Unraveling the Topological Superconductivity of FeTeSe

非技术描述：这个项目将回答关于一类新的拓扑系统的性质的基本问题。重点是FeTeSe，其中新的状态被认为是从拓扑结构和超导性的结合中出现的。量子材料的这一新方向预示着对量子特性的探索。尽管如此，它也提出了一个持续的挑战，在凝聚态，直接解决这个建议，如何唯一地确定紧急状态的拓扑性质。拟议的实验将直接通过研究自旋轨道耦合、带宽、接触特性、对称性、超导和拓扑顺序的作用来解决这一挑战。该提案包括通过林奇教育学院的城市学校科学教育者计划向K-12提供有关2D材料和拓扑结构的信息;通过Skype科学家计划直接与K-12交谈;通过与BC的McNair和Women in Science and Technology计划合作，增加女性，第一代和代表性不足的少数民族的参与。技术描述：由希尔伯特空间中的不变量定义的物质的拓扑相是识别和探索的挑战。这些通常通过批量边界对应证明，其中的非平凡拓扑产生新的模式。对于超导体中出现的拓扑相，边界模式的非平凡性质具有挑战性，难以通过实验揭示。这些模式也为未来拓扑量子计算中的受保护量子比特提供了可能。有越来越多的证据表明，这种模式在超导状态的FeTeSe。该项目的基础上，主要研究人员的最近的结果，建议在FeTeSe的拓扑边界模式。为了理解与批量订单的关系，系统的实验将探索发生这种情况的设备配置和材料参数。此外，拟议的实验有助于让高中和本科阶段的不同参与者参与对提高他们在STEM中的代表性至关重要的前沿课题和技术。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

Non-technical description: This project will answer fundamental questions about the properties of a new class of topological systems. The focus is on FeTeSe, where the novel state is believed to emerge from the combination of topology and superconductivity. This new direction in quantum materials promises an exploration of quantum properties. Nonetheless, it also raises an ongoing challenge in condensed matter, directly addressed by this proposal, how to uniquely identify the topological nature of emergent states. Proposed experiments will address this challenge directly by looking at the role of spin-orbit coupling, bandwidth, contact properties, symmetry, superconducting and topological order. The proposal includes informing K-12 about 2D materials and topology via the Lynch School of Education's Science Educators for Urban Schools program; talking directly to K-12 via the Skype a Scientist program; increasing participation of women, first-generation and underrepresented minorities by partnering with BC's McNair, and the Women in Science and Technology programs.Technical description: Topological phases of matter, defined by an invariant in Hilbert space, are challenging to identify and probe. These are typically demonstrated via the bulk-boundary correspondence wherein the nontrivial topology produces new modes. For topological phases emerging in superconductors, the non-trivial nature of the boundary modes is challenging to reveal experimentally. These modes also hold the potential for future protected quantum bits in topological quantum computation. There is mounting evidence for such modes in the superconducting state of FeTeSe. This project builds on the principle investigator’s recent results suggesting a topological boundary mode in FeTeSe. To understand the relationship to the bulk order, systematic experiments will explore the device configurations and material parameters over which this occurs. In addition, the proposed experiments lend themselves to involving a diverse group of participants at the high school and undergraduate level in cutting-edge topics and techniques crucial to improving their representation in STEM.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.