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Asymmetric edge supercurrents in MoTe2 Josephson junctions
Pingbo Chen1,2, Jinhua Wang2, Gongqi Wang2
1Department of Physics, Harbin Institute of Technology Harbin 150001 China.
Nanoscale Advances
|January 18, 2024
Summary
Researchers studied supercurrent interference in niobium/molybdenum ditelluride/niobium (Nb/MoTe2/Nb) Josephson junctions. Results show edge states dominate supercurrent, indicating higher-order topological properties in MoTe2 for potential applications.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Quantum Phenomena
Background:
- Higher-order topological insulators (HOTIs) exhibit unique boundary states.
- Molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2) is a material with potential for hosting topological states.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate higher-order topological properties in MoTe2.
- To explore the role of edge states in supercurrent transport.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication and characterization of niobium/molybdenum ditelluride/niobium (Nb/MoTe2/Nb) planar Josephson junctions.
- Systematic study of supercurrent interference patterns.
- Comparative analysis of edge-touched and untouched junctions.
Main Results:
- Supercurrent transport in Nb/MoTe2/Nb junctions is dominated by the edges of MoTe2.
- An asymmetric Josephson effect with a field-tunable sign was observed.
- Evidence for nontrivial edge states, potentially hinge states, in MoTe2.
Conclusions:
- MoTe2 exhibits characteristics of a higher-order topological insulator.
- Edge states play a crucial role in the observed phenomena.
- MoTe2-based Josephson junctions show promise for current rectification applications.
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