Superconductivity in topologically nontrivial material Au 2 Pb

Researchers in China have uncovered evidence for a new type of superconductivity in an old alloy. Jian Wang from Peking University and co-workers measured the superconducting properties of gold-lead (Au2Pb) and observed what could be an unusual effect known as topological superconductivity–superconductivity that arises due to a particular electronic structure. The researchers measured the low temperature resistivity of a single crystal of Au2Pb and confirmed that it is a superconductor. Simulations indicated that its superconductivity arises from its electronic structure, which has a nontrivial topological arrangement. Superconducting materials enable ultrasensitive sensors of magnetic fields and powerful magnets, but they usually exhibit their unusual properties only at low temperatures. Materials that exhibit superconductivity in new and unusual ways are of interest because they may open the door for ways to circumvent these limitations.