Experimental search for the origin of low-energy modes in topological materials

Abstract

Point-contact spectroscopy of several non-superconducting topological materials reveals a low temperature phase transition that is characterized by a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer-type of criticality. We find such a behavior of differential conductance for topological surfaces of non-magnetic and magnetic Pb${}_{1-y-x}$Sn${}_y$Mn${}_x$Te. We examine a possible contribution from superconducting nanoparticles, and show to what extent our data are consistent with Brzezicki's et al. theory [arXiv:1812.02168], assigning the observations to a collective state adjacent to atomic steps at topological surfaces.

arXiv comment15 pages, 27 figures (with Supplemental Material)

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• Corner states, hinge states and Majorana modes in SnTe nanowires
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• Ferromagnetic phase transition in topological crystalline insulator thin films: interplay of anomalous Hall angle and magnetic anisotropy
• Spin-orbit insulating phase in SnTe cubic nanowires: consequences on the topological surface states
• Spin, orbital and topological order in models of strongly correlated electrons
• Topological domain wall states in a non-symmorphic chiral chain
• Interaction effects in a 1D flat band at a topological crystalline step edge
• Low temperature and high magnetic field performance of a commercial piezo-actuator probed $via$ laser interferometry
• In Situ Compensation Method for Precise Integral SQUID Magnetometry of Miniscule Biological, Chemical, and Powder Specimens Requiring the Use of Capsules
• Band structure and topological phases of Pb${}_{1-x-y}$Sn${}_x$Mn${}_y$Te by ab initio calculations
• Pentagonal nanowires from topological crystalline insulators: a platform for intrinsic core-shell nanowires and higher-order topology
• Topological transition in Pb1-xSnxSe using Meta-GGA
• Topological phase diagram of Pb1-xSnxSe1-yTey
• Coexistence of Rashba and Dirac dispersions on the surface of centrosymmetric topological insulator decorated with transition metals
• From narrow-gap and semimagnetic semiconductors to spintronics and topological matter: a life with spins
• Proximity-Induced Superconductivity in a Topological Crystalline Insulator