Coexistence of Antiferromagnetism and Superconductivity in Mn/Nb(110)

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the coexistence of antiferromagnetism and superconductivity in Mn layers on Nb(110), revealing potential for novel superconducting antiferromagnetic spintronic devices.

Contribution

It provides experimental and theoretical evidence of antiferromagnetic order coexisting with proximity-induced superconductivity in Mn/Nb(110) systems.

Findings

Superconducting state induced in Mn layers on Nb(110)

Antiferromagnetic c(2x2) order observed in Mn layers

First-principles calculations confirm magnetic structure

Abstract

We report on the structural and magnetic properties of single and double atomic layers of Mn on a clean and unreconstructed Nb(110) substrate. Low-temperature scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements reveal a proximity-induced superconducting state in the Mn thin films, which are found to grow pseudomorphically on the Nb surface. Spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy measurements reveal a c(2x2) antiferromagnetic order in the Mn layers, with an out-of-plane spin-orientation. First-principles density functional theory calculations confirm the experimentally observed magnetic state, which is understood as the consequence of a strong intra- and inter-layer nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic exchange coupling. These results are expected to be of importance for the design and the investigation of novel superconducting antiferromagnetic spintronic systems.