Exploring unconventional pairing symmetry in topological materials and novel doped two-dimensional superconductors

该奖项来自材料研究部的凝聚态物理计划，支持位于厄巴纳尚潘的印第安纳州大学的一个项目，以确定奇异超导体背后的基本机制。这些材料表现出零电阻，但其性质知之甚少。这项工作将解决目前关于奇异超导体性质的争议，并揭示新的物理学，从而为在应用中利用奇异超导体奠定基础。该研究的合作结构将为培训本科生和研究生提供一个丰富的环境，在广泛的纳米技术相关的工作。将通过开发与拟议研究直接相关的课程，并通过针对妇女和代表性不足的少数群体的与研究有关的研讨会和讲习班，进一步整合教育方面的内容。其目的是获得对复杂超导系统的关键见解，并为在设备中利用新型激励模式奠定基础。重点将放在新类别的材料，其超导性可能是非常规的，但其配对对称性尚未得到验证，其输运知之甚少：具体而言，邻近耦合拓扑绝缘体（可能是复杂的p波），拓扑超导体（可能是复杂的p波）和掺杂的二硫属化物（未知对称性）。一套互补的实验技术将用于最佳探测超导性，包括：相敏约瑟夫森干涉仪，隧道光谱，低温传输，纳米图案的邻近耦合，以及强化学或离子掺杂。这项工作将解决有关奇异超导体的序参数对称性的争议，并揭示新的物理，如超导拓扑系统中Majorana模式的存在或掺杂MoS2中圆顶形超导相图的性质。该研究的合作结构将为培训本科生和研究生提供一个丰富的环境，在广泛的纳米技术相关的工作。将通过编制与拟议的研究直接有关的课程，并通过针对妇女和代表人数不足的少数群体的与研究有关的研讨会和讲习班，进一步纳入教育方面。

NON-TECHNICALThis award from the Condensed Matter Physics program of the Division of Materials Research supports the University of Indiana at Urbana Champaign with a project to determine the fundamental mechanisms behind exotic superconductors. These are materials that exhibit zero electrical resistance, but whose properties are poorly understood. This work will resolve current controversies regarding the properties of exotic superconductors and reveal new physics, thereby laying the groundwork for utilizing exotic superconductors in applications. The collaborative structure of the research will provide a rich environment for training undergraduates and graduate students in a broad spectrum of nanotechnology-related work. Educational aspects will be further integrated through the development of courses directly related to the proposed research and through research-related seminars and workshops that target women and underrepresented minorities.TECHNICALThe goal of this project is to determine the symmetry and transport properties of superconducting materials suspected of exhibiting unconventional pairing symmetry. The aim is to both gain key insight into complex superconducting systems and also to lay the groundwork for utilizing novel excitation modes in devices. The focus will be on new classes of materials whose superconductivity is likely to be unconventional, but whose pairing symmetry has not been verified and whose transport is poorly understood: specifically, proximity-coupled topological insulators (possibly complex p-wave), topological superconductors (possibly complex p-wave), and doped dichalcogenides (unknown symmetry). A suite of complementary experimental techniques will be used to optimally probe superconductivity, including: phase-sensitive Josephson interferometery, tunneling spectroscopy, low-temperature transport, nano-patterned proximity-coupling, and strong chemical or ionic doping. This work will resolve controversies regarding the order parameter symmetry of exotic superconductors and reveal new physics, such as the existence of Majorana modes in superconducting topological systems or the nature of the dome-shaped superconducting phase diagram in doped MoS2. The collaborative structure of the research will provide a rich environment for training undergraduates and graduate students in a broad spectrum of nanotechnology-related work. Educational aspects will be further integrated through the development of courses directly related to the proposed research and through research-related seminars and workshops that target women and underrepresented minorities.