Rashba versus Kohn-Luttinger: Evolution of $p$-wave superconductivity in magnetized two-dimensional Fermi gases subject to spin-orbit interactions

Rashba versus Kohn-Luttinger: Evolution of $p$ -wave superconductivity in magnetized two-dimensional Fermi gases subject to spin-orbit interactions

Ethan Lake, Caleb Webb, D. A. Pesin, and O. A. Starykh

Phys. Rev. B 93, 214516 – Published 24 June 2016

Abstract

We study how the Rashba spin-orbit interaction influences unconventional superconductivity in a two-dimensional electron gas partially spin polarized by a magnetic field. Somewhat surprisingly, we find that for all field orientations, only the larger Fermi surface is superconducting. When the magnetic field is oriented out of plane, the system realizes a topological $p + i p$ pairing state. When the field is rotated in plane, the order parameter develops nodes along the field direction and finite center-of-mass-momentum pairing is realized. We demonstrate that the pairing symmetry of the system can be easily probed experimentally due to the dependence of various thermodynamic quantities on the magnetic field geometry, and calculate the electronic specific heat as an example.