The noncentrosymmetric Half Heusler compound YPtBi exhibits superconductivity below a critical temperature T_c = 0.77 K with a zero-temperature upper critical field H_c2(0) = 1.5 T. Magnetoresistance and Hall measurements support theoretical predictions that this material is a topologically nontrivial semimetal having a surprisingly low positive charge carrier density of 2 x 10^18 cm^-3. Unconventional linear magnetoresistance and beating in Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations point to spin-orbit split Fermi surfaces. The sensitivity of magnetoresistance to surface roughness suggests a possible contribution from surface states. The combination of noncentrosymmetry and strong spin-orbit coupling in YPtBi presents a promising platform for the investigation of topological superconductivity.
@article{arxiv.1109.0979,
title = {Superconductivity in the topological semimetal YPtBi},
author = {Nicholas P. Butch and P. Syers and Kevin Kirshenbaum and Andrew P. Hope and Johnpierre Paglione},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1109.0979},
year = {2011}
}
Comments
4 pgs, 4 figs added magnetic susceptibility data, clarified figures & text