Topological Vortex Phase Transitions in Iron-Based Superconductors

ORAL

Abstract

We study topological vortex phases in iron-based superconductors. Besides previously known Majorana zero mode(MZM) phase
protected by the existence of a three dimensional(3D) strong topological insulator(TI), we show that there are two additional phases as iron-based superconductors can be doped superconducting 3D weak topological insulators(3DWTI), a series of two dimensional (2D) topological insulators sticked along the third direction weakly. The vortex bound states of a superconducting 3DWTI, unlike in a 3D strong topological insulator, exhibit two different types of quantum states: (1) a robust nodal superconducting phase with pairs of bulk Majorana zero modes; (2) a full-gap topologically nontrivial superconducting phase, which has single vortex end MZM in a certain range of doping level. The recently observed zero bias peak in the vortex of (Li$_{0.8}$Fe$_{0.2}$)OHFeSe belongs to the second case. We predict that some iron-based superconductors can be 3DWTIs of the first case, namely, their vortex states are quasi one-dimensional topological nodal superconductors.

Presenters

  • Lunhui Hu

    • University of California, San Diego

Authors

  • Shengshan Qin

    • Kavli Institute of Theoretical Sciences
  • Lunhui Hu

    • University of California, San Diego
  • Xianxin Wu

    • Institute for Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, University of Wuerzburg
    • Physics, University of Wurzburg
    • Institute for Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, Julius-Maximilians University of Wurzburg, Am Hubland, D-97074 Wurzburg, Germany
    • Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
    • Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    • Univ of Wuerzburg
    • Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Wuerzburg
    • Univ of Wurzburg
  • Xia Dai

    • Key Laboratory of Aperture Array and Space Application, Hefei, 230088, China
  • Congcong Le

    • Kavli Institute for Theoretical Sciences
    • Kavli Institute of Theoretical Sciences
    • Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Chen Fang

    • Chinese Academy of Sciences
    • Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
    • Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    • Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
    • Institute of physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Fu-Chun Zhang

    • Kavli Institute of Theoretical Sciences
    • Kavli Institute for Theoretical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Jiangping Hu

    • Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
    • Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    • Chinese Academy of Sciences
    • Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China