Coexistence of Antiferromagnetism and Superconductivity in Mn ultra-thin films on Nb(110)
ORAL
Abstract
In the last decade, pioneering work has been carried out concerning the study of magnet/superconductor hybrid systems [1,2], due to their potential in hosting topological superconductivity. A recent investigation of Mn adatoms and atomic chains on top of a Nb(110) substrate has shown the emergence of in-gap Yu-Shiba-Rusinov (YSR) states and bands as well as the emergence of p-wave superconductivity [3] and interacting Majorana modes [4], strongly motivating the investigation of Mn films on Nb(110).
Here, we report on the structural, magnetic and superconducting properties of single and double atomic layer Mn films on a Nb(110) substrate, studied by low-temperature spin-polarized STM and STS [5]. The Mn films grow pseudomorphically on the Nb surface and host a c(2x2) antiferromagnetic ground state. First principles DFT calculations confirm the observed magnetic ground state, which is understood as the consequence of a strong nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic exchange coupling. High-resolution STS measurements reveal proximity-induced superconductivity in the Mn thin films and the presence of in-gap states, indicating the formation of YSR bands.
References
[1] S. Nadj Perge et al., Science 346, 602-607 (2014); H. Kim et al., Sci. Adv. 4, eaar5251 (2018).
[2] G. Menard et al., Nat. Commun. 8, 2040 (2017); A. Palacio-Morales et al., Sci. Adv. 5, eaav6600 (2019).
[3] L. Schneider et al., Nat. Phys. 17, 943-948 (2021).
[4] L. Schneider et al., arXiv:2104.11503 (2021).
[5] R. Lo Conte et al., arXiv:2109.03743 (2021).
Here, we report on the structural, magnetic and superconducting properties of single and double atomic layer Mn films on a Nb(110) substrate, studied by low-temperature spin-polarized STM and STS [5]. The Mn films grow pseudomorphically on the Nb surface and host a c(2x2) antiferromagnetic ground state. First principles DFT calculations confirm the observed magnetic ground state, which is understood as the consequence of a strong nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic exchange coupling. High-resolution STS measurements reveal proximity-induced superconductivity in the Mn thin films and the presence of in-gap states, indicating the formation of YSR bands.
References
[1] S. Nadj Perge et al., Science 346, 602-607 (2014); H. Kim et al., Sci. Adv. 4, eaar5251 (2018).
[2] G. Menard et al., Nat. Commun. 8, 2040 (2017); A. Palacio-Morales et al., Sci. Adv. 5, eaav6600 (2019).
[3] L. Schneider et al., Nat. Phys. 17, 943-948 (2021).
[4] L. Schneider et al., arXiv:2104.11503 (2021).
[5] R. Lo Conte et al., arXiv:2109.03743 (2021).
*EU Marie Curie Fellowship No. 748006. Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Projects Nos. 459025680, 408119516, 418425860. EU ERC Advanced Grant ADMIRE (786020). National Research, Development, and Innovation Office (NRDI) of Hungary Project Nos. FK124100, K131938. Funding from the Ministry of Innovation and Technology and the NRDI Office within the Quantum Information National Laboratory of Hungary. János Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
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Publication: R. Lo Conte et al., arXiv:2109.03743 (2021)
Presenters
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Roberto Lo Conte
- University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany