Zero bias conductance peak anomaly in topological insulator - superconductor junctions

ORAL

Abstract

We have fabricated planar junctions between topological insulator Bi$_{\mathrm{2}}$Se$_{\mathrm{3}}$ and superconducting Pb with MgO barrier and studied the conductance spectra of the junctions under different temperatures and magnetic fields. Two types of Bi$_{\mathrm{2}}$Se$_{\mathrm{3}}$ thin films, grown by hybrid physical-chemical vapor deposition (HPCVD) and molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), were used. A few nanometers thick MgO layer made by RF sputtering was used as the barrier. We observed a zero bias conductance peak (ZBCP) anomaly in the spectra. The peak width ranges from 1 mV to 17 mV in different samples. The ZBCP height decreases with increasing temperature and disappears when the temperature is above the $T_{c}$ of Pb. The ZBCP is also suppressed by both perpendicular and parallel magnetic fields and vanishes above the critical field of Pb. We will discuss the possible origins of the ZBCP in the junctions.

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Authors

  • Wenqing Dai

    Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA, The Penn State University

  • Anthony Richardella

    Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA, Department of Physics, Penn State University, Dept. of Physics and Center for Nanoscale Science, Penn State University, University Park PA 16802, Penn State University

  • Joseph Brom

    Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA

  • Joan Redwing

    Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA, The Pennsylvania State University

  • Nitin Samarth

    The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA, Department of Physics, Penn State University, Pennsylvania State University, Dept. of Physics and Center for Nanoscale Science, Penn State University, University Park PA 16802, Penn State University

  • C.X. Liu

    Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA

  • Qi Li

    Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA, The Penn State University