Superconducting-Tip STM on Cobaltates as a Platform for Exploring Topological Superconductivity

ORAL

Abstract

In recent years, Na$_{x}$CoO$_{2}$ has attracted much attention for its unconventional superconductivity and antiferromagnetic phases. More recently it has been proposed that inducing superconductivity into the stoichiometric compound through the proximity effect could lead to topological superconductivity where Majorana physics might be accessed. We first explore this surface state with standard scanning tunneling spectroscopy and tuning fork-based atomic force microscopy, and then investigate the proximity effect scenario by introducing a superconducting tip to probe the superconductor-vacuum-topological junction.

*Supported by DOE, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering under contract DE-AC02-76SF00515. Alex W. Contryman is supported by a Dr. Robert N. Noyce Stanford Graduate Fellowship.

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Authors

  • Alex W. Contryman

    • Stanford University

  • Francis Niestemski

    • Stanford University

  • Yulin Chen

    • Stanford University

  • Thorsten Hesjedal

    • Oxford University

  • Carolina Parra

    • Stanford University

  • Suk Bum Chung

    • Stanford University

  • Hai-Jun Zhang

    • Stanford University

  • Z.X. Shen

    • Stanford University

  • Shou-Cheng Zhang

    • Stanford University

  • Hari C. Manoharan

    • Stanford University