Work

Odd-Parity Pairing and Topological Superconductivity in a Strongly Spin-Orbit Coupled Semiconductor

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: The existence of topological superconductors preserving time-reversal symmetry was recently predicted, and they are expected to provide a solid-state realization of itinerant massless Majorana fermions and a route to topological quantum computation. Their first likely example, Cu(x)Bi(2)Se(3), was discovered last year, but the search for new materials has so far been hindered by the lack of a guiding principle. Here, we report point-contact spectroscopy experiments suggesting that the low-carrier-density superconductor Sn(1-x)In(x)Te is accompanied by surface Andreev bound states which, with the help of theoretical analysis, would give evidence for odd-parity pairing and topological superconductivity. The present and previous finding of possible topological superconductivity in Sn(1-x)In(x)Te and Cu(x)Bi(2)Se(3) suggests that odd-parity pairing favored by strong spin-orbit coupling is likely to be a common underlying mechanism for materializing topological superconductivity.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.109.217004

Authors: Satoshi Sasaki, Zhi Ren, A. A. Taskin, Kouji Segawa, Liang Fu, Yoichi Ando

Institutions: The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, The University of Osaka, The University of Osaka, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Topological Materials and Phenomena

Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Air Force Office of Scientific Research

Awards: Elucidation of the symmetry of superconducting gap of topological superconductor CuxBi2Se3 and other novel materials, G5605023542