Gapless spin-excitations in the superconducting state of a quasi-one-dimensional spin-triplet superconductor

TL;DR

This study combines experiments and calculations to suggest that K₂Cr₃As₃ is a quasi-one-dimensional spin-triplet superconductor with gapless spin excitations, potentially hosting Majorana modes, unlike its Mo counterpart.

Contribution

It provides evidence that K₂Cr₃As₃ is a topological, spin-triplet superconductor with gapless spin excitations, advancing the understanding of unconventional superconductivity in quasi-one-dimensional materials.

Findings

K₂Cr₃As₃ exhibits gapless spin excitations in the superconducting state.

K₂Mo₃As₃ shows gapped spin fluctuations below T_c.

Fermi surface nesting likely causes the observed spin fluctuations.

Abstract

Majorana zero modes form as intrinsic defects in an odd-orbital one-dimensional superconductor thus motivating the search for such materials in the pursuit of Majorana physics. Here, we present combined experimental results and first principles calculations which suggest that quasi-one-dimensional K$_2$Cr$_3$As$_3$ may be such a superconductor. Using inelastic neutron scattering we probe the dynamic spin-susceptibilities of K$_2$Cr$_3$As$_3$ and K$_2$Mo$_3$As$_3$ and show the presence of antiferromagnetic spin-fluctuations in both compounds. Below the superconducting transition, these fluctuations gap in K$_2$Mo$_3$As$_3$ but not in K$_2$Cr$_3$As$_3$. Using first principles calculations, we show that these fluctuations likely arise from nesting on one dimensional features of the Fermi surface. Considering these results we propose that while K$_2$Mo$_3$As$_3$ is a conventional superconductor, K$_2$Cr$_3$As$_3$ is likely a spin-triplet, and consequently, topological superconductor.