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Main Authors: Lee, Sangyun, Kang, Myungjun, Kim, Duk Y., Kim, Jihyun, Cho, Suyeon, Cheon, Sangmo, Park, Tuson
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.07260
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author Lee, Sangyun
Kang, Myungjun
Kim, Duk Y.
Kim, Jihyun
Cho, Suyeon
Cheon, Sangmo
Park, Tuson
author_facet Lee, Sangyun
Kang, Myungjun
Kim, Duk Y.
Kim, Jihyun
Cho, Suyeon
Cheon, Sangmo
Park, Tuson
contents Exploration of nontrivial superconductivity and electronic band topology is at the core of condensed matter physics and applications to quantum information. The transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) MoTe$_2$ has been proposed as an ideal candidate to explore the interplay between topology and superconductivity, but their studies remain limited regarding the required high-pressure environments. Here, we observe proximity-induced surface $p$-wave superconductivity, and investigate the higher-order topological nature of MoTe$_2$ in its 1T$'$ phase, which emerges from the T$_d$ phase through a high-pressure-induced topological phase transition. Using surface-sensitive soft-point-contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy, we confirm the emergence of surface $s+p$-wave superconductivity via the BTK model as well as a zero-bias conductance peak. Such surface $p$-wave superconductivity emerges via the proximity effect between an $s$-wave superconducting band and a second-order topological band, which is protected by the time-reversal and inversion symmetries. The temperature dependence of the surface $p$-wave superconducting gap shows a correlation with that of the bulk $s$-wave gap, as well as its suppression by an external magnetic field or a reduction in pressure, implying its proximity-induced origin. Moreover, we suggest that the topological hinge states, derived from second-order topological bands, evolve into zero-energy Majorana corner states in this proximity-effect-induced third-order topological superconducting phase. These results demonstrate the potential realization of topological superconductivity in MoTe$_2$, thus opening a pathway for studying various topological natures of TMDC materials.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2406_07260
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Evidence of surface $p$-wave superconductivity and higher-order topology in MoTe$_2$
Lee, Sangyun
Kang, Myungjun
Kim, Duk Y.
Kim, Jihyun
Cho, Suyeon
Cheon, Sangmo
Park, Tuson
Superconductivity
Exploration of nontrivial superconductivity and electronic band topology is at the core of condensed matter physics and applications to quantum information. The transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) MoTe$_2$ has been proposed as an ideal candidate to explore the interplay between topology and superconductivity, but their studies remain limited regarding the required high-pressure environments. Here, we observe proximity-induced surface $p$-wave superconductivity, and investigate the higher-order topological nature of MoTe$_2$ in its 1T$'$ phase, which emerges from the T$_d$ phase through a high-pressure-induced topological phase transition. Using surface-sensitive soft-point-contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy, we confirm the emergence of surface $s+p$-wave superconductivity via the BTK model as well as a zero-bias conductance peak. Such surface $p$-wave superconductivity emerges via the proximity effect between an $s$-wave superconducting band and a second-order topological band, which is protected by the time-reversal and inversion symmetries. The temperature dependence of the surface $p$-wave superconducting gap shows a correlation with that of the bulk $s$-wave gap, as well as its suppression by an external magnetic field or a reduction in pressure, implying its proximity-induced origin. Moreover, we suggest that the topological hinge states, derived from second-order topological bands, evolve into zero-energy Majorana corner states in this proximity-effect-induced third-order topological superconducting phase. These results demonstrate the potential realization of topological superconductivity in MoTe$_2$, thus opening a pathway for studying various topological natures of TMDC materials.
title Evidence of surface $p$-wave superconductivity and higher-order topology in MoTe$_2$
topic Superconductivity
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.07260