New phenomena in superconductors

Superconductivity is one of the most striking examples where even weak interactions can qualitatively change the properties of an electronic system. It has been known to occur in many metals and alloys for over a century, and the basic mechanisms have been well understood for many decades. Despite the maturity of this field, newly synthesized materials continue to throw up surprises that defy the established framework. Examples of the former include systems with very low electron density or strong spin-orbit coupling. The intertwinement of spatial translations and spin rotations can lead to a variety of different ground states, including topological superconductors. In addition, even cases where the superconducting phase conforms to expectations exhibit poorly understood behavior when driven near a quantum critical point. Our group's interest in superconducting phenomena encompasses all these areas.

 

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