4π -Periodic Supercurrent from Surface States in Cd3As2 Nanowire-Based Josephson Junctions

An Qi Wang, Cai Zhen Li, Chuan Li, Zhi Min Liao, Alexander Brinkman, Da Peng Yu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

57 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The combination of superconductivity and surface states in Dirac semimetal can produce a 4π-periodic supercurrent in a Josephson junction configuration, which can be revealed by the missing of odd Shapiro steps (especially the n=1 step). However, the suppression of the n=1 step is also anticipated in the high-power oscillatory regime of the ordinary 2π-periodic Josephson effect, which is irrelevant to the 4π-periodic supercurrent. Here, in order to identify the origin of the suppressed n=1 step, we perform the measurements of radio frequency irradiation on Nb-Dirac semimetal Cd3As2 nanowire-Nb junctions with continuous power dependence at various frequencies. Besides the n=1 step suppression, we uncover a residual supercurrent of first node at the n=0 step, which provides a direct and predominant signature of the 4π-periodic supercurrent. Furthermore, by tuning the gate voltage, we can modulate the surface and bulk state contribution and the visibility of the n=1 step. Our results provide deep insights to explore the topological superconductivity in Dirac semimetals.

Original languageEnglish
Article number237701
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume121
Issue number23
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Dec 2018
Externally publishedYes

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