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Exploring a Proximity-Coupled Co Chain on Pb(110) as a Possible Majorana Platform
[Image: see text] Linear chains of magnetic atoms proximity coupled to an s-wave superconductor are predicted to host Majorana zero modes at the chain ends in the presence of strong spin–orbit coupling. Specifically, iron (Fe) chains on Pb(110) have been explored as a possible system to exhibit topo...
Autores principales: | , , , , |
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Formato: | Online Artículo Texto |
Lenguaje: | English |
Publicado: |
American Chemical Society
2017
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Acceso en línea: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5515507/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28640633 http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b01728 |
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author | Ruby, Michael Heinrich, Benjamin W. Peng, Yang von Oppen, Felix Franke, Katharina J. |
author_facet | Ruby, Michael Heinrich, Benjamin W. Peng, Yang von Oppen, Felix Franke, Katharina J. |
author_sort | Ruby, Michael |
collection | PubMed |
description | [Image: see text] Linear chains of magnetic atoms proximity coupled to an s-wave superconductor are predicted to host Majorana zero modes at the chain ends in the presence of strong spin–orbit coupling. Specifically, iron (Fe) chains on Pb(110) have been explored as a possible system to exhibit topological superconductivity and host Majorana zero modes [ S. Nadj-Perge et al., Science2014, 346, 602−60725278507]. Here, we study chains of the transition metal cobalt (Co) on Pb(110) and check for topological signatures. Using spin-polarized scanning tunneling spectroscopy, we resolve ferromagnetic order in the d bands of the chains. Interestingly, also the subgap Yu–Shiba–Rusinov (YSR) bands carry a spin polarization as was predicted decades ago. Superconducting tips allow us to resolve further details of the YSR bands and in particular resonances at zero energy. We map the spatial distribution of the zero-energy signal and find it delocalized along the chain. Hence, despite the ferromagnetic coupling within the chains and the strong spin-orbit coupling in the superconductor, we do not find clear evidence of Majorana modes. Simple tight-binding calculations suggest that the spin–orbit–split bands may cross the Fermi level four times which suppresses the zero-energy modes. |
format | Online Article Text |
id | pubmed-5515507 |
institution | National Center for Biotechnology Information |
language | English |
publishDate | 2017 |
publisher | American Chemical Society |
record_format | MEDLINE/PubMed |
spelling | pubmed-55155072017-07-24 Exploring a Proximity-Coupled Co Chain on Pb(110) as a Possible Majorana Platform Ruby, Michael Heinrich, Benjamin W. Peng, Yang von Oppen, Felix Franke, Katharina J. Nano Lett [Image: see text] Linear chains of magnetic atoms proximity coupled to an s-wave superconductor are predicted to host Majorana zero modes at the chain ends in the presence of strong spin–orbit coupling. Specifically, iron (Fe) chains on Pb(110) have been explored as a possible system to exhibit topological superconductivity and host Majorana zero modes [ S. Nadj-Perge et al., Science2014, 346, 602−60725278507]. Here, we study chains of the transition metal cobalt (Co) on Pb(110) and check for topological signatures. Using spin-polarized scanning tunneling spectroscopy, we resolve ferromagnetic order in the d bands of the chains. Interestingly, also the subgap Yu–Shiba–Rusinov (YSR) bands carry a spin polarization as was predicted decades ago. Superconducting tips allow us to resolve further details of the YSR bands and in particular resonances at zero energy. We map the spatial distribution of the zero-energy signal and find it delocalized along the chain. Hence, despite the ferromagnetic coupling within the chains and the strong spin-orbit coupling in the superconductor, we do not find clear evidence of Majorana modes. Simple tight-binding calculations suggest that the spin–orbit–split bands may cross the Fermi level four times which suppresses the zero-energy modes. American Chemical Society 2017-06-22 2017-07-12 /pmc/articles/PMC5515507/ /pubmed/28640633 http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b01728 Text en Copyright © 2017 American Chemical Society This is an open access article published under an ACS AuthorChoice License (http://pubs.acs.org/page/policy/authorchoice_termsofuse.html) , which permits copying and redistribution of the article or any adaptations for non-commercial purposes. |
spellingShingle | Ruby, Michael Heinrich, Benjamin W. Peng, Yang von Oppen, Felix Franke, Katharina J. Exploring a Proximity-Coupled Co Chain on Pb(110) as a Possible Majorana Platform |
title | Exploring a Proximity-Coupled Co Chain on Pb(110)
as a Possible Majorana Platform |
title_full | Exploring a Proximity-Coupled Co Chain on Pb(110)
as a Possible Majorana Platform |
title_fullStr | Exploring a Proximity-Coupled Co Chain on Pb(110)
as a Possible Majorana Platform |
title_full_unstemmed | Exploring a Proximity-Coupled Co Chain on Pb(110)
as a Possible Majorana Platform |
title_short | Exploring a Proximity-Coupled Co Chain on Pb(110)
as a Possible Majorana Platform |
title_sort | exploring a proximity-coupled co chain on pb(110)
as a possible majorana platform |
url | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5515507/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28640633 http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b01728 |
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