Topological superconducting phase in high-Tc superconductor MgB2 with Dirac–nodal-line fermions

Jin, Kyung-Hwan; Huang, Huaqing; Mei, Jia-Wei; Liu, Zheng; Lim, Lih-King; Liu, Feng

doi:10.1038/s41524-019-0191-2

Topological superconducting phase in high-Tc superconductor MgB2 with Dirac–nodal-line fermions

Journal Article · Fri May 03 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · npj Computational Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41524-019-0191-2· OSTI ID:1619636

; Huang, Huaqing; Mei, Jia-Wei; Liu, Zheng; Lim, Lih-King; Liu, Feng

Abstract

Topological superconductors are an intriguing and elusive quantum phase, characterized by topologically protected gapless surface/edge states residing in a bulk superconducting gap, which hosts Majorana fermions. Unfortunately, all currently known topological superconductors have a very low transition temperature, limiting experimental measurements of Majorana fermions. Here we discover the existence of a topological Dirac–nodal-line state in a well-known conventional high-temperature superconductor, MgB ₂ . First-principles calculations show that the Dirac–nodal-line structure exhibits a unique one-dimensional dispersive Dirac–nodal line, protected by both spatial-inversion and time-reversal symmetry, which connects the electron and hole Dirac states. Most importantly, we show that the topological superconducting phase can be realized with a conventional s -wave superconducting gap, evidenced by the topological edge mode of the MgB ₂ thin films showing chiral edge states. Our discovery may enable the experimental measurement of Majorana fermions at high temperature.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: NONE; FG02-04ER46148

OSTI ID:: 1619636

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1527343

Journal Information:: npj Computational Materials, Journal Name: npj Computational Materials Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 5; ISSN 2057-3960

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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