Rare-earth atoms on Nb(110) as a platform to engineer topological superconductivity

Our study reveals how Gd adatoms and dimers on a superconducting Nb(110) surface induce Yu-Shiba-Rusinov (YSR) states, offering valuable insights into magnetic interactions of rare-earth atoms on superconducting surfaces. By engineering Gd dimers along the [1-10] and [001] directions, we uncover an indirect coupling between the Gd magnetic moments and the Nb substrate via their valence d electrons, leading to significant alterations in the YSR spectrum around the dimers. We further demonstrate the possibility for Néel-type spin-spiral ground states in chains of Gd atoms on Nb(110). These findings highlight the potential of 4f elements like Gd as a promising platform for controlling a spin-spiral ground state, a crucial prerequisite for realizing a topological superconductor that can host Majorana zero modes. The combination of theoretical modeling based on density functional theory, atomistic spin-dynamics simulations and experimental techniques, including scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy, provides a comprehensive understanding of the coupling mechanisms and their impact on the electronic properties of these systems and establishes rare-earth magnets on Nb as a promising platform in the field.

This dataset collects the experimental and theoretical results of this work.