Observation of half-quantum flux in the unconventional superconductor β-Bi<sub>2</sub>Pd.

Li, Yufan; Xu, Xiaoying; Lee, M-H; Chu, M-W; Chien, C L · Science · 2019

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Magnetic flux quantization is one of the defining properties of a superconductor. We report the observation of half-integer magnetic flux quantization in mesoscopic rings of superconducting β-Bi<sub>2</sub>Pd thin films. The half-quantum fluxoid manifests itself as a π phase shift in the quantum oscillation of the superconducting critical temperature. This result verifies unconventional superconductivity of β-Bi<sub>2</sub>Pd and is consistent with a spin-triplet pairing symmetry. Our findings may have implications for flux quantum bits in the context of quantum computing.