Odd-frequency superconductivity induced in topological insulators with and without hexagonal warping

A. S. Vasenko*, A. A. Golubov, V. M. Silkin, E. V. Chulkov

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)
38 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

We study the effect of the Fermi surface anisotropy on the odd-frequency spin-triplet pairing component of the induced pair potential. We consider a superconductor/ ferromagnetic insulator (S/FI) hybrid structure formed on the 3D topological insulator (TI) surface. In this case three ingredients ensure the possibility of the odd-frequency pairing: (1) the topological surface states, (2) the induced pair potential, and (3) the magnetic moment of a nearby ferromagnetic insulator. We take into account the strong anisotropy of the Dirac point in topological insulators when the chemical potential lies well above the Dirac cone and its constant energy contour has a snowflake shape. Within this model, we propose that the S/FI boundary should be properly aligned with respect to the snowflake constant energy contour to have an odd-frequency symmetry of the corresponding pairing component and to insure the Majorana bound state at the S/FI boundary. For arbitrary orientation of the boundary, the Majorana bound state is absent. This provides a selection rule to the realization of Majorana modes in S/FI hybrid structures, formed on the topological insulator surface.

Original languageEnglish
Article number295502
JournalJournal of physics: Condensed matter
Volume29
Issue number29
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 19 Jun 2017

Keywords

  • Majorana fermion
  • Odd-frequency pairing
  • Proximity effect
  • Topological insulators
  • 22/4 OA procedure

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