Let there be topological superconductors

Jul. 07 (Thu.) 2PM, #1323(E6-2. 1st fl.)
Dr. Eun Ah Kim, CORNELL UNIV.

Superconductivity research has traditionally been discovery driven. Of course $T_c$ is a non-universal quantity that cannot be predicted, hence off-limits to theorists. Nevertheless, it must be possible to reach intelligent predictions for superconductors that are interesting for reasons other than high $T_c$ per se. In this talk I will present our recent results proposing two different platforms for topological superconductivity: p-doped transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD’s) and quantum spin-ice/metal heterostructure. For the p-doped TMD’s the strategy is to break the spin-degeneracy in momentum space. For the quantum spin-ice/metal the strategy is to let the emergent gauge field of quantum spin-ice mediate pairing in the metallic layer. I will close the talk with experimental implications and prospects for realizing the proposed topological superconductors.

Contact: Eun Gook Moon, Physics Dept., (egmoon@kaist.ac.kr)