Theory of quasiparticle scattering interference on the surface of topological superconductors

TL;DR

This paper provides a theoretical framework for analyzing quasiparticle scattering interference on topological superconductor surfaces, revealing how Fourier-transform scanning tunneling spectroscopy can distinguish various topological surface states and their pairing symmetries.

Contribution

It offers a detailed theoretical analysis of scattering interference patterns for different topological superconductor surface states, aiding experimental identification.

Findings

Identification of universal interference features for magnetic and nonmagnetic scattering

Distinct signatures for zero-energy flat bands, arc states, and Majorana modes

Method to determine bulk pairing symmetry from surface interference patterns

Abstract

Topological superconductors, such as noncentrosymmetric superconductors with strong spin-orbit coupling, exhibit protected zero-energy surface states, which possess an intricate helical spin structure. We show that this nontrival spin character of the surface states can be tested experimentally from the absence of certain backscattering processes in Fourier-transform scanning tunneling measurements. A detailed theoretical analysis is given of the quasiparticle scattering interference on the surface of both nodal and fully gapped topological superconductors with different crystal point-group symmetries. We determine the universal features in the interference patterns resulting from magnetic and nonmagnetic scattering processes of the surface quasiparticles. It is shown that Fourier-transform scanning tunneling spectroscopy allows us to uniquely distinguish among different types of topological surface states, such as zero-energy flat bands, arc surface states, and helical Majorana modes, which in turn provides valuable information on the spin and orbital pairing symmetry of the bulk superconducting state.