Würzburg ToCoTronics Colloquium

Spin-orbit coupling (SOC) is a driving force behind the emergence of novel quantum phenomena. Among these, superconductivity is particularly exciting due to its potential to form unconventional superconducting states that challenge conventional theories. The perovskite KTaO3, with its inherently strong SOC, has recently gained attention as a promising material platform for exploring these phenomena. However, achieving precise control over interfacial electronic states to realize a conductive layer in KTaO3 remains a significant challenge.

In this work, we present out recent progress on epitaxially grown KTaO3-based heterostructures, with a focus on the LaTiO3-KTaO3 (110) interface[1]. Our findings reveal a systematic emergence of superconductivity in these structures. We demonstrate that the superconducting state, signaling unconventional Cooper pairing, can be tuned by electric and magnetic fields. This study sheds light on the interplay between superconductivity and SOC in low-dimensional systems, contributing to the broader understanding of quantum materials with strong spin-orbit interaction.

[1] D. Maryenko et al., APL Materials 11, 61102 (2023).