Spatial extension and coupling of magnetic bound states in the superconducting topological crystalline insulator SnTe
Phys. Rev. B 113, 085404 – Published 3 February, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/7hfc-5ml1
Abstract
Recent studies in the superconducting topological crystalline insulator (TCI) SnTe have reported signatures of multiple Majorana zero modes in a vortex. The energy and spatial characteristics of magnetic bound states in this platform are important for understanding their mechanism and building topological quantum states. Here, we investigate the Yu-Shiba-Rusinov (YSR) bound states induced by magnetic adatoms on a SnTe/Pb heterostructure, revealing their latticelike spatial extension, which is associated with the topological surface states of the TCI. We also reveal identical oscillation periods and energy-dependent spatial extensions of YSR states at different excitation energies. Moreover, we observe one-dimensional (1D) dispersive in-gap states with zero-energy crossings around the magnetic cluster, arising from the coupling of long-range magnetic bound states and suggesting possible 1D topologically nontrivial zero-energy states. Our work offers a comprehensive understanding of magnetic bound states in the superconducting TCIs, proposing a promising platform to engineer nonlocal topological quantum states through long-range magnetic coupling.
