RKKY interaction on surfaces of topological insulators with superconducting proximity effect

Alexander A. Zyuzin and Daniel Loss
Phys. Rev. B 90, 125443 – Published 24 September 2014

Abstract

We consider the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interaction between magnetic impurities on the surface of a three-dimensional topological insulator with proximity induced superconductivity. A superconductor placed on the top of the topological insulator induces a gap in the surface electron states and gives rise to a long-range in-plane antiferromagnetic RKKY interaction. This interaction is frustrated due to strong spin-orbit coupling, inversely proportional to the distance between magnetic impurities if the distance between magnetic impurities is smaller than the superconducting coherence length, and dominates over the ferromagnetic and Dzialoshinskii-Moriya type interactions if the distance between magnetic impurities is larger than the superconducting coherence length. The condition for the subgap states that are bound to the magnetic impurities is found.

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  • Received 24 July 2014
  • Revised 4 September 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.90.125443

©2014 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Alexander A. Zyuzin and Daniel Loss

  • Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland

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Issue

Vol. 90, Iss. 12 — 15 September 2014

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