Priority Program 1458

 

High-Temperature Superconductivity in Iron Pnictides

Superconductivity: Materials and Mechanisms

The discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in FeAs compounds has attracted worldwide attention and triggered an enormous amount of research activities in both solid state physics and solid state chemistry.

This interest is due to

  1. the large transition temperatures up to 55 K,
  2. the very rich physical properties which exhibit an interesting interplay between crystal structure, magnetism, and superconductivity,
  3. the large diversity of materials in this new class of high-temperature superconductors, and
  4. the potential of technical applications of these intermetallic compounds.

Objectives

The priority program seeks to investigate the “materials and mechanisms” of FeAs high-temperature superconductivity. With a systematic materials investigations we aim to synthesize high-quality samples of known materials as well as to search for new superconducting compositions.

Combining experimental and theoretical investigations we study the basic physical properties of pnictides and, in particular, explore the mechanisms of this new class of high-temperature superconductors.

Combining Materials Optimization and Basic Research

An important aspect of the research initiative will be the close interdisciplinary collaboration between chemists and physicists, i.e. the interaction between materials optimization and fundamental research.

The groups working in chemistry and/or materials science will establish new systems and optimize the quality of samples.

Thorough characterization of physical properties as well as well as theoretical modelling performed by groups working in theoretical and/or experimental physics will not only give insights into the fundamental properties of  pnictides, but also provide important suggestions as to the optimization and new directions in synthesizing work.

Spokespersons

Spokesperson of the Priority Program is Professor Bernd Büchner of TU Dresden.

Deputy Spokespersons are Dr. Rudi Hackl, Walther-Meißner-Institut, Garching; Professor Carsten Honerkamp, RWTH Aachen University; and Professor Dirk Johrendt, LMU München.