Accessing topological superconductivity via a combined STM and renormalization group analysis

Lars Elster, Christian Platt, Ronny Thomale, Werner Hanke and Ewelina M. Hankiewicz ()
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Lars Elster: Institute for Theoretical Physics, TP IV, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
Christian Platt: Institute for Theoretical Physics, TP I, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
Ronny Thomale: Institute for Theoretical Physics, TP I, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
Werner Hanke: Institute for Theoretical Physics, TP I, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany
Ewelina M. Hankiewicz: Institute for Theoretical Physics, TP IV, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, D-97074 Würzburg, Germany

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract The search for topological superconductors has recently become a key issue in condensed matter physics, because of their possible relevance to provide a platform for Majorana bound states, non-Abelian statistics, and quantum computing. Here we propose a new scheme which links as directly as possible the experimental search to a material-based microscopic theory for topological superconductivity. For this, the analysis of scanning tunnelling microscopy, which typically uses a phenomenological ansatz for the superconductor gap functions, is elevated to a theory, where a multi-orbital functional renormalization group analysis allows for an unbiased microscopic determination of the material-dependent pairing potentials. The combined approach is highlighted for paradigmatic hexagonal systems, such as doped graphene and water-intercalated sodium cobaltates, where lattice symmetry and electronic correlations yield a propensity for a chiral singlet topological superconductor. We demonstrate that our microscopic material-oriented procedure is necessary to uniquely resolve a topological superconductor state.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9232

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