Chiral p-wave superconductivity in Sb(111) thin films close to Van Hove singularities

TL;DR

This paper theoretically predicts that Sb(111) thin films near Van Hove singularities can host chiral p + ip-wave superconductivity, potentially supporting Majorana zero modes due to strong spin-orbit coupling and VHS effects.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework showing that tuning Sb(111) thin films near Van Hove singularities leads to chiral p + ip-wave superconductivity driven by VHS physics and spin-orbit coupling.

Findings

Chiral p + ip-wave pairing is the leading instability near VHS.

Strong spin-orbit coupling and VHS anisotropy facilitate attractive electron interactions.

Potential for Majorana zero modes in superconducting Sb thin films.

Abstract

We theoretically investigate the development of unconventional superconductivity in the Sb(111) thin film when its Fermi level is tuned to near type-II Van Hove singularities (VHS), which locate at non-time-reversal invariant momenta. Via patch renormalization group analysis, we show that the leading instability is a chiral p + ip-wave superconducting order. The origin of such pairing relies on the hexagonal structure of the VHS and strong spin-orbit coupling, resulting in the anisotropy of the electron-electron scattering to provide an attractive channel. Our study hence suggests that superconducting Sb thin films originated from VHS physics may host Majorana zero modes in the magnetic vortices and provides another application perspective to such material.