Superconducting pairing symmetry in MoTe${}_2$

Abstract

Topological superconductors have long been sought for their potential use in quantum computing. The type-II Weyl semimetal MoTe${}_2$ is an obvious candidate, exhibiting a superconducting state below 500 mK at ambient pressure, but the question remains whether the pairing is conventional $s^{++}$ or topological $s^{+-}$. The application of external pressure favors the superconducting state in MoTe${}_2$ and suppresses the structural transition from $1T^{\prime }$ to $T_d$. The competition between the two structures leads to a mixed phase that strongly enhances the disorder present in the system, remarkably without affecting the superconducting transition temperature, in contrast to the expectation of $s^{+-}$ pairing superconductivity. Our thorough analysis of the electrical and Hall resistivities as a function of pressure yields the most accurate temperature-pressure phase diagram available to date for MoTe${}_2$ and a detailed view of the relationship between disorder and superconductivity, supporting a conventional $s^{++}$ pairing symmetry.

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