Odd-frequency Pairing in the Edge States of Superconducting Pnictides in the Coexistence Phase with Antiferromagnetism

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that odd-frequency spin-triplet superconductivity naturally occurs at the edges of pnictide superconductors coexisting with antiferromagnetism, offering a new platform for exploring this quantum phase.

Contribution

It reveals the emergence of odd-frequency superconductivity on the edges of pnictides in the coexistence phase with antiferromagnetism, a phenomenon previously mainly sought in heterostructures.

Findings

Odd-frequency pairing appears on the edges of pnictides with SDW and superconductivity.

The odd-frequency pairing has even parity components, immune to disorder.

Potential detection via magnetic response measurements.

Abstract

In several members of the pnictide materials, spin density wave order coexists with superconductivity over a range of dopings and temperature. In this paper we show that odd-frequency superconductivity emerges on the edges of pnictides in such a coexistence phase. In particular, the breaking of spin-rotation symmetry by SDW and translation symmetry by the edge can lead to the development of odd-frequency spin-triplet Cooper pairing on edges of superconducting pnictide samples. In this case, the odd-frequency pairing has even parity components, which are immune to disorder. Our results show that pnictides are a natural platform to realize odd frequency superconductivity, which is a new quantum phase and has been mainly searched for in heterostructures of magnetic and superconducting materials. The emergence of odd-frequency pairing on the edges and in the defects can be potentially detected in magnetic response measurements.