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Tracking a spin-polarized superconducting bound state across a quantum phase transition

Author

Listed:
  • Sujoy Karan

    (Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research)

  • Haonan Huang

    (Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research)

  • Alexander Ivanovic

    (Universität Ulm)

  • Ciprian Padurariu

    (Universität Ulm)

  • Björn Kubala

    (Universität Ulm
    German Aerospace Center (DLR))

  • Klaus Kern

    (Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research
    Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)

  • Joachim Ankerhold

    (Universität Ulm)

  • Christian R. Ast

    (Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research)

Abstract

The magnetic exchange coupling between magnetic impurities and a superconductor induce so-called Yu-Shiba-Rusinov (YSR) states which undergo a quantum phase transition (QPT) upon increasing the exchange interaction beyond a critical value. While the evolution through the QPT is readily observable, in particular if the YSR state features an electron-hole asymmetry, the concomitant change in the ground state is more difficult to identify. We use ultralow temperature scanning tunneling microscopy to demonstrate how the change in the YSR ground state across the QPT can be directly observed for a spin-1/2 impurity in a magnetic field. The excitation spectrum changes from featuring two peaks in the doublet (free spin) state to four peaks in the singlet (screened spin) ground state. We also identify a transition regime, where the YSR excitation energy is smaller than the Zeeman energy. We thus demonstrate a straightforward way for unambiguously identifying the ground state of a spin-1/2 YSR state.

Suggested Citation

  • Sujoy Karan & Haonan Huang & Alexander Ivanovic & Ciprian Padurariu & Björn Kubala & Klaus Kern & Joachim Ankerhold & Christian R. Ast, 2024. "Tracking a spin-polarized superconducting bound state across a quantum phase transition," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-44708-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44708-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Damianos Chatzopoulos & Doohee Cho & Koen M. Bastiaans & Gorm O. Steffensen & Damian Bouwmeester & Alireza Akbari & Genda Gu & Jens Paaske & Brian M. Andersen & Milan P. Allan, 2021. "Spatially dispersing Yu-Shiba-Rusinov states in the unconventional superconductor FeTe0.55Se0.45," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Felix Küster & Sascha Brinker & Samir Lounis & Stuart S. P. Parkin & Paolo Sessi, 2021. "Long range and highly tunable interaction between local spins coupled to a superconducting condensate," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
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