Skyrmion-induced bound states in a superconductor

Abstract

We consider a superconductor proximity coupled to a two-dimensional ferromagnetic film with a skyrmion texture. Using the $T$-matrix calculations and numerical modeling we calculate the spin-polarized local density of states in the superconductor in the vicinity of the skyrmion. We predict the skyrmion bound states that are induced in the superconductor, similar to the well-known Yu-Shiba-Rusinov states. The bound-state wave functions have spatial power-law decay. It is suggested that superconductivity could facilitate an effective long-range interaction between skyrmions when bound-state wave functions overlap.