arXiv subjects

Tadashi Machida

Publications and source records attributed to Tadashi Machida.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Twisted Bogoliubov quasiparticles in the superconducting NbSe$_2$ monolayer on graphene

The superconducting properties of layered materials can be controlled by thinning, stacking, and twisting, demanding investigation of electronic states by spectroscopic means at the nanometer scale. Here, we reveal the spatial variations of the electronic states in heterostructures of the superconducting monolayer NbSe$_2$/graphene using spectroscopic-imaging scanning tunneling microscopy. The NbSe$_2$ monolayer grown by molecular beam epitaxy is naturally twisted with respect to the graphene substrate and exhibits interference patterns of Bogoliubov quasiparticles twisted with respect to the NbSe$_2$ and graphene lattices. We find that the twisted interference patterns originate from a sextet of regions in momentum space where the Fermi surfaces of NbSe$_2$ and graphene overlap. The Fermi surface overlap is sensitive to the twist angle, providing a knob to tune superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Searching for Majorana quasiparticles at vortex cores in iron-based superconductors

The unambiguous detection of the Majorana zero mode (MZM), which is essential for future topological quantum computing, has been a challenge in recent condensed matter experiments. The MZM is expected to emerge at the vortex core of topological superconductors as a zero-energy vortex bound state (ZVBS), amenable to detection using scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS). However, the typical energy resolution of STM/STS has made it challenging to distinguish the MZM from the low-lying trivial vortex bound states. Here, we review the recent high-energy-resolution STM/STS experiments on the vortex cores of Fe(Se,Te), where the MZM is expected to emerge, and the energy of the lowest trivial bound states is reasonably high. Tunneling spectra taken at the vortex cores exhibit a ZVBS well below any possible trivial state, suggesting its MZM origin. However, it should be noted that ZVBS is a necessary but not sufficient condition for the MZM; a qualitative feature unique to the MZM needs to be explored. We discuss the current status and issues in the pursuit of such Majorananess, namely the level sequence of the vortex bound states and the conductance plateau of the ZVBS. We also argue for future experiments to confirm the Majorananess, such as the detection of the doubling of the shot noise intensity and spin polarization of the MZM.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Imaging Josephson Vortices on Curved Junctions

Understanding the nature of vortices in type-II superconductors is crucial for comprehending exotic superconductors and advancing the application of superconducting materials in future electronic devices. This study uses spectroscopic scanning tunneling microscopy to visualize Josephson vortices along crystalline domain boundaries in the superconducting spinel oxide LiTi2O4 (LTO). Our experimental results reveal that the local curvature of the Josephson junction dictates the positioning of Josephson vortices. Self-consistent solutions of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes and gap equations theoretically corroborate this observation. In addition to enhancing our understanding of the physics of Josephson vortex formation, this study offers potential guidelines for developing vortex-based superconducting devices.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Anomalous vortex shape in a frustrated superconductor hosting chiral multicomponent order parameters

Multicomponent chiral superconductors can host spatially separated superconducting components within a single Abrikosov vortex, leading to unconventional, anisotropic vortex shapes forbidden in conventional single-component superconductors. Here, using spectroscopic scanning tunneling microscopy at 0.3 K, we investigate the mixed state of the spinel superconductor LiTi2O4 (Tc = 13 K). In the low-field regime, where vortex-vortex interactions are minimized and the intrinsic single-vortex shape is preserved, reasonably isolated triangular Abrikosov vortices are directly visualized with high statistical significance. Remarkably, the vortex orientation is locked to crystallographic domains rather than the magnetic-field direction, revealing a hidden chirality selectivity embedded in the zero-field electronic state.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2017

Appearance of a Domain Structure and its Electronic states in Iron Doped 1$T$-TaS$_2$ Observed using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy

In this paper, we report on scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS) measurements on iron doped 1$T$-Ta$_{1-x}$Fe$_x$S$_2$. A novel domain structure composed of the domains with localized nature divided by the walls is observed in Ta$_{0.99}$Fe$_{0.01}$S$_2$, where the Mott transition is completely suppressed. This indicates that the melting of the Mott state accompanies the appearance of the domain structure. Since the number of walls increase in superconducting Ta$_{0.98}$Fe$_{0.02}$S$_2$, the domain walls seem to be responsible for superconductivity in iron doped 1$T$-TaS$_2$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2011

Quantum Interference of Impurity Bound States in Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$Ca(Cu$_{1-x}$Zn$_{x}$)$_{2}$O$_{8+\delta}$ Probed by Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy

In conventional superconductors, magnetic impurities form an impurity band due to quantum interference of the impurity bound states, leading to suppression of the superconducting transition temperature. Such quantum interference effects can also be expected in d-wave superconductors. Here, we use scanning tunneling microscopy to investigate the effect of multiple non-magnetic impurities on the local electronic structure of the high-temperature superconductor Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$Ca(Cu$_{1-x}$Zn$_{x}$)$_{2}$O$_{8+\delta}$. We find several fingerprints of quantum interference of the impurity bound states including: (i) a two-dimensional modulation of local density-of-states with a period of approximately 5.4 \AA\ along the $a$- and $b$-axes, which is indicative of the d-wave superconducting nature of the cuprates; (ii) abrupt spatial variations of the impurity bound state energy; (iii)an appearance of positive energy states; (iv) a split of the impurity bound state. All of these findings provide important insight into how the impurity band in d-wave superconductors is formed.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2011

Unidirectional Electronic Structure in the Parent State of Iron-Chalcogenide Superconductor Fe$_{1+\delta}$Te

We use scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy to explore the electronic structure of Fe$_{1.07}$Te which is the parent compound of the iron-chalcogenide superconductors. A unidirectional electronic structure with a period of $a_{0}$ (where $a_{0}$ is the lattice constant) along the a-axis is observed. The unidirectional pattern is visible within an energy range from approximately -200 to +130 meV. Since the direction of the unidirectional electronic structure coincides with those of the underlying antiferromagnetic and the predicted orbital orders, it is presumable that the observed unidirectional structure is closely tied to these orders and is peculiar to the parent state in iron-based superconductors.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Disappearance of zinc impurity resonance in large gap region on Bi$_{\mathrm{2}}$Sr$_{\mathrm{2}}$CaCu$_{\mathrm{2}}$O$_{\mathrm{8+}\delta}$ probed by scanning tunneling spectroscopy

Using Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS), we report the correlation between spatial gap inhomogeneity and the zinc (Zn) impurity resonance in single crystals of Bi$_{\mathrm{2}}$Sr$_{\mathrm{2}}$Ca(Cu$_{\mathrm{1-}x}$Zn$_{x}$)$_{\mathrm{2}}$O$_{\mathrm{8+}\delta}$ with different carrier (hole) concentrations ($p$) at a fixed Zn concentration ($x$ $\sim$ 0.5 % per Cu atom). In all the samples, the impurity resonance lies only in the region where the gap value is less than $\sim$ 60 meV. Also the number of Zn resonance sites drastically decreases with decreasing $p$, in spite of the fixed $x$. These experimental results lead us to a conclusion that the Zn impurity resonance does not appear in the large gap region although the Zn impurity evidently resides in this region.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2010

Local Measurement of Microwave Response with Local Tunneling Spectra Using Near Field Microwave Microscopy

We have designed and built a near-field scanning microwave microscope, which has been used to measure the local microwave response and the local density-of-states (LDOS) in the area including the boundary between the gold deposited and the non-deposited region on highly-orientated pyrolytic graphite at a frequency of about 7.3 GHz. We have succeeded in measuring the spatial variation of both the LDOS and the surface resistance. It can be observed that the surface resistance in gold deposited region with the metallic tunneling spectra is smaller than that in the non-deposited region with the U-shaped tunneling spectra.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2009

Local density of states and superconducting gap in the iron chalcogenide superconductor Fe$_{1+δ}$Se$_{1-x}$Te$_{x}$ observed by scanning tunneling spectroscopy

We report on the first investigation of the quasiparticle local density of states and superconducting gap in the iron chalcogenide superconductor Fe$_{1+δ}$Se$_{1-x}$Te$_{x}$ ($T_{\mathrm{c}} \sim 14$ K). The surface of a cleaved crystal revealed an atomic square lattice, superimposed on the inhomogeneous background, with a lattice constant of $\sim 3.8$ Åwithout any reconstruction. Tunneling spectra measured at 4.2 K exhibit the superconducting gap, which completely disappears at 18 K, with a magnitude of $\sim 2.3$ meV, corresponding to $2Δ/ k_{\mathrm{B}}T_{\mathrm{c}}=3.8$.In stark contrast to the cuprate superconductors, the value of the observed superconducting gap is relatively homogeneous, following a sharp distribution with a small standard deviation of 0.23 meV. Conversely, the normal-state local density of states observed above $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ shows spatial variation over a wide energy range of more than 1 eV, probably due to the excess iron present in the crystal.

cond-mat.supr-con↗