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Surface instability in nodal noncentrosymmetric superconductors

Carsten Timm, Stefan Rex, and P. M. R. Brydon
Phys. Rev. B 91, 180503(R) – Published 13 May 2015
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Abstract

We study the stability of topologically protected zero-energy flat bands at the surface of nodal noncentrosymmetric superconductors, accounting for the alteration of the gap near the surface. Within a self-consistent mean-field theory, we show that the flat bands survive in a broad temperature range below the bulk transition temperature. There is a second transition at a lower temperature, however, below which the system spontaneously breaks time-reversal symmetry. The surface bands are shifted away from zero energy and become weakly dispersive. Simultaneously, a spin polarization and an equilibrium charge current develop in the surface region.

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  • Received 8 April 2015
  • Revised 29 April 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.91.180503

©2015 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Carsten Timm1,*, Stefan Rex2, and P. M. R. Brydon3,†

  • 1Institute of Theoretical Physics, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
  • 2Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
  • 3Condensed Matter Theory Center and Joint Quantum Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA

  • *carsten.timm@tu-dresden.de
  • pbrydon@umd.edu

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Issue

Vol. 91, Iss. 18 — 1 May 2015

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