Contributor info: Prof. Ingmar Swart

Jan P. Cuperus, Daniel Vanmaekelbergh, Ingmar Swart

SciPost Phys. 18, 141 (2025) · published 28 April 2025 | Toggle abstract · pdf

Topological superconductivity is predicted to emerge in certain magnet-superconductor hybrid systems. Here, we revisit the heterostructure of insulating monolayer CrBr$_{3}$ and NbSe$_{2}$, for which different conclusions on the presence of topological superconductivity have been reported. Using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and (shot noise) spectroscopy, we find that the superconducting gap well inside the CrBr$_{3}$ islands is not affected by magnetism. At the island edges, we observe Yu-Shiba-Rusinov (YSR) states at a variety of in-gap positions, including zero energy. The absence of topological superconductivity is verified by extensive dI/dV measurements at the CrBr$_{3}$ island edges. Our results ask for a more detailed understanding of the interaction between magnetic insulators and superconductors.

Rian A. M. Ligthart, Cristophe Coinon, Ludovic Desplanque, Xavier Wallart, Ingmar Swart

SciPost Phys. 16, 096 (2024) · published 5 April 2024 | Toggle abstract · pdf

The tip of the scanning tunneling microscope can be used to position atoms and molecules on surfaces with atomic scale precision. Here, we report the controlled vertical and lateral manipulation of single Cs atoms on the InAs(111)A surface. The Cs adatom adsorbs on the In-vacancy site of the InAs(111)A—(2x2) surface reconstruction. Lateral manipulation is possible in all directions over the surface, not just along high-symmetry directions. Both pushing and pulling modes were observed in the height profile of the tip. We assembled two artificial structures, demonstrating the reliability of the manipulation procedures. Structures remained intact to a temperature of at least 44 K.

Saoirsé E. Freeney, Samuel T. P. Borman,Jacob W. Harteveld, Ingmar Swart

SciPost Phys. 9, 085 (2020) · published 10 December 2020 | Toggle abstract · pdf

Quantum corrals can be considered as artificial atoms. By coupling many quantum corrals together, artificial matter can be created at will. The atomic scale precision with which the quantum corrals can be made grants the ability to tune parameters that are difficult to control in real materials, such as the symmetry of the states that couple, the on-site energy of these states, the hopping strength and the magnitude of the orbital overlap. Here, we systematically investigate the accessible parameter space for the dominant platform (CO molecules on Cu(111)) by constructing (coupled) quantum corrals of different sizes and shapes. By changing the configuration of the CO molecules that constitute the barrier between two quantum corrals, the hopping integral can be tuned between 0 and -0.3 eV for s- and p-like states, respectively. Incorporation of orbital overlap is essential to account for the experimental observations. Our results aid the design of future artificial lattices.