Exploration of novel superconducting states in transition metal compounds with a honeycomb structure

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K03748
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 13030:Magnetism, superconductivity and strongly correlated systems-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University (2020-2021); Okayama University (2019)
• Principal Investigator: Kazutaka Kudo 大阪大学, 理学研究科, 教授 (40361175)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 新奇超伝導状態 / ハニカムネットワーク

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the superconducting state of compounds with a honeycomb network, we observed an increase in the muon spin relaxation rate that suggests a spontaneous magnetic field. The increase disappeared with impurity doping. These cannot be explained by conventional superconducting states. In honeycomb networks, the emergence of exotic superconducting states has been predicted based on the symmetry. Detailed consideration on superconducting electron pairs is currently underway along with the in-depth analysis. Furthermore, we explored superconductors with Kagome and triangular networks, which are expected to exhibit exotic superconductivity as well as honeycomb networks based on their symmetry, and discovered several new superconductors.

Free Research Field

固体物理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

原子ネットワークの対称性に着目して系統的に超伝導物質開発を行い、新奇超伝導状態を探索したことに本研究の意義がある。当初から着目していたハニカムネットワークだけでなく、三角形ネットワーク、カゴメネットワークへと研究対象が広がり、より普遍的な知見を得るための研究へと発展させる準備が整った。