Molecular beam epitaxy of a half-Heusler topological superconductor candidate YPtBi
Kim J, Fijalkowski KM, Kleinlein J, Schumacher C, Markou A, Gould C, Schreyeck S, Felser C, Molenkamp LW (2023)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2023
Journal
Book Volume: 7
Article Number: 024802
Journal Issue: 2
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.7.024802
Abstract
The search for topological superconductivity has motivated investigations into materials that combine topological and superconducting properties. The half-Heusler compound YPtBi appears to be such a material; however, experiments have thus far been limited to bulk single crystals, drastically limiting the scope of available experiments. This has made it impossible to investigate the potential topological nature of the superconductivity in this material. Experiments to access details about the superconducting state require sophisticated lithographic structures, typically based on thin films. Here we report on the establishment of high-crystalline-quality epitaxial thin films of YPtBi(111), grown using molecular beam epitaxy on Al2O3(0001) substrates. A robust superconducting state is observed, with both critical temperature and critical field consistent with that previously reported for bulk crystals. Moreover, we find that AlOx capping sufficiently protects the sample surface from degradation to allow for proper lithography. Our results pave a path towards the development of advanced lithographic structures, which will allow the exploration of the potentially topological nature of superconductivity in YPtBi.
Involved external institutions
Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
Germany (DE)
Max-Planck-Institut für Chemische Physik fester Stoffe (MPI CPfS) / Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids
Germany (DE)
Germany (DE)
Max-Planck-Institut für Chemische Physik fester Stoffe (MPI CPfS) / Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids
Germany (DE)
How to cite
APA:
Kim, J., Fijalkowski, K.M., Kleinlein, J., Schumacher, C., Markou, A., Gould, C.,... Molenkamp, L.W. (2023). Molecular beam epitaxy of a half-Heusler topological superconductor candidate YPtBi. Physical Review Materials, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.7.024802
MLA:
Kim, Jiwoong, et al. "Molecular beam epitaxy of a half-Heusler topological superconductor candidate YPtBi." Physical Review Materials 7.2 (2023).
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