Superconductivity from the Condensation of Topological Defects in a Quantum Spin-Hall Insulator

Understand

The discovery that spin-orbit coupling can generate a new state of matter in the form of quantum spin-Hall (QSH) insulators has brought topology to the forefront of condensed matter physics.

• While QSH states from spin-orbit coupling can be fully understood in terms of band theory, fascinating many-body effects are expected if the state instead results from interaction-generated symmetry breaking.
• In particular, topological defects of the corresponding order parameter provide a route to exotic quantum phase transitions.
• Here, we introduce a model in which the condensation of skyrmion defects in an interaction-generated QSH insulator produces a superconducting (SC) phase.