Amorphous topological superconductivity in a Shiba glass

Kim Pöyhönen, Isac Sahlberg, Alex Westström and Teemu Ojanen ()
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Kim Pöyhönen: Aalto University
Isac Sahlberg: Aalto University
Alex Westström: Aalto University
Teemu Ojanen: Aalto University

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-5

Abstract: Abstract Topological states of matter support quantised nondissipative responses and exotic quantum particles that cannot be accessed in common materials. The exceptional properties and application potential of topological materials have triggered a large-scale search for new realisations. Breaking away from the popular trend focusing almost exclusively on crystalline symmetries, we introduce the Shiba glass as a platform for amorphous topological quantum matter. This system consists of an ensemble of randomly distributed magnetic atoms on a superconducting surface. We show that subgap Yu–Shiba–Rusinov states on the magnetic moments form a topological superconducting phase at critical density despite a complete absence of spatial order. Experimental signatures of the amorphous topological state can be obtained by scanning tunnelling microscopy measurements probing the topological edge mode. Our discovery demonstrates the physical feasibility of amorphous topological quantum matter, presenting a concrete route to fabricating new topological systems from nontopological materials with random dopants.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04532-x

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