Beyond Triplet: Unconventional High-Spin Superconductivity in a Topological Semimetal

Thursday, December 8, 2016 — 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM EST

Dr. Johnpierre Paglione

Professor
Department of Physics,
University of Maryland

Dr. Johnpierre Paglione directs a research group in the Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials at the University of Maryland. His team has contributed to several fields of condensed matter research through both single-crystal synthesis of superconducting, quantum-critical and topological materials, as well as exploration of novel phenomena. He is a leader in the field of quantum criticality and has made important contributions to the fields of heavy-fermion materials and the quasiparticle picture of correlated materials. Dr. Paglione has more recently pursued several new areas of research including iron-based high-temperature superconductivity and topological insulators and superconductors.

>> learn more about Dr. Paglione's research

Abstract

In all known fermionic superfluids, Cooper pairs are composed of spin-1/2 quasi-particles that pair to form either spin-singlet or spin-triplet bound states. The "spin" of a Bloch electron, however, is fixed by the symmetries of the crystal and the atomic orbitals from which it is derived, and in some cases can behave as if it were a spin-3/2 particle. The superconducting state of such a system allows pairing states to form "beyond triplet", with higher spin quasi-particles combining to form quintet or even septet pairs. After reviewing our research program on quantum materials, I will focus on our evidence for the first experimentally realized case of a high-spin fermionic superfluid in the exotic superconducting state of the half-Heusler compound YPtBi, as well as the rich landscape of ground states and intertwining orders found in the X-Y-Z family of materials.

All are welcome to attend. Please join us at 3:30pm in PHY 151 for light refreshments.

Location

PHY - Physics

150
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1
Canada

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