Paramagnetic instability of small topological superconductors

Abstract

Although the diamagnetism is of the essence in the superconducting phenomena, small enough topological (or unconventional) superconductors are paramagnetic. By solving the quasiclassical Eilenberger equation and the Maxwell equation self-consistently in two-dimensional disks, we theoretically study the response of small superconductors to weak magnetic field. Because of the topologically nontrivial character of the wave function, the unconventional superconductor hosts the zero-energy surface Andreev bound states which always accompany the odd-frequency Cooper pairs. The paramagnetic property of the odd-frequency pairs explains the unusual Meissner effect at low temperature.