Observation of Yu-Shiba-Rusinov-like states at the edge of CrBr 3 /NbSe 2 heterostructure

The hybrid ferromagnet-superconductor heterostructures have attracted extensive attention as they potentially host topological superconductivity. Relevant experimental signatures have recently been reported in CrBr /NbSe ferromagnet-superconductor heterostructure, but controversies remain. Here, we reinvestigate CrBr /NbSe by an ultralow temperature scanning tunneling microscope with higher spatial and energy resolutions. We find that the single-layer CrBr film is insulating and acts likely as a vacuum barrier, the measured superconducting gap and vortex state on it are nearly the same as those of NbSe substrate. Meanwhile, in-gap features are observed at the edges of CrBr island, which display either a zero-energy conductance peak or a pair of particle-hole symmetric bound states. They are discretely distributed at the edges of CrBr film, and their appearance is found closely related to the atomic lattice reconstruction near the edges. By increasing tunneling transmissivity, the zero-energy conductance peak quickly splits, while the pair of nonzero in-gap bound states first approach each other, merge, and then split again. These behaviors are unexpected for Majorana edge modes, but in consistent with the conventional Yu-Shiba-Rusinov states. Our results provide critical information for further understanding the interfacial coupling in CrBr /NbSe heterostructure.