Search arXiv⌕ Search

arXiv · 2609.30791

Topological Superconducting Phases in a Strained Altermagnet-Superconductor Heterostructure

Abstract

We investigate topological superconductivity in a heterostructure consisting of a two-dimensional $s$-wave superconductor and a $d$-wave altermagnet with Rashba spin-orbit coupling. In particular, we study the effects of strain and hopping anisotropy on the topological superconducting phases. By calculating the Chern number, we obtain topological phase diagrams as functions of the chemical potential and the strength of the effective magnetic field induced by the magnetic proximity effect. We find that strain-induced lattice distortion allows topological superconducting phases to emerge over a broad parameter region. Our findings suggest that strain that lowers symmetry can serve as a route to realizing topological superconductivity in altermagnet-superconductor heterostructures.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Keita Yoshizawa, Ryo Okugawa, Takami Tohyama. 2026-09-25. Topological Superconducting Phases in a Strained Altermagnet-Superconductor Heterostructure. https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.30791

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Interaction and disorder effects on Cooper instability in two-dimensional fractional Dirac semimetals

Employing a renormalization group analysis that allows for an unbiased treatment of competing physical ingredients, we systematically trace how the interplay between Cooper pairing and disorder scatterings governs the emergence or suppression of Cooper instability in the low-energy regime of fractional Dirac semimetals.In the clean limit, we find that the emergence of Cooper instability requires surpassing a finite interaction threshold $|λ_c|$, and depends sensitively on both the fractional exponent $α$ and the transfer momentum $\mathbf{Q}=(Q,ϕ)$. Specifically, bigger values of $α$ enhance the tendency toward BCS instability. For $α\in(0.001,0.61)$, the $(Q,ϕ)$ parameter space separates into two distinct regions: Zone-\uppercase\expandafter{\romannumeral1}, where Cooper instability is suppressed, and Zone-\uppercase\expandafter{\romannumeral2}, where it is allowed. In the presence of disorders, we demonstrate that they can either promote or suppress Cooper instability. Disorder of type $Δ_1$ or $Δ_2$ enhances superconductivity by reducing the critical interaction threshold $|λ_c|$ and expanding the superconducting phase space (Zone-\uppercase\expandafter{\romannumeral2}). In sharp contrast, either $Δ_0$ or $Δ_3$ suppresses Cooper pairing by increasing $|λ_c|$ and shrinking the available phase space (Zone-\uppercase\expandafter{\romannumeral1}). Although Cooper instability can be enhanced when promotive disorders ($Δ_1$, $Δ_2$) coexist with a single suppressive disorder ($Δ_0$ or $Δ_3$), the suppressive influence of $Δ_{0,3}$ generally dominates the promotive effects of $Δ_{1,2}$ in the presence of all sorts of disorders. These results would be helpful for further studies of fractional Dirac semimetals and alike materials.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Electrochemical Growth of Full Volume Meissner Effect Superconducting BKBO

In this work we show the results of electrochemical synthesis of BKBO crystals using three different experimental setup configurations. The setups differ between each other by varying level of control over physical variables and progressing from a two-electrode to a three-electrode configuration using highly oriented platinum counter electrode. By systematic analysis of the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility at the superconducting transition of the collected crystals we observe that an order of magnitude sharper superconducting transition is achieved for the most comprehensive three-electrode setup. In addition, the level of chemical substitution can be controlled by the value of the overpotential versus reference electrode. We demonstrate that with this technique a full volume Meissner effect can be achieved with a sharp transition temperature for the superconducting crystal.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Unified Transport and Susceptibility Analysis of a Thin BSCCO Film: From Local Pairing to Global Phase Coherence

The superconducting transition in thin high-$T_c$ films can be significantly broadened by disorder, spatial inhomogeneity, and phase fluctuations. Here, we study the transition in a 30-nm-thick sputter-grown Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+δ}$ (BSCCO) film through electrical-transport and ac-susceptibility measurements. The resistive transition is examined using a Gaussian distribution of local $T_c$ values and the Ambegaokar--Halperin model, describing spatial variations in superconductivity and thermally activated phase dynamics, respectively. To relate the transport and magnetic responses, we extend the Choy--Stoneham susceptibility model by introducing the superconducting fraction extracted from transport and a temperature-dependent connectivity factor representing the gradual development of Josephson coupling among superconducting regions. The results identify separate temperature regimes corresponding to the onset of local superconductivity, expansion of the superconducting fraction, development of magnetic screening, and establishment of global phase coherence. The transition therefore proceeds progressively, from locally superconducting regions to a connected, phase-coherent state. This analysis provides a common framework for relating spatial inhomogeneity, dissipative phase dynamics, and magnetic screening in inhomogeneous superconducting films.

cond-mat.supr-con↗