Topological superconductivity in metal/quantum-spin-ice heterostructures

Abstract

We propose a strategy to achieve an unconventional superconductor in a heterostructure: use a quantum paramagnet (QPM) as a substrate for heterostructure growth of metallic films to design exotic superconductors. The proposed setup allows us to “customize” electron–electron interaction imprinted on the metallic layer. The QPM material of our choice is quantum spin ice. Assuming the metallic layer forms a single isotropic Fermi pocket, we predict its coupling to spin fluctuations in quantum spin ice will drive topological odd-parity pairing. We further present guiding principles for materializing the suitable heterostructure using ab initio calculations and describe the band structure we predict for the case of Y2Sn2−xSbxO7 grown on the (111) surface of Pr2Zr2O7. Using this microscopic information, we predict topological odd-parity superconductivity at a few Kelvin in this heterostructure, which is comparable to the Tc of the only other confirmed odd-parity superconductor Sr2RuO4.