Molecular Beam Epitaxy Growth and Properties of Strained Superconducting Half-Heusler LaPtBi Film, a Candidate Topological Superconductor

ORAL

Abstract

LaPtBi is a Half-Heusler compound which is recently predicted to exhibit multi-functionalities: the superconductivity and topological edge states, namely topological superconductor. LaPtBi has been shown to superconduct in the bulk. However, and importantly, its topological property can only be stimulated by applying substantial uniaxial strain. In this talk, we report the observation of superconductivity in MBE grown epitaxial non-centrosymmetric LaPtBi film on MgO (001). Transport measurement shows Tc(onset) at 0.7 K and an upper critical field (Bc2 (0)) of 2.1 T. By optimizing the growth parameters, a compressive uniaxial strain of 17% was introduced into the film. In such a strained LaPtBi film, the predicted topological non-trivial gap at Γ point is expected to emerge. Characterization of these strained films, including ARPES, will be presented. The realization of superconducting phase in the strained LaPtBi films is an important step, as a topological superconductor, to seek other predicted exotic properties such as Majorana.

*This work was supported by National Science Foundation (NSF-DMR 1700137), Office of Naval Research (N00014-16-1-2657), and Center for Integrated Quantum Materials (DMR-1231319)

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Presenters

  • Yunbo Ou

    • Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • Plasma Science and Fusion Center and Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory
    • Plasma Science and Fusion Center and Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • State Key Laboratory of Low Dimensional Quantum Physics, Department of Physics, Tsinghua University

Authors

  • Yunbo Ou

    • Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • Plasma Science and Fusion Center and Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory
    • Plasma Science and Fusion Center and Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • State Key Laboratory of Low Dimensional Quantum Physics, Department of Physics, Tsinghua University

  • Debaleena Nandi

    • Plasma Science and Fusion Center and Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Katie Huang

    • School of Applied Sciences and Engineering, Harvard University
    • Department of Physics, Harvard University

  • Cigdem Ozsoy-Keskinbora

    • School of Applied Sciences and Engineering, Harvard University
    • School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University
    • Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University

  • Stephan Kraemer

    • School of Applied Sciences and Engineering, Harvard University
    • Center for Nanoscale Systems, Harvard University

  • David Bell

    • Centre for Nanoscale Systems, Harvard University
    • School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University

  • Philip Kim

    • Department of Physics, Harvard University
    • Physics, Harvard University

  • Amir Yacoby

    • Department of Physics, Harvard University

  • Jagadeesh Moodera

    • Physics, MIT
    • Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • Department of Physics and Francis Bitter Magnet Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • Department of Physics and Francis Bitter Magnet Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
    • Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • MIT
    • Department of Physics, Massachussetts Institute of Technology