Scanning Josephson spectroscopy on the atomic scale

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that scanning Josephson spectroscopy with a superconducting STM tip can map the atomic-scale variation of the pairing order parameter in superconductors, revealing local suppression and Andreev processes near magnetic adatoms.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of scanning Josephson spectroscopy to visualize atomic-scale pairing variations and impurity effects in superconductors.

Findings

Atomic-scale mapping of pairing potential suppression.

Detection of Andreev processes through impurity-bound states.

Decoupling of local pairing suppression from quasiparticle spectra.

Abstract

The Josephson effect provides a direct method to probe the strength of the pairing interaction in superconductors. By measuring the phase fluctuating Josephson current between a superconducting tip of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and a BCS superconductor with isolated magnetic adatoms on its surface, we demonstrate that the spatial variation of the pairing order parameter can be characterized on the atomic scale. This system provides an example where the local pairing potential suppression is not directly reflected in the spectra measured via quasipartcile tunneling. Spectroscopy with such superconducting tips also show signatures of previously unexplored Andreev processes through individual impurity-bound Shiba states. The atomic resolution achieved here establishes scanning Josephson spectroscopy as a promising technique for the study of novel superconducting phases.