2021/11/04 by Weizheng Cao, Cao, Weizheng, Ningning Zhao +19
Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Antisymmetric relation #Band gap #Condensed matter physics #Dirac (video compression format) #FOS: Physical sciences #Fermion #Iron-based superconductors research #Mathematical physics #Pairing #Phase (matter) #Phase diagram #Physics #Point reflection #Quantum mechanics #Rare-earth and actinide compounds #Semimetal #Superconductivity #Superconductivity (cond-mat.supr-con) #Topological Materials and Phenomena #Topology (electrical circuits) #Weyl semimetal #cond-mat.supr-con
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2111.02882
15 pages, 5 figures, 1 table
arxiv created 2021/11/04 · openalex publication_date 2021/11/04 · arxiv updated 2021/11/05 · openalex created_date 2021/11/08 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
In topological materials, Dirac fermions can split into two Weyl fermions with opposite chiralities due to the breaking of space inversion symmetry, while in non-centrosymmetric superconductors, novel superconducting electron pairing mechanisms arise because of the antisymmetric spin-orbit coupling. In this work, we report the pressure-introduced superconductivity in a typical noncentrosymmetric Weyl semimetal LaAlX (X=Si and Ge). Superconductivity was observed at around 65 GPa without structural phase transition. A typical dome-shape phase diagram is obtained with the maximum Tc of 2.5 K (2.1 K) for LaAlSi (LaAlGe). Furthermore, the application of pressure does not destroy the nontrivial band topology of LaAlSi up to 80.4 GPa, making such materials as potential candidates for realizing topological superconductivity. Our discovery of superconductivity in LaAlX (X=Si and Ge) will provide critical insight in noncentrosymmetric superconductors and stimulate further study on superconductivity in Weyl semimetals.