Superconducting proximity effect in a topological insulator using Fe(Te, Se)

Zhao, He; Rachmilowitz, Bryan; Ren, Zheng; Han, Ruobin; Schneeloch, J.; Zhong, Ruidan; Gu, Genda; Wang, Ziqiang; Zeljkovic, Ilija

doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.97.224504

Superconducting proximity effect in a topological insulator using Fe(Te, Se)

Journal Article · Thu Jun 07 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Physical Review B

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.97.224504· OSTI ID:1462410

Zhao, He ^[1]; Rachmilowitz, Bryan ^[1]; Ren, Zheng ^[1]; Han, Ruobin ^[1]; Schneeloch, J. ^[2]; Zhong, Ruidan ^[2]; Gu, Genda ^[2]; Wang, Ziqiang ^[1]; Zeljkovic, Ilija ^[1]

Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA (United States). Dept. of Physics
Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)

Interest in the superconducting proximity effect has recently been reignited by theoretical predictions that it could be used to achieve topological superconductivity. Low- T_c superconductors have predominantly been used in this effort, but small energy scales of ~1 meV have hindered the characterization of the emergent electronic phase, limiting it to extremely low temperatures. In this work, we use molecular beam epitaxy to grow topological insulator Bi ₂Te₃ in a range of thicknesses on top of a high- T_c superconductor Fe(Te,Se). Using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy, we detect Δ_ind as high as ~3.5 meV, which is the largest reported gap induced by proximity to an s -wave superconductor to date. We find that Δ_ind decays with Bi₂Te₃ thickness, but remains finite even after the topological surface states have been formed. Finally, by imaging the scattering and interference of surface state electrons, we provide a microscopic visualization of the fully gapped Bi₂Te₃ surface state due to Cooper pairing. Lastly, our results establish Fe-based high- T_c superconductors as a promising new platform for realizing high- T_c topological superconductivity.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States); Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Center for Emergent Superconductivity (CES)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); US Army Research Office (ARO); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)

Grant/Contract Number:: FG02-99ER45747; SC0012704

OSTI ID:: 1462410

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1441022

Report Number(s):: BNL-207884-2018-JAAM

Journal Information:: Physical Review B, Journal Name: Physical Review B Journal Issue: 22 Vol. 97; ISSN 2469-9950; ISSN PRBMDO

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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