Observation of half-quantum flux in the unconventional superconductor b-Bi2Pd
Journal
Science
Journal Volume
366
Journal Issue
6462
Pages
238-241
Date Issued
2019
Author(s)
Abstract
Unconventional oscillations At sufficiently low temperatures, superconductors expel an applied magnetic field. However, if the topology of the superconductor is nontrivial—for example, if there is a hole in the sample—there can be a nonzero magnetic flux inside the hole. This flux can only take certain discrete values, and the superconducting critical temperature has maxima at the corresponding values of the magnetic field. Li et al. studied these so-called Little-Parks oscillations in superconducting rings made out of polycrystalline thin films of β-Bi 2 Pd. They found that the phase of the oscillations was shifted by π compared with oscillations observed in most superconductors, as predicted for certain unconventional pairing symmetries. Science , this issue p. 238
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Type
journal article