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).
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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
Authors
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Roberto Lo Conte
University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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Maciej Bazarnik
University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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Krisztián Palotás
Wigner Research Center for Physics, Budapest, Hungary
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Levente Rózsa
University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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László Szunyogh
Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary, Wigner Research Center for Physics, Budapest, Hungary
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André Kubetzka
University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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Kirsten von Bergmann
University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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Roland M Wiesendanger
University of Hamburg, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany