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Volkov-Pankratov states in two-dimensional topological superconductors

ORAL

Abstract

We study the in-gap states that appear at the boundaries of two-dimensional topological superconductors. While the massless chiral Majorana quasiparticles are guaranteed to arise by the bulk-edge correspondence, we find that they could be accompanied by massive Volkov-Pankratov (VP) states which are present only when the interface is sufficiently smooth. These predictions can be tested in an s-wave superconductor with strong Rashba spin-orbit coupling placed on top of a magnetic domain wall. We calculate the spin-resolved local density of states of the VP states about the band inversion generated by a magnetic domain wall and find that they are oppositely spin-polarized on either side of the topological phase boundary. We also demonstrate that the spatial position, energy-level spacing, and spin polarization of the VP states can be modified by the introduction of in-plane electric fields.

Presenters

  • David Alspaugh

    Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

Authors

  • David Alspaugh

    Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

  • Daniel E Sheehy

    Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University

  • Mark Oliver Goerbig

    Laboratoire de Physique des Solide, Paris-Sud University, Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Université Paris-Sud

  • Pascal Simon

    Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Université Paris-Sud, Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Universite Paris-Sud, LPS Orsay, University of Paris-Saclay