Topological superconductors are predicted to host exotic Majorana states that obey non-Abelian statistics and can be used to implement a topological quantum computer. Most of the proposed topological superconductors are realized in difficult-to-fabricate heterostructures at very low temperatures. By using high-resolution spin-resolved and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, we find that the iron-based superconductor FeTe 1– x Se x ( x = 0.45; superconducting transition temperature T c = 14.5 kelvin) hosts Dirac-cone–type spin-helical surface states at the Fermi level; the surface states exhibit an s-wave superconducting gap below T c . Our study shows that the surface states of FeTe 0.55 Se 0.45 are topologically superconducting, providing a simple and possibly high-temperature platform for realizing Majorana states.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/early/2018/03/07/science.aan4596.full.pdf

Observation of topological superconductivity on the surface of an iron-based superconductor

A topological superconductor A promising path toward topological quantum computing involves exotic quasiparticles called the Majorana bound states (MBSs). MBSs have been observed in heterostructures that require careful nanofabrication, but the complexity of such systems makes further progress tricky. Zhang et al. identified a topological superconductor in which MBSs may be observed in a simpler way by looking into the cores of vortices induced by an external magnetic field. Using angle-resolved photoemission, the researchers found that the surface of the iron superconductor FeTe0.55Se0.45 satisfies the required conditions for topological superconductivity. Science, this issue p. 182 Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy indicates that FeTe0.55Se0.45 harbors Dirac-cone–type spin-helical surface states. Topological superconductors are predicted to host exotic Majorana states that obey non-Abelian statistics and can be used to implement a topological quantum computer. Most of the proposed topological superconductors are realized in difficult-to-fabricate heterostructures at very low temperatures. By using high-resolution spin-resolved and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, we find that the iron-based superconductor FeTe1–xSex (x = 0.45; superconducting transition temperature Tc = 14.5 kelvin) hosts Dirac-cone–type spin-helical surface states at the Fermi level; the surface states exhibit an s-wave superconducting gap below Tc. Our study shows that the surface states of FeTe0.55Se0.45 are topologically superconducting, providing a simple and possibly high-temperature platform for realizing Majorana states.

Observation of topological superconductivity on the surface of iron-based superconductor

Topological materials and unconventional iron-based superconductors are both important areas of study but, to date, relatively little overlap has been identified between these two fields. However, the combination of topological bands and superconductivity promises the manifestation of exotic superconducting states, including Majorana fermions, the central component of topological quantum computation. Here, using laser-based, spin-resolved and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations, we have identified both topological insulator and Dirac semimetal states near the Fermi energy in different iron-based superconducting compounds. Carrier doping can tune these topologically non-trivial bands to the Fermi energy, potentially allowing access to several different superconducting topological states in the same material. These results reveal the generic coexistence of superconductivity and multiple topological states in iron-based superconductors, indicating that this broad class of materials is a promising platform for high-temperature topological superconductivity. Multiple different types of topological states are observed in iron-based high-temperature superconductors. This suggests that these may be a good place to try and engineer high-temperature topological superconductivity.

Multiple topological states in iron-based superconductors

Vortices in topological superconductors may host Majorana zero modes (MZMs), which have been proposed as the building blocks of fault-tolerant topological quantum computers. Recently, a new single-material platform with the potential for realizing MZMs has been discovered in iron-based superconductors, without involving hybrid semiconductor–superconductor structures. Here, we report a detailed scanning tunnelling spectroscopy study of a FeTe0.55Se0.45 single crystal and show that this material hosts two distinct classes of vortex. These differ by a half-integer level shift in the energy spectra of the vortex bound states. This level shift is directly tied to the presence or absence of a zero-bias conductance peak and also alters the ratios of higher energy levels from integer to half-odd-integer. Our model calculations fully reproduce the spectra of these two types of vortex bound state, suggesting the presence of regions with and without topological surface states, which coexist within the same crystal. Our findings provide strong evidence for the presence of MZMs in FeTe0.55Se0.45 and establish it as an excellent platform for further studies. The authors use STM to show that there are two different classes of zero-bias peak in vortex cores of Fe(Te,Se). One class is topological, one not. These are distinguished by a shift in the energy levels of the excited states.

Half-integer level shift of vortex bound states in an iron-based superconductor

Topological superconductors, whose edge hosts Majorana bound states or Majorana fermions that obey non-Abelian statistics, can be used for low-decoherence quantum computations. Most of the proposed topological superconductors are realized with spin-helical states through proximity effect to BCS superconductors. However, such approaches are difficult for further studies and applications because of the low transition temperatures and complicated hetero-structures. Here by using high-resolution spin-resolved and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, we discover that the iron-based superconductor FeTe1-xSex (x = 0.45, Tc = 14.5 K) hosts Dirac-cone type spin-helical surface states at Fermi level, which open an s-wave SC gap below Tc. Our study proves that the surface states of FeTe0.55Se0.45 are 2D topologically superconducting, and thus provides a simple and possibly high-Tc platform for realizing Majorana fermions.

We performed angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy studies on a series of FeTe1−xSex monolayer films grown on SrTiO3. The superconductivity of the films is robust and rather insensitive to the variations of the band position and effective mass caused by the substitution of Se by Te. However, the band gap between the electron- and hole-like bands at the Brillouin zone center decreases towards band inversion and parity exchange, which drive the system to a nontrivial topological state predicted by theoretical calculations. Our results provide a clear experimental indication that the FeTe1−xSex monolayer materials are high-temperature connate topological superconductors in which band topology and superconductivity are integrated intrinsically.

FeTe 1− x Se x monolayer films: towards the realization of high-temperature connate topological superconductivity

We performed angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy studies on a series of FeTe$_{1-x}$Se$_{x}$ monolayer films grown on SrTiO$_{3}$. The superconductivity of the films is robust and rather insensitive to the variations of the band position and effective mass caused by the substitution of Se by Te. However, the band gap between the electron- and hole-like bands at the Brillouin zone center decreases towards band inversion and parity exchange, which drive the system to a nontrivial topological state predicted by theoretical calculations. Our results provide a clear experimental indication that the FeTe$_{1-x}$Se$_{x}$ monolayer materials are high-temperature connate topological superconductors in which band topology and superconductivity are integrated intrinsically.

FeTe$_{1-x}$Se$_{x}$ monolayer films: towards the realization of high-temperature connate topological superconductivity

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Enhanced superconductivity accompanying a Lifshitz transition in electron-doped FeSe monolayer

We report the growth process of FeTe 1−x Sex ( ) monolayer films on SrTiO 3 (STO) substrates through molecular beam epitaxy and discuss the possible ways to improve the film quality. By exploring the parameters of substrate treatment, growth control and post growth annealing, we successfully obtain a series of FeTe 1−x Sex monolayer films. In the whole growth process, we find the significance of the temperature control through surface roughness monitored by the reflection high-energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy. We obtain the best quality of FeSe monolayer films with the STO substrate treated at T = 900–950°C before growth, the FeSe deposited at T = 310°C during growth and annealed at T = 380°C after growth. For FeTe 1−x Sex ( ), both the growth temperature and annealing temperature decrease to T = 260°C. According to the angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements, the superconductivity of the FeTe 1−x Sex film is robust and insensitive to Se concentration. All the above are instructive for further investigations of the superconductivity in FeTe 1−x Sex films.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0256-307X/34/10/107401/pdf

Xiliang Peng

Papers

FeTe 1− x Se x monolayer films: towards the realization of high-temperature connate topological superconductivity

FeTe$_{1-x}$Se$_{x}$ monolayer films: towards the realization of high-temperature connate topological superconductivity

Enhanced superconductivity accompanying a Lifshitz transition in electron-doped FeSe monolayer

High-Quality FeTe 1-x Se x Monolayer Films on SrTiO 3 (001) Substrates Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy