of residual unscreened magnetic moments with the superconducting substrate. A positive correlation between the Kondo hybridization gap and the asymmetry of the coherence peaks is found.
Source: Nano Letters
Authors: Howon Kim, Dirk K. Morr, Roland Wiesendanger
Institutions: Universität Hamburg, University of Illinois Chicago
Language: English
Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
Awards: G1230266125, G222768804, EXC 2056: CUI: Advanced Imaging of Matter, NANOSCALE STRUCTURES AND NOVEL QUANTUM PHENOMENA IN CORRELATED ELECTRON SYSTEMS, G440953257, G5631081224, G5648016710, NON-EQUILIBRIUM PHYSICS AT THE NANOSCALE, G6739307659, Atomic-scale Design of Majorana states and their Innovative Real-space Exploration, G7998780169, G8640452303
OpenAlex ID: W4403749772