Observation of half-quantum flux in the unconventional superconductor β-Bi ₂ Pd

Journal Article · 10 October 2019 · Science

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aau6539 · OSTI ID:1570502

Li, Yufan  ^[1]; Xu, Xiaoying  ^[1]; Lee, M. -H. ^[2]; Chu, M. -W. ^[2]; Chien, C. L.  ^[3]

---

1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
2. Center for Condensed Matter Sciences and Center of Atomic Initiative for New Materials, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
3. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA., Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11519, Taiwan., Department of Physics, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.

Magnetic flux quantization is one of the defining properties of a superconductor. We report the observation of half-integer magnetic flux quantization in mesoscopic rings of superconducting β-Bi ₂ Pd thin films. The half-quantum fluxoid manifests itself as a π phase shift in the quantum oscillation of the superconducting critical temperature. This result verifies unconventional superconductivity of β-Bi ₂ Pd and is consistent with a spin-triplet pairing symmetry. Our findings may have implications for flux quantum bits in the context of quantum computing.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0009390
• OSTI ID: 1570502
• Journal Information: Science, Journal Name: Science Journal Issue: 6462 Vol. 366; ISSN 0036-8075
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English