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研究的前沿，这不仅是因为它们具有不同寻常的物理性质，还因为它们有望在量子计算机和自旋电子元件等新一代电子设备中得到应用。这些材料的关键特征是电子结构的非平凡拓扑，这体现在材料的许多正常和超导性质上。特别令人感兴趣的是电子能带结构接近费米面的拓扑转变(Lifshitz转变)或包含Weyl或Dirac点或节线的材料。本项目的主要目的是研究非平凡的拓扑结构和Lifshitz相变附近对超导体物理性质的影响。本方案的中心是研究超导电性及其对称性，以及非平凡拓扑态在Weyl/Dirac半金属和拓扑绝缘体-常规超导体界面中的表现。为了实现这些目标，我们将采用实验和理论相结合的方法。该项目将由来自莫斯科和德累斯顿的一个国际小组进行，成员包括实验物理学家(列别捷夫物理研究所(LPI)，莫斯科)、固体和材料化学家、材料科学研究专家(固体物理和材料研究所(IFW)，德累斯顿)以及凝聚态理论专家(LPI和IFW)。有了这些免费的专业知识，拓扑半金属的化学和物理最热门的问题将被解决。该项目的结果将使人们更好地理解非平凡的电子拓扑对超导电性的影响。这一新颖的知识将为利用这种材料进行应用奠定基础。

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.