Impact of the non-trivial band structure topology on the properties of superconductors

如今，拓扑半金属和绝缘体处于凝聚态物理学研究的最前沿，不仅因为它们不寻常的物理特性，还因为它们在新一代电子学中的预期应用，如量子计算机和自旋电子学元件。这些材料的关键特征是电子结构的非平凡拓扑结构，这体现在材料的许多正常和超导性质中。特别令人感兴趣的是材料，其电子能带结构接近费米表面的拓扑转变（Lifshitz转变）或包含Weyl或Dirac点或节线。本项目的主要目标是研究非平凡拓扑结构和附近的Lifshitz转变对超导体的物理性质的影响。 本方案的中心点是研究Weyl/Dirac半金属和拓扑绝缘体-常规超导体界面的超导电性、超导电性的对称性和非平凡拓扑态的表现。为了实现这一目标，实验和理论的方法将被应用。该项目将由来自莫斯科和德累斯顿的国际团队进行，其中包括实验物理学家（Lebedev物理研究所（LPI），莫斯科），固态和材料化学家，材料科学研究专家（固态物理和材料研究所（IFW），德累斯顿）以及凝聚态理论专家（LPI和IFW）。凭借这些互补的专业知识，拓扑半金属的化学和物理的最热门问题将得到解决。该项目的结果将提供对非平凡电子拓扑对超导性的影响的更好理解。这一新的知识将为利用这些材料的应用奠定基础。

Nowadays, topological semimetals and insulators are at the forefront of research in condensed matter physics, not only because of their unusual physical properties but also due to anticipated applications in a new generation of electronics like quantum computers and elements of spintronics. The key feature of these materials is a nontrivial topology of the electronic structure, which manifests itself in many normal and superconducting properties of the materials. Especially interesting are materials, which electronic band structure is close to a topological transition of the Fermi surfaces (Lifshitz transition) or contains Weyl or Dirac points or nodal lines. The main goal of the present project is to investigate the effect of the nontrivial topology and vicinity of the Lifshitz transition on the physical properties of superconductors. The central point of the present proposal is investigation of the superconductivity, its symmetry and manifestation of the nontrivial topological states in Weyl/Dirac semimetals and interfaces of topological insulator – conventional superconductor. To achieve the goals both experimental and theoretical methods will be applied. The project will be conducted by an international team from Moscow and Dresden which includes experimental physicists (Lebedev Physical Institute (LPI), Moscow), solid state and materials chemists, experts in material science research (Institute for Solid State Physics and Material Research (IFW), Dresden) as well as experts in condensed matter theory (both LPI and IFW). With this complimentary expertise, the hottest questions of the chemistry and physics of topological semimetals will be addressed.The results of the project will provide a better understanding of the impact of nontrivial electronic topology on superconductivity. This novel knowledge will create a basis for utilizing such materials for applications.