“3” Seems Special for Superconductivity
Novel phenomena in multi-component superconductors unfolded
The group headed by Dr. Xiao HU in MANA, NIMS has discovered novel phenomena in superconductors with more than three components. Multi-component superconductors, such as MgB2 and iron-pnictide materials, are expected to hold the key to realize room-temperature superconductivity. Because of inter-band repulsions induced by Coulomb interaction, the superconducting gap functions take different phases yielding a phase-frustrated state. Novel properties which cannot be observed in conventional superconductors emerge, i.e. the broken time-reversal symmetry, fractional Josephson effect and softening of the Leggett mode associated with the oscillation of relative phases. These features are available only in systems with more than three components, which reminds the word of the famous philosopher Laozi in ancient China “Out of Tao, One is born; Out of One, Two; Out of Two, Three; Out of Three, the created universe”. Applications of this novel state to high-accuracy SQUID and implementation of qubit are anticipated.
Further information
Publications/Affiliation
Shi-Zeng Lin1 and Xiao Hu1*, Massless Leggett Mode in Three-Band Superconductors with Time-Reversal-Symmetry Breaking", Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 177005 (2012)
- ISupermolecures Unit, International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
Contact information
International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics(WPI-MANA)
1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044 Japan
Email: Xiao Hu, Ph.D<Xiao HUnims.go.jp>
Telephone: +81-29-860-4897
Email: Xiao Hu, Ph.D<Xiao HUnims.go.jp>
Telephone: +81-29-860-4897