Superconductivity Induced by High Pressure in Weyl Semimetal TaP

TL;DR

This study reports the induction of superconductivity in the Weyl semimetal TaP under high pressure, revealing a new pathway to explore quantum states in topological materials.

Contribution

It demonstrates pressure-induced superconductivity in TaP and provides experimental and theoretical insights into the structural and electronic changes involved.

Findings

Superconductivity appears at about 70 GPa in TaP.

Superconductivity persists after releasing pressure.

Structural transition at high pressure supports superconductivity.

Abstract

Weyl semimetal defines a material with three dimensional Dirac cones which appear in pair due to the breaking of spatial inversion or time reversal symmetry. Superconductivity is the state of quantum condensation of paired electrons. Turning a Weyl semimetal into superconducting state is very important in having some unprecedented discoveries. In this work, by doing resistive measurements on a recently recognized Weyl semimetal TaP under pressure up to about 100 GPa, we observe superconductivity at about 70 GPa. The superconductivity retains when the pressure is released. The systematic evolutions of resistivity and magnetoresistance with pressure are well interpreted by the relative shift between the chemical potential and paired Weyl points. Calculations based on the density functional theory also illustrate the structure transition at about 70GPa, the phase at higher pressure may host superconductivity. Our discovery of superconductivity in TaP by pressure will stimulate further study on superconductivity in Weyl semimetals.