Superconducting Interfaces between Weyl Semimetal and Normal Metal. Issue 8 (27th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhu, Wenliang; Wang, Yiyan; Li, Jing; Huang, Yifei; Dong, Qingxin; Hou, Xingyuan; Zhao, Lingxiao; Zhang, Shuai; Yang, Huaixin; Ren, Zhian; Shan, Lei; Chen, Genfu
• Is Part Of: Advanced quantum technologies. Volume 3:Issue 8(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-05-27
• Subjects: heterostructures -- interface superconductivity -- point‐contact spectroscopy -- topological materials -- Weyl semimetals; Quantum theory -- Periodicals; Quantum computing -- Periodicals; Quantum chemistry -- Periodicals; Quantum electronics -- Periodicals; 537.5
• DOI: 10.1002/qute.202000020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2511-9044

Abstract

Abstract: Interfaces between materials with different crystal structures and electronic properties offer an approach for creating and controlling novel quantum states of matter, in which inversion symmetry breaking and other effects at the boundaries may introduce additional electronic states. Here the observation of superconductivity at ≈3 K at the interface of the Weyl semimetal TaAs and the normal metal Ag is reported, as evidenced by soft‐point‐contact spectroscopy and the standard four‐probe resistance measurements. This is different from the previous reports on interface superconductivity based on the materials that are known to be superconducting in bulk; here both TaAs and Ag are not superconducting even via chemical doping or application of high pressure. The topologically nontrivial band structure of TaAs is considered to play a crucial role in this system and an unconventional Cooper pairing would be expected. This finding opens up a new route for the realization and study of the possible topological superconductivity. Abstract : Interface superconductivity is realized in the topological semimetal TaAs/Ag heterostructure. It is found that this interface superconductivity based on the topologically nontrivial band structure of the Weyl semimetal TaAs may host an unconventional Cooper pairing. The results provide a promising candidate for exploring topological superconductivity and designing novel topological quantum devices.