Dynamical Shiba states from precessing magnetic moments in an s-wave superconductor

Abstract

We study theoretically the dynamics of a Shiba state forming around precessing classical spin in an s-wave superconductor. Utilizing a rotating wave description for the precessing magnetic impurity, we find the resulting Shiba bound state quasienergy and the spatial extension of the Shiba wave function. We show that such a precession pertains to dc charge and spin currents flowing through a normal STM tip tunnel coupled to the superconductor in the vicinity of the impurity. We calculate these currents and find that they strongly depend on the magnetic impurity precession frequency, precession angle, and on the position of the Shiba energy level in the superconducting gap. The resulting charge current is found to be proportional to the difference between the electron and hole wave functions of the Shiba state, being a direct measure for such an asymmetry. By dynamically driving the impurity one can infer the spin dependence of the Shiba states in the absence of a spin-polarized STM tip.

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