Accessing topological superconductivity via a combined STM and renormalization group analysis

Area of Science:

• Condensed matter physics
• Materials science
• Quantum computing

Background:

• Topological superconductors are crucial for realizing Majorana bound states and non-Abelian statistics.
• These exotic states are key to developing fault-tolerant quantum computing platforms.
• Current experimental searches often rely on phenomenological models for superconductor gap functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel theoretical scheme directly linking experimental searches with microscopic material theory for topological superconductivity.
• To enable an unbiased, material-specific determination of pairing potentials.
• To guide the experimental search for topological superconductors.

Main Methods:

• Development of a combined theoretical and experimental analysis framework.
• Utilizing multi-orbital functional renormalization group (RG) analysis for unbiased microscopic determination of pairing potentials.
• Applying the approach to paradigmatic hexagonal systems, including doped graphene and water-intercalated sodium cobaltates.

Main Results:

• The study establishes a direct link between experimental observations and microscopic theory for topological superconductivity.
• The multi-orbital functional RG analysis provides an unbiased determination of material-dependent pairing potentials.
• Hexagonal systems like doped graphene and sodium cobaltates show a propensity for chiral singlet topological superconductivity due to lattice symmetry and electronic correlations.

Conclusions:

• A microscopic, material-oriented procedure is essential for uniquely identifying topological superconductor states.
• The proposed scheme advances the search for topological superconductors and their applications in quantum computing.
• The findings highlight the importance of considering both lattice symmetry and electronic correlations in material design.