Triplet Superconductivity Research Articles

Robust semi-Dirac points and unconventional topological phase transitions in doped superconducting Sr2IrO4 tunnel coupled to t2g electron systems

Semi-Dirac fermions are known to exist at the critical points of topological phase transitions requiring fine-tuning of the parameters. We show that robust semi-Dirac points can appear in a heterostructure consisting of superconducting Sr2IrO4 and a t2g electron system (t2g-ES) without fine-tuning. They are topologically stable in the presence of the symmetries of the model, metallic t2g-ES and a single active band in Sr2IrO4. If the t2g metal is coupled to two different layers of Sr2IrO4 (effectively a multiband superconductor) in a three-layer-structure the semi-Dirac points can split into two stable Dirac points with opposite chiralities. A similar transition can be achieved if the t2g-ES supports intrinsic triplet superconductivity. By considering Sr2RuO4 as an example of a t2g-ES we predict a rich topological phase diagram as a function of various parameters.

Superconducting spin-valve and triplet superconductivity

Recent experimental results on the superconducting spin-valve effect and generation of the long-range triplet superconductivity in a F1/F2/S structure are reviewed (here, F1 and F2 are uncoupled ferromagnetic layers, and S is the superconducting layer). The main results are the following: (i) the maximum of the magnitude of the superconducting spin-valve effect increases with decreasing the exchange field h in the ferromagnetic layer; (ii) a full switching between the normal and superconducting states may be realized with the aid of the triplet contribution to the spin-valve effect.

Odd-Parity Superconductivity near an Inversion Breaking Quantum Critical Point in One Dimension.

We study how an inversion-breaking quantum critical point affects the ground state of a one-dimensional electronic liquid with repulsive interaction and spin-orbit coupling. We find that regardless of the interaction strength, the critical fluctuations always lead to a gap in the electronic spin sector. The origin of the gap is a two-particle backscattering process, which becomes relevant due to renormalization of the Luttinger parameter near the critical point. The resulting spin-gapped state is topological and can be considered as a one-dimensional version of a spin-triplet superconductor. Interestingly, in the case of a ferromagnetic critical point, the Luttinger parameter is renormalized in the opposite manner, such that the system remains nonsuperconducting.

Magnetoelectric Andreev Effect due to Proximity-Induced Nonunitary Triplet Superconductivity in Helical Metals.

Noncentrosymmetric superconductors exhibit the magnetoelectric effect, which manifests itself in the appearance of the magnetic spin polarization in response to a dissipationless electric current (supercurrent). While much attention has been dedicated to the thermodynamic version of this phenomenon (Edelstein effect), nonequilibrium transport magnetoelectric effects have not been explored yet. We propose the magnetoelectric Andreev effect (MAE), which consists in the generation of spin-polarized triplet Andreev conductance by an electric supercurrent. The MAE stems from the spin polarization of the Cooper-pair condensate due to a supercurrent-induced nonunitary triplet pairing. We propose the realization of such a nonunitary pairing and MAE in superconducting proximity structures based on two-dimensional helical metals-strongly spin-orbit-coupled electronic systems with the Dirac spectrum such as the topological surface states. Our results uncover an unexplored route towards electrically controlled superconducting spintronics and are a smoking gun for induced unconventional superconductivity in spin-orbit-coupled materials.

Triplet FFLO superconductivity in the doped Kitaev-Heisenberg honeycomb model

We provide analytical and numerical evidence of a spin-triplet FFLO superconductivity in the itinerant Kitaev-Heisenberg model (anti-ferromagnetic Kitaev coupling and ferromagnetic Heisenberg coupling) on the honeycomb lattice around quarter filling. The strong spin-orbit coupling in our model leads to the emergence of 6 inversion symmetry centers for the Fermi surface at non zero momenta in the first Brillouin zone. We show how the Cooper pairs condense into these non-trivial momenta, causing the spatial modulation of the superconducting order parameter. Applying a Ginzburg-Landau expansion analysis, we find that the superconductivity has three separated degenerate ground states with three different spin-triplet pairings. This picture is also supported by exact diagonalizations on finite clusters.

Superconductivity in a one-dimensional correlated quantum system

We construct a one-dimensional (1D) theoretical model to clarify the occurrence of superconductivity. The weak-coupling (WC) theory allows a determination of the phase diagram. The constrained hopping induces additional two-body and three-body interactions. At half-filling, the three-body interaction is responsible for the triplet superconducting (TS) correlation. Away from half-filling, the two-body interaction works, favoring the singlet superconducting (SS) correlation. The results are expected to provide an insignificant insight into the superconductivity mechanism.

Possible singlet and triplet superconductivity on honeycomb lattice

We study the possible superconducting pairing symmetry mediated by spin and charge fluctuations on the honeycomb lattice using the extended Hubbard model and the random-phase-approximation method. From 2% to 20% doping levels, a spin-singlet -wave is shown to be the leading superconducting pairing symmetry when only the on-site Coulomb interaction U is considered, with the gap function being a mixture of the nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor pairings. When the offset of the energy level between the two sublattices exceeds a critical value, the most favorable pairing is a spin-triplet f-wave which is mainly composed of the next-nearest-neighbor pairing. We show that the next-nearest-neighbor Coulomb interaction V is also in favor of the spin-triplet f-wave pairing.

From Insulator to Superconductor in a Modified t-J Chain with Regulated Electron Hopping

The one-dimensional modified t-J model is investigated analytically by regulating the kinetic hopping at half filling. The transition from insulator to triplet superconductivity is predicted in the context of antiferromagnetic exchange. The ground-state phase diagram is obtained by use of bosonization and renormalization group schemes in the weak coupling regime. Our study provides a possible theoretical scenario for the realization of superconductivity. The result indicates that the physics of the modified model is not equivalent to that of the t-J model.

Enhancing triplet superconductivity by the proximity to a singlet superconductor in oxide heterostructures

We show how in principle a coherent coupling between two superconductors of opposite parity can be realized in a three-layer oxide heterostructure. Due to strong intraionic spin-orbit coupling in the middle layer, singlet Cooper pairs are converted into triplet ones and vice versa. This results in a large enhancement of the triplet superconductivity, persisting well above the native triplet critical temperature.

Gapped tripletp-wave superconductivity in strong spin-orbit-coupled semiconductor quantum wells in proximity tos-wave superconductor

We show that the {\it gapped} triplet superconductivity, i.e., a triplet superconductor with triplet order parameter, can be realized in strong spin-orbit-coupled quantum wells in proximity to $s$-wave superconductor. It is revealed that with the singlet order parameter induced from the superconducting proximity effect, in quantum wells, not only can the triplet pairings arise due to the spin-orbit coupling, but also the triplet order parameter can be induced due to the repulsive effective electron-electron interaction, including the electron-electron Coulomb and electron-phonon interactions. This is a natural extension of the work of de Gennes, in which the repulsive-interaction-induced singlet order parameter arises in the normal metal in proximity to $s$-wave superconductor [Rev. Mod. Phys. {\bf 36}, 225 (1964)]. Specifically, we derive the effective Bogoliubov-de Gennes equation, in which the self-energies due to the effective electron-electron interactions contribute to the singlet and triplet order parameters. It is further shown that for the singlet order parameter, it is efficiently suppressed due to this self-energy renormalization; whereas for the triplet order parameter, it is the $p$-wave ($p_x\pm ip_y$) one with the ${\bf d}$-vector parallel to the effective magnetic field due to the spin-orbit coupling. Finally, we perform the numerical calculation in InSb (100) quantum wells. Specifically, we reveal that the Coulomb interaction is much more important than the electron-phonon interaction at low temperature. Moreover, it shows that with proper electron density, the minimum of the renormalized singlet and the maximum of the induced triplet order parameters are comparable, and hence can be experimentally distinguished.

Control of edge currents at a ferromagnet–triplet superconductor interface by multiple helical modes

We study the spin and charge currents flowing at the interface of an itinerant ferromagnet with a topological spin-triplet superconductor having different number of time-reversal-invariant Majorana helical modes. Depending on the number of helical modes, the capacity of carrying spin and charge currents is shown to be directly related to the amplitude and orientation of the ferromagnetic magnetization with respect to the superconducting $\vec{d}$-vector. Differently from the one-helical mode spin-triplet superconductor, we find that the presence of a finite amount of electronic hybridization with the two pairs of Majorana helical modes leads to nonvanishing charge current independently of the ferromagnetic exchange. The competition between the two pairs of Majorana helical modes remarkably yields a spin-current response that is almost constant in the range of weak to intermediate ferromagnetism. The behavior of the spin current is tightly linked to the direction of the spin-polarization in the ferromagnet and tends to be flatten for a magnetization that is coplanar to the spin-triplet $\vec{d}$-vector independently of the number of helical modes.

Long-Range Spin-Triplet Superconductivity Induced by Magnetic Field in d Wave Superconductor/Ferromagnet Hybrid System

We theoretically study the long-range spin- triplet superconductivity in d wave superconductor/ ferromagnet/ferromagnet (S/F1/F2) trilayer junction, in which the magnetization of F1 layer could be rotated in the y–z plane by an external magnetic field. The four-component Eilenberger equations were constructed to calculate the superconducting order parameters and density of states (DOS). Near the clean limit, the p wave equal-spin triplet component could be induced when the magnetization directions of F1/F2 layers are non-collinear, and the DOS exhibits a split zero-bias conductance peak. The various parameters such as ferromagnetic exchange energy, thickness of ferromagnetic layers, and angles between F1/F2 magnetization directions are studied for the effect on inducing triplet superconductivity. By magnetic field controlling the emergence of equal-spin triplet pairings or not, such a tunable S/F1/F2 trilayer junction based on long-range spin-triplet superconductivity could be used as a superconducting switch device, which would open up a new view of spintronics.

Direct observation of charge state in the quasi-one-dimensional conductor Li0.9Mo6O17

The quasi-one-dimensional conductor Li0.9Mo6O17 has been of great interest because of its unusual properties. It has a conducting phase with properties different from a simple Fermi liquid, a poorly understood “insulating” phase as indicated by a metal-“insulator” crossover (a mystery for over 30 years), and a superconducting phase which may involve spin triplet Cooper pairs as a three-dimensional (p-wave) non-conventional superconductor. Recent evidence suggests a density wave (DW) gapping regarding the metal-“insulator” crossover. However, the nature of the DW, such as whether it is due to the change in the charge state or spin state, and its relationship to the dimensional crossover and to the spin triplet superconductivity, remains elusive. Here by performing 7Li-/95Mo-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we directly observed the charge state which shows no signature of change in the electric field gradient (nuclear quadrupolar frequency) or in the distribution of it, thus providing direct experimental evidences demonstrating that the long mysterious metal-“insulator” crossover is not due to the charge density wave (CDW) that was thought, and the nature of the DW gapping is not CDW. This discovery opens a parallel path to the study of the electron spin state and its possible connections to other unusual properties.

Control of magnetism in singlet-triplet superconducting heterostructures

We analyze the magnetization at the interface between singlet and triplet superconductors and show that its direction and dependence on the phase difference across the junction are strongly tied to the structure of the triplet order parameter as well as to the pairing interactions. We consider equal spin helical, opposite spin chiral, and mixed symmetry pairing on the triplet side and show that the magnetization vanishes at $\phi=0$ only in the first case, follows approximately a $\cos\phi$ behavior for the second, and shows higher harmonics for the last configuration. We trace the origin of the magnetization to the magnetic structure of the Andreev bound states near the interface, and provide a symmetry-based explanation of the results. Our findings can be used to control the magnetization in superconducting heterostructures and to test symmetries of spin-triplet superconductors.

Triplet Superconductivity in the One-Dimensional Hubbard Model with Modulated Kinetic Hopping at Weak Coupling

We construct a theoretical model for one-dimensional interacting electrons by modulating electronic kinetic hopping in the weak-coupling regime. The use of bosonization and renormalization group analysis allows us to obtain the phase diagram. The induced three-body attraction gives rise to a triplet superconducting phase in the ground state.

Leggett Modes and the Anderson-Higgs Mechanism in Superconductors without Inversion Symmetry

We develop a microscopic and gauge-invariant theory for collective modes resulting from the phase of the superconducting order parameter in noncentrosymmetric superconductors. Considering various crystal symmetries, we derive the corresponding gauge mode ω_{G}(q) and find, in particular, new Leggett modes ω_{L}(q) with characteristic properties that are unique to noncentrosymmetric superconductors. We calculate their mass and dispersion that reflect the underlying spin-orbit coupling and thus the balance between triplet and singlet superconductivity occurring simultaneously. Finally, we demonstrate the role of the Anderson-Higgs mechanism: while the long-range Coulomb interaction shifts ω_{G}(q) to the condensate plasma mode ω_{P}(q), it leaves the mass Λ_{0} of the new Leggett mode unaffected and only slightly modifies its dispersion.

Triplet superconductivity in a model ofLi0.9Mo6O17

Superconductivity in the quasi-one-dimensional material Li$_{0.9}$Mo$_6$O$_{17}$ is analyzed based on a multiorbital extended Hubbard model. We found strong charge fluctuations at two different momenta ${\bf Q_1}$ and ${\bf Q_2}$ giving rise to two different charge ordered phases. Evaluating the superconducting vertex, we found superconductivity near strong charge fluctuations at ${\bf Q_1}$. The order parameter has the p-wave symmetry with nodes on the Fermi surface. The metallic state displays a characteristic charge collective mode ${\bf Q_1}$ due to nesting and for on-site Hubbard repulsion sufficiently large, a charge critical mode ${\bf Q_2}$ driven by Coulomb repulsion, which softens at the proximity to the transition. The results are quite robust for different coupling parametrizations. A phase diagram discussing the relevance of the model to the physics of the material is proposed.

Superconducting proximity effect in three-dimensional topological insulators in the presence of a magnetic field

The proximity induced pair potential in a topological insulator-superconductor hybrid features an interesting superposition of a conventional spin-singlet component from the superconductor and a spin-triplet one induced by the surface state of the topological insulator. This singlet-triplet superposition can be altered by the presence of a magnetic field. We study the interplay between topological order and superconducting correlations performing a symmetry analysis of the induced pair potential, using Green functions techniques to theoretically describe ballistic junctions between superconductors and topological insulators under magnetic fields. We relate a change in the conductance from a gapped profile into one with a zero-energy peak with the transition into a topologically nontrivial regime where the odd-frequency triplet pairing becomes the dominant component in the pair potential. The nontrivial regime, which provides a signature of odd-frequency triplet superconductivity, is reached for an out-of-plane effective magnetization with strength comparable to the chemical potential of the superconductor or for an in-plane one, parallel to the normal-superconductor interface, with strength of the order of the superconducting gap. Strikingly, in the latter case, a misalignment with the interface yields an asymmetry with the energy in the conductance unless the total contribution of the topological surface state is considered.

Anomalous Josephson Hall effect in magnet/triplet superconductor junctions

We investigate anomalous Hall effect in a magnet coupled to a triplet superconductor under phase gradient. It is found that the anomalous Hall supercurrent arises from non-trivial structure of the magnetization. The magnetic structure manifested in the Hall supercurrent is characterized by even order terms of the exchange coupling, essentially different from that discussed in the context of anomalous Hall effect, reflecting the disspationless nature of supercurrent. We also discuss a possible candidate for magnetic structure to verify our prediction.

Proximity-induced triplet superconductivity in Rashba materials

We study a proximity junction between a conventional s-wave superconductor and a conductor with Rashba spin-orbit coupling, with a specific focus on the spin structure of the induced pairing amplitude. We find that spin-triplet pairing correlations are induced by spin-orbit coupling in both one- and two-dimensional systems due to the lifted spin degeneracy. Additionally, this induced triplet pairing has a component with an odd frequency dependence that is robust to disorder. Our predictions are based on the solutions of the exact Gor'kov equations and are beyond the quasiclassical approximation.