Topological Phase Transitions in Multicomponent Superconductors
Journal Article
·
· Physical Review Letters
- Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States). Inst. for Condensed Matter Theory, Dept. of Physics; MIT
- Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States). Dept. of Physics
We study the phase transition between a trivial and a time-reversal-invariant topological superconductor in a single-band system. By analyzing the interplay of symmetry, topology, and energetics, we show that for a generic normal state band structure, the phase transition occurs via extended intermediate phases in which even- and odd-parity pairing components coexist. For inversion-symmetric systems, the coexistence phase spontaneously breaks time-reversal symmetry. For noncentrosymmetric superconductors, the low-temperature intermediate phase is time-reversal breaking, while the high-temperature phase preserves time-reversal symmetry and has topologically protected line nodes. Furthermore, with approximate rotational invariance, the system has an emergent U (1) × U (1) symmetry, and novel topological defects, such as half vortex lines binding Majorana fermions, can exist. We analytically solve for the dispersion of the Majorana fermion and show that it exhibits small and large velocities at low and high energies. Finally, relevance of our theory to superconducting pyrochlore oxide Cd2Re2O7 and half-Heusler materials is discussed.
- Research Organization:
- Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0010526
- OSTI ID:
- 1505746
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1408182
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 18 Vol. 119; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
- Publisher:
- American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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