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Register a new userMajorana Bound States Induced by Antiferromagnetic Skyrmion Textures
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Majorana bound states are zero-energy states predicted to emerge in topological superconductors and intense efforts seeking a definitive proof of their observation are still ongoing. A standard route to realize them involves antagonistic orders: a superconductor in proximity to a ferromagnet. Here we show this issue can be resolved using antiferromagnetic rather than ferromagnetic order. We propose to use a chain of antiferromagnetic skyrmions, in an otherwise collinear antiferromagnet, coupled to a bulk conventional superconductor as a novel platform capable of supporting Majorana bound states that are robust against disorder. Crucially, the collinear antiferromagnetic region neither suppresses superconductivity nor induces topological superconductivity, thus allowing for Majorana bound states localized at the ends of the chain. Our model introduces a new class of systems where topological superconductivity can be induced by editing antiferromagnetic textures rather than locally tuning material parameters, opening avenues for the conclusive observation of Majorana bound states.
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Magnetic skyrmions are topological solitons with a nanoscale winding spin texture that hold promise for spintronics applications. Until now, skyrmions have been observed in a variety of magnets that exhibit nearly parallel alignment for the neighbouring spins, but theoretically, skyrmions with anti-parallel neighbouring spins are also possible. The latter, antiferromagnetic skyrmions, may allow more flexible control compared to the conventional ferromagnetic skyrmions. Here, by combining neutron scattering and Monte Carlo simulations, we show that a fractional antiferromagnetic skyrmion lattice with an incipient meron character is stabilized in MnSc$_2$S$_4$ through anisotropic couplings. Our work demonstrates that the theoretically proposed antiferromagnetic skyrmions can be stabilized in real materials and represents an important step towards implementing the antiferromagnetic-skyrmion based spintronic devices.
We show theoretically that in the generic finite chemical potential situation, the clean superconducting spin-orbit-coupled nanowire has two distinct nontopological regimes as a function of Zeeman splitting (below the topological quantum phase transition): one is characterized by finite-energy in-gap Andreev bound states, while the other has only extended bulk states. The Andreev bound state regime is characterized by strong features in the tunneling spectra creating a gap closure signature, but no gap reopening signature should be apparent above the topological quantum phase transition, in agreement with most recent experimental observations. The gap closure feature is actually the coming together of the Andreev bound states at high chemical potential rather than a simple trivial gap of extended bulk states closing at the transition. Our theoretical finding establishes the generic intrinsic Andreev bound states on the trivial side of the topological quantum phase transition as the main contributors to the tunneling conductance spectra, providing a generic interpretation of existing experiments in clean Majorana nanowires. Our work also explains why experimental tunnel conductance spectra generically have gap closing features below the topological quantum phase transition, but no gap opening features above it.
Low temperature ac magnetic susceptibility measurements of the coexistent antiferromagnetic superconductor YbPd2Sn have been made in hydrostatic pressures < 74 kbar in moissanite anvil cells. The superconducting transition temperature is forced to T(SC) = 0 K at a pressure of 58 kbar. The initial suppression of the superconducting transition temperature is corroborated by lower hydrostatic pressure (p < 16 kbar) four point resisitivity measurements, made in a piston cylinder pressure cell. At ambient pressure, in a modest magnetic field of ~ 500 G, this compound displays reentrant superconducting behaviour. This reentrant superconductivity is suppressed to lower temperature and lower magnetic field as pressure is increased. The antiferromagnetic ordering temperature, which was measured at T(N) = 0.12 K at ambient pressure is enhanced, to reach T(N) = 0.58 K at p = 74 kbar. The reasons for the coexistence of superconductivity and antiferromagnetism is discussed in the light of these and previous findings. Also considered is why superconductivity on the border of long range magnetic order is so much rarer in Yb compounds than in Ce compounds. The presence of a new transition visible by ac magnetic susceptibility under pressure and in magnetic fields greater than 1.5 kG is suggested.
Topological spin textures in an itinerant ferromagnet, SrRuO$_3$ is studied combining Hall transport measurements and numerical simulations. We observe characteristic signatures of the Topological Hall Effect associated with skyrmions. A relatively large thickness of our films and absence of heavy metal layers make the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction an unlikely source of these topological spin textures. Additionally, the transport anomalies exhibit an unprecedented robustness to magnetic field tilting and temperature. Our numerical simulations suggest that this unconventional behavior results from magnetic bubbles with skyrmion topology stabilized by magnetodipolar interactions in an unexpected region of parameter space.
We report an experimental study of the emergence of non-trivial topological winding and long-range order across the paramagnetic to skyrmion lattice transition in the transition metal helimagnet MnSi. Combining measurements of the susceptibility with small angle neutron scattering, neutron resonance spin echo spectroscopy and all-electrical microwave spectroscopy, we find evidence of skyrmion textures in the paramagnetic state exceeding $10^3$AA with lifetimes above several 10$^{-9}$s. Our experimental findings establish that the paramagnetic to skyrmion lattice transition in MnSi is well-described by the Landau soft-mode mechanism of weak crystallization, originally proposed in the context of the liquid to crystal transition. As a key aspect of this theoretical model, the modulation-vectors of periodic small amplitude components of the magnetization form triangles that add to zero. In excellent agreement with our experimental findings, these triangles of the modulation-vectors entail the presence of the non-trivial topological winding of skyrmions already in the paramagnetic state of MnSi when approaching the skyrmion lattice transition.
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