Controlling the Superconducting Transition by Rotation of an Inversion Symmetry-Breaking Axis

Lina G. Johnsen, Kristian Svalland, and Jacob Linder
Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 107002 – Published 3 September 2020
PDFHTMLExport Citation

Abstract

We consider a hybrid structure where a material with Rashba-like spin-orbit coupling is proximity coupled to a conventional superconductor. We find that the superconducting critical temperature Tc can be tuned by rotating the vector n characterizing the axis of broken inversion symmetry. This is explained by a leakage of s-wave singlet Cooper pairs out of the superconducting region, and by conversion of s-wave singlets into other types of correlations, among these s-wave odd-frequency pairs robust to impurity scattering. These results demonstrate a conceptually different way of tuning Tc compared to the previously studied variation of Tc in magnetic hybrids.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 3 September 2019
  • Revised 28 April 2020
  • Accepted 10 August 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.107002

© 2020 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Lina G. Johnsen*, Kristian Svalland, and Jacob Linder

  • Center for Quantum Spintronics, Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway

  • *Corresponding author. lina.g.johnsen@ntnu.no

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 125, Iss. 10 — 4 September 2020

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×