CaFeAs2: A staggered intercalation of quantum spin Hall and high-temperature superconductivity

We predict that CaFeAs2, a newly discovered iron-based high-temperature (Tc) superconductor, is a staggered intercalation compound that integrates topological quantum spin Hall (QSH) and superconductivity (SC). CaFeAs2 has a structure with staggered CaAs and FeAs layers. While the FeAs layers are known to be responsible for high Tc superconductivity, we show that with spin orbital coupling each CaAs layer is a Z2 topologically nontrivial two-dimensional QSH insulator and the bulk is a three-dimensional weak topological insulator. In the superconducting state, the edge states in the CaAs layer are natural one-dimensional topological superconductors. The staggered intercalation of QSH and SC provides us a unique opportunity to realize and explore physics, such as Majorana modes and Majorana fermion chains.