High-spin superconductivity in topological half-Heusler semimetals

Invited

Abstract

In all known fermionic superfluids, Cooper pairs are composed of spin-1/2 quasi-particles that
pair to form either spin-singlet or spin-triplet bound states. The "spin" of a Bloch electron, however, is fixed by the
symmetries of the crystal and the atomic orbitals from which it is derived, and in some cases can behave as if it were
a spin-3/2 particle. The superconducting state of such a system allows pairing states to form "beyond triplet", with
higher spin quasi-particles combining to form quintet or even septet pairs. I will present evidence for the first experimentally realized case of a high-spin fermionic superfluid in the exotic superconducting state of the half-Heusler compound YPtBi, as well as the rich
landscape of ground states and intertwined orders found in the X-Y-Z family of materials.

Presenters

  • Johnpierre Paglione

    Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials , University of Maryland, CNAM, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, Univ of Maryland-College Park, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, CNAM, Department of Physics, Univ of Maryland-College Park, Univ of Maryland - College Park, College Park, MD 20742-4111, Univ of Maryland-College Park, Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, University of Maryland, University of Maryland, College Park, University of Maryland

Authors

  • Johnpierre Paglione

    Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials , University of Maryland, CNAM, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, Univ of Maryland-College Park, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, CNAM, Department of Physics, Univ of Maryland-College Park, Univ of Maryland - College Park, College Park, MD 20742-4111, Univ of Maryland-College Park, Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, Department of Physics, University of Maryland, Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, University of Maryland, University of Maryland, College Park, University of Maryland