Exciton-Enhanced Superconductivity in Monolayer Films of Aluminum

TL;DR

This paper proposes that exciton mechanisms could explain the enhanced superconductivity observed in monolayer aluminum films, potentially leading to higher critical temperatures than phonon-based mechanisms.

Contribution

It introduces the exciton mechanism as a novel explanation for superconductivity enhancement in monolayer superconductor-semiconductor structures.

Findings

Theoretical analysis suggests excitons can induce Cooper pairing in monolayer aluminum.

Comparison with experimental data supports exciton-induced superconductivity in thin films.

Potential for higher critical temperatures than traditional phonon-mediated superconductivity.

Abstract

The BCS theory has achieved widespread success in describing conventional superconductivity. However, when the length scale reaches the atomic limit, the reduced dimensionality may lead to the quantum breakdown resulting in unpredictable superconducting behaviors. It has been exper imentally evidenced that the critical temperature is strongly enhanced in the monolayer films of FeSe/STO and epitaxial Aluminum. Here, we propose the exciton mechanism of superconductivity as a possible reason for the enhanced superconductivity in hybrid superconductor-semiconductor structures. The exciton-induced Cooper pairing may lead to the larger energy gaps and higher critical temperatures as compared to those caused by the phonon induced superconductivity. A detailed comparison of the theory and experimental results of Ref. 1 reveals the possibility of exciton-induced superconductivity in thin films of Aluminum near the monolayer limit.