Low-energy surface states in the normal state of $\ensuremath{\alpha}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{\mathrm{PdBi}}_{2}$ superconductor

Low-energy surface states in the normal state of $α − {PdBi}_{2}$ superconductor

Hongchul Choi, Madhab Neupane, T. Sasagawa, Elbert E. M. Chia, and Jian-Xin Zhu

Phys. Rev. Materials 1, 034201 – Published 25 August 2017

Abstract

Topological superconductors as characterized by Majorana surface states have been actively searched for their significance in fundamental science and technological implication. The large spin-orbit coupling in Bi-Pd binaries has stimulated extensive investigations on the topological surface states in these superconducting compounds. Here we report a study of normal-state electronic structure in a centrosymmetric $α − {PdBi}_{2}$ within density functional theory calculations. By investigating the electronic structure from the bulk to slab geometries in this system, we predict that $α − {PdBi}_{2}$ can host orbital-dependent and asymmetric Rashba surface states near the Fermi energy. This study suggests that $α − {PdBi}_{2}$ will be a good candidate to explore the relationship between superconductivity and topology in condensed matter physics.

Received 13 April 2017
Revised 26 June 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.1.034201

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

First-principles calculations Rashba coupling Topological phases of matter Topological superconductors

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Hongchul Choi^1,*, Madhab Neupane², T. Sasagawa³, Elbert E. M. Chia⁴, and Jian-Xin Zhu^1,5,†

¹Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
²Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA
³Laboratory for Materials and Structures Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
⁴Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore
⁵Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA