Abstract
The kagome lattice Co
3
Sn
2
S
2
exhibits the quintessential topological phenomena of a magnetic Weyl semimetal such as the chiral anomaly and Fermi-arc surface states. Probing its magnetic ...properties is crucial for understanding this correlated topological state. Here, using spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/S) and non-contact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM) combined with first-principle calculations, we report the discovery of localized spin-orbit polarons (SOPs) with three-fold rotation symmetry nucleated around single S-vacancies in Co
3
Sn
2
S
2.
The SOPs carry a magnetic moment and a large diamagnetic orbital magnetization of a possible topological origin associated relating to the diamagnetic circulating current around the S-vacancy. Appreciable magneto-elastic coupling of the SOP is detected by nc-AFM and STM. Our findings suggest that the SOPs can enhance magnetism and more robust time-reversal-symmetry-breaking topological phenomena. Controlled engineering of the SOPs may pave the way toward practical applications in functional quantum devices.
Braiding Majorana zero modes is essential for fault-tolerant topological quantum computing. Iron-based superconductors with nontrivial band topology have recently emerged as a surprisingly promising ...platform for creating distinct Majorana zero modes in magnetic vortices in a single material and at relatively high temperatures. The magnetic field-induced Abrikosov vortex lattice makes it difficult to braid a set of Majorana zero modes or to study the coupling of a Majorana doublet due to overlapping wave functions. Here we report the observation of the proposed quantum anomalous vortex with integer quantized vortex core states and the Majorana zero mode induced by magnetic Fe adatoms deposited on the surface. We observe its hybridization with a nearby field-induced Majorana vortex in iron-based superconductor FeTe
Se
. We also observe vortex-free Yu-Shiba-Rusinov bound states at the Fe adatoms with a weaker coupling to the substrate, and discover a reversible transition between Yu-Shiba-Rusinov states and Majorana zero mode by manipulating the exchange coupling strength. The dual origin of the Majorana zero modes, from magnetic adatoms and external magnetic field, provides a new single-material platform for studying their interactions and braiding in superconductors bearing topological band structures.
Landau quantization associated with the quantized cyclotron motion of electrons under magnetic field provides the effective way to investigate topologically protected quantum states with entangled ...degrees of freedom and multiple quantum numbers. Here we report the cascade of Landau quantization in a strained type-II Dirac semimetal NiTe2 with spectroscopic-imaging scanning tunneling microscopy. The uniform-height surfaces exhibit single-sequence Landau levels (LLs) at a magnetic field originating from the quantization of topological surface state (TSS) across the Fermi level. Strikingly, we reveal the multiple sequence of LLs in the strained surface regions where the rotation symmetry is broken. First-principles calculations demonstrate that the multiple LLs attest to the remarkable lifting of the valley degeneracy of TSS by the in-plane uniaxial or shear strains. Our findings pave a pathway to tune multiple degrees of freedom and quantum numbers of TMDs via strain engineering for practical applications such as high-frequency rectifiers, Josephson diode and valleytronics.
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The vanadium-based kagome superconductor CsV3Sb5 has attracted tremendous attention due to its unexcepted anomalous Hall effect (AHE), charge density waves (CDWs), nematicity, and a ...pseudogap pair density wave (PDW) coexisting with unconventional strong-coupling superconductivity. The origins of CDWs, unconventional superconductivity, and their correlation with different electronic states in this kagome system are of great significance, but so far, are still under debate. Chemical doping in the kagome layer provides one of the most direct ways to reveal the intrinsic physics, but remains unexplored. Here, we report, for the first time, the synthesis of Ti-substituted CsV3Sb5 single crystals and its rich phase diagram mapping the evolution of intertwining electronic states. The Ti atoms directly substitute for V in the kagome layers. CsV3−xTixSb5 shows two distinct superconductivity phases upon substitution. The Ti slightly-substituted phase displays an unconventional V-shaped superconductivity gap, coexisting with weakening CDW, PDW, AHE, and nematicity. The Ti highly-substituted phase has a U-shaped superconductivity gap concomitant with a short-range rotation symmetry breaking CDW, while long-range CDW, twofold symmetry of in-plane resistivity, AHE, and PDW are absent. Furthermore, we also demonstrate the chemical substitution of V atoms with other elements such as Cr and Nb, showing a different modulation on the superconductivity phases and CDWs. These findings open up a way to synthesise a new family of doped CsV3Sb5 materials, and further represent a new platform for tuning the different correlated electronic states and superconducting pairing in kagome superconductors.
The correlation of surface impurity states with the antiferromagnetic ground states is crucial for understanding the formation of the topological surface state in the antiferromagnetic topological ...insulators MnBi
2
Te
4
. By using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy, we observed a localized bound state around the Mn-Bi antisite defect at the Te-terminated surface of the antiferromagnetic topological insulator MnBi
2
Te
4
. When applying a magnetic field perpendicular to the surface (
B
z
) from −1.5 to 3.0 T, the bound state shifts linearly to a lower energy with increasing
B
z
, which is attributed to the Zeeman effect. Remarkably, when applying a large range of
B
z
from −8.0 to 8.0 T, the magnetic field induced reorientation of surface magnetic moments results in an abrupt jump in the local density of states (LDOS), which is characterized by LDOS-change-ratio
d
σ
˜
/
d
B
quantitatively. Interestingly, two asymmetric critical field, −2.0 and 4.0 T determined by the two peaks in
d
σ
˜
/
d
B
are observed, which is consistent with simulated results according to a Mills-model, describing a surface spin flop transition (SSF). Our results provide a new flatform for studying the interplay between magnetic order and topological phases in magnetic topological materials.
The controlled manipulation of Abrikosov vortices is essential for both fundamental science and logical applications. However, achieving nanoscale manipulation of vortices while simultaneously ...measuring the local density of states within them remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate the manipulation of Abrikosov vortices by moving the pinning center, namely one-dimensional wrinkles, on the terminal layers of Fe(Te,Se) and LiFeAs, by utilizing low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/S). The wrinkles trap the Abrikosov vortices induced by the external magnetic field. In some of the wrinkle-pinned vortices, robust zero-bias conductance peaks are observed. We tailor the wrinkle into short pieces and manipulate the wrinkles by using an STM tip. Strikingly, we demonstrate that the pinned vortices move together with these wrinkles even at high magnetic field up to 6 T. Our results provide a universal and effective routine for manipulating wrinkle-pinned vortices and simultaneously measuring the local density of states on the iron-based superconductor surfaces.
Periodically hydrogenated graphene is predicted to form new kinds of crystalline 2D materials such as graphane, graphone, and 2D CxHy, which exhibit unique electronic properties. Controlled synthesis ...of periodically hydrogenated graphene is needed for fundamental research and possible electronic applications. Only small patches of such materials have been grown so far, while the experimental fabrication of large‐scale, periodically hydrogenated graphene has remained challenging. In the present work, large‐scale, periodically hydrogenated graphene is fabricated on Ru(0001). The as‐fabricated hydrogenated graphene is highly ordered, with a √3 × √3/R30° period relative to the pristine graphene. As the ratio of hydrogen and carbon is 1:3, the periodically hydrogenated graphene is named “one‐third‐hydrogenated graphene” (OTHG). The area of OTHG is up to 16 mm2. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the OTHG has two deformed Dirac cones along one high‐symmetry direction and a finite energy gap along the other directions at the Fermi energy, indicating strong anisotropic electrical properties. An efficient method is thus provided to produce large‐scale crystalline functionalized graphene with specially desired properties.
Periodically hydrogenated graphene is predicted as a new kind of 2D material, which exhibits novel electronic properties. However, the experimental fabrication of large‐scale periodically hydrogenated graphene remains challenging. Using high‐quality graphene/Ru(0001) as a template, single‐crystal one‐third‐hydrogenated graphene (OTHG) with a millimeter‐scale size is successfully fabricated. The OTHG shows uniform √3 × √3/R30° periodicity relative to the pristine graphene and anisotropic electronic properties.
Periodically hydrogenated graphene is predicted to form new kinds of crystalline 2D materials such as graphane, graphone, and 2D CxHy, which exhibit unique electronic properties. Controlled synthesis ...of periodically hydrogenated graphene is needed for fundamental research and possible electronic applications. Only small patches of such materials have been grown so far, while the experimental fabrication of large-scale, periodically hydrogenated graphene has remained challenging. In the present work, large-scale, periodically hydrogenated graphene is fabricated on Ru(0001). The as-fabricated hydrogenated graphene is highly ordered, with a √3 × √3/R30° period relative to the pristine graphene. As the ratio of hydrogen and carbon is 1:3, the periodically hydrogenated graphene is named “one-third-hydrogenated graphene” (OTHG). The area of OTHG is up to 16 mm2. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the OTHG has two deformed Dirac cones along one high-symmetry direction and a finite energy gap along the other directions at the Fermi energy, indicating strong anisotropic electrical properties. An efficient method is thus provided to produce large-scale crystalline functionalized graphene with specially desired properties.