Superconducting proximity effect and possible evidence for Pearl vortices in a candidate topological insulator

Abstract

We report the observation of the superconducting proximity effect in nanoribbons of a candidate topological insulator (Bi${}_{2}$Se${}_{3}$), which is interfaced with superconducting (tungsten) contacts. We observe a supercurrent and multiple Andreev reflections for channel lengths that are much longer than the inelastic and diffusive thermal lengths deduced from normal-state transport. This suggests that the proximity effect couples preferentially to a ballistic surface transport channel, even in the presence of a coexisting diffusive bulk channel. When a magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the plane of the nanoribbon, we observe magnetoresistance oscillations that are periodic in magnetic field. Quantitative comparison with a model of vortex blockade relates the occurrence of these oscillations to the formation of Pearl vortices in the region of proximity-induced superconductivity.