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Probing Hidden Vortices and Geometrical Effect via Surface-Projected Quasiparticle States
Ruijun Xi1, Pei-Yao Liu2, Dang Liu1
1Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, Key Laboratory of Artificial Structures and Quantum Control (Ministry of Education), School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
Nano Letters
|December 17, 2025
Summary
Researchers visualized quasiparticle states in vortices within 2H-NbSe2 using a scanning tunneling microscope. Vortex depth impacts these states, revealing a critical length scale for superconducting devices utilizing vortex quasiparticles.
Area of Science:
- Superconductivity research
- Condensed matter physics
- Quantum phenomena
Background:
- Vortices in superconductors host quasiparticle excitations like Caroli-de Gennes-Matricon or Majorana states.
- Understanding the influence of geometry on these states is crucial for fundamental science and quantum device applications.
- Elucidating this relationship has been a significant challenge in the field.
Purpose of the Study:
- To resolve and characterize quasiparticle states associated with subsurface vortices in 2H-NbSe2.
- To investigate the impact of vortex depth and superconductor geometry on these quasiparticle states.
- To establish a relationship between vortex geometry and the behavior of bound states.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a scanning tunneling microscope integrated with a dilution refrigerator for high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy.
- Applied in-plane magnetic fields to induce and study lateral vortices beneath the surface of 2H-NbSe2.
- Combined experimental spectroscopic visualization with theoretical model calculations.
Main Results:
- Successfully resolved quasiparticle states originating from lateral vortices buried within 2H-NbSe2.
- Observed depth-dependent coupling behavior between vortices and the superconductor surface.
- Shallow vortices (~1.5 coherence lengths) showed anomalous split states and a pseudogap, while deeper vortices (>4 coherence lengths) exhibited conventional Caroli-de Gennes-Matricon states.
Conclusions:
- Established a rescaling law for vortex-bound states influenced by geometrical effects.
- Identified a critical length scale relevant for superconducting devices leveraging intrinsic vortex quasiparticles.
- Demonstrated the significant impact of vortex depth on quasiparticle state modulation in superconductors.
Keywords:
defect−vortex interactionsin-plane magnetic fieldlateral vorticesscanning tunneling microscopyMore Related Videos
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