Two-dimensional chiral topological superconductivity in Shiba lattices

Nat Commun. 2016 Jul 28:7:12297. doi: 10.1038/ncomms12297.

Abstract

The chiral p-wave superconductor is the archetypal example of a state of matter that supports non-Abelian anyons, a highly desired type of exotic quasiparticle. With this, it is foundational for the distant goal of building a topological quantum computer. While some candidate materials for bulk chiral superconductors exist, they are subject of an ongoing debate about their actual paring state. Here we propose an alternative route to chiral superconductivity, consisting of the surface of an ordinary superconductor decorated with a two-dimensional lattice of magnetic impurities. We furthermore identify a promising experimental platform to realize this proposal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't