Photoemission Spectroscopic Evidence of Multiple Dirac Cones in Superconducting BaSn$_3$

The signatures of topological superconductivity (TSC) in the superconducting materials with topological nontrivial states prompt intensive researches recently. Utilizing high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and first-principles calculations, we demonstrate multiple Dirac fermions and surface states in superconductor BaSn$_3$ with a critical transition temperature of about 4.4 K. We predict and then unveil the existence of two pairs of type-uppercaseexpandafter{romannumeral1} topological Dirac fermions residing on the rotational axis. Type-uppercaseexpandafter{romannumeral2} Dirac fermions protected by screw axis are confirmed in the same compound. Further calculation for the spin helical texture of the observed surface states originating from the Dirac fermions give an opportunity for realization of TSC in one single material. Hosting multiple Dirac fermions and topological surface states, the intrinsic superconductor BaSn$_3$ is expected to be a new platform for further investigation of the topological quantum materials as well as TSC.

Pressure-induced superconductivity and topological phase transitions in the topological nodal-line semimetal SrAs3

Topological nodal-line semimetals (TNLSMs) are materials whose conduction and valence bands cross each other, meeting a topologically-protected closed loop rather than discrete points in the Brillouin zone (BZ). The anticipated properties for TNLSMs include drumhead-like nearly flat surface states, unique Landau energy levels, special collective modes, long-range Coulomb interactions, or the possibility of realizing high-temperature superconductivity. Recently, SrAs3 has been theoretically proposed and then experimentally confirmed to be a TNLSM. Here, we report high-pressure experiments on SrAs3, identifying a Lifshitz transition below 1 GPa and a superconducting transition accompanied by a structural phase transition above 20 GPa. A topological crystalline insulator (TCI) state is revealed by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculations on the emergent high-pressure phase. As the counterpart of topological insulators, TCIs possess metallic boundary states protected by crystal symmetry, rather than time reversal. In consideration of topological surface states (TSSs) and helical spin texture observed in the high-pressure state of SrAs3, the superconducting state may be induced in the surface states, and is most likely topologically nontrivial, making pressurized SrAs3 a strong candidate for topological superconductor.