Odd-frequency superconductivity induced in topological insulators with and without hexagonal warping. (19th June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vasenko, A S; Golubov, A A; Silkin, V M; Chulkov, E V
• Is Part Of: Journal of physics. Volume 29:Number 29(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-06-19
• Subjects: topological insulators -- proximity effect -- odd-frequency pairing -- Majorana fermion; Condensed matter -- Periodicals; Matière condensée -- Périodiques; Vaste stoffen; Vloeistoffen; Natuurkunde; Electronic journals; Computer network resources; 530.4105
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-648X/aa75c3
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0953-8984

Abstract

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.