Andreev reflection in Topological Semimetals

Supervisor: Francesco Buccheri
Topological materials are special classes of superconductors, insulators or 
semimetals, identified by their band structure and their protected surface 
states. The recently-discovered topological Weyl and Dirac semimetals, in 
particular, are object of huge interest in the scientific community because of 
their high carrier mobility and the characteristic responses to electric and 
magnetic fields, which follow from their band structure.
Several phenomena take place at interfaces between topological Weyl semimetals 
and other types of materials, which are especially relevant for technological 
applications, where the semimetal must be necessarily embedded within a 
heterostructure. Using Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Field Theory, the student 
will conduct a theoretical study of a Weyl semimetal-superconductor interface, 
with focus on the transfer of charge through the process of Andreev