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Multi-component superconducting pairing and possible vestigial order in half-Heusler compounds

ORAL

Abstract

Various members of the half-Heusler family undergo a superconducting transition with a Tc ~1K.
Despite intense and controversial debate on the microscopic pairing symmetry, indications supporting an unconventional pairing mechanisms accumulate.
For each multi-component pairing state, we classify all possible ground states and decompose them according to the involved broken symmetries.
Moreover, we study the role of fluctuations. We demonstrate that---
despite being a cubic system---almost every pairing state can potentially stabilize a vestigial phase, i.e. where superconducting fluctuations condense in a long-range ordered state above Tc.
These insights can be used as a helpful tool to identify the pairing symmetry.

Presenters

  • Matthias Hecker

    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Authors

  • Matthias Hecker

    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

  • Roland Willa

    Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

  • Joerg Schmalian

    Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Theory of Condensed Matter, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Quantum Materials and Technologies, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany