Superconductivity and topological aspects of the rocksalt carbides NbC and TaC
Tian Shang, Jianzhou Zhao, Dariusz Jakub Gawryluk, M. Shi, M. Medarde, E. Pomjakushina, T. Shiroka
Abstract
Superconducting materials with a nontrivial band structure are promising candidates in the search for topological superconductivity. The rocksalt carbides NbC and TaC are two fully gapped superconductors with relatively high critical temperatures (${T}_{c}$ = 11.0 and 10.3 K, respectively). They exhibit three closed node lines in the bulk band structure protected by time-reversal and space-inversion symmetry. By combining muon spin rotation and relaxation investigations with theoretical calculations, the authors demonstrate that rocksalt NbC is a potential topological superconductor.
Topics & Concepts
SuperconductivityMuon spin spectroscopyCondensed matter physicsTopology (electrical circuits)CarbidePhysicsPoint reflectionSymmetry (geometry)Materials scienceGeometryMathematicsCombinatoricsComposite materialTopological Materials and PhenomenaIron-based superconductors researchRare-earth and actinide compounds