Band-edge superconductivity

Abstract

We show that superconductivity can arise in semiconductors with a band in the shape of a Mexican hat when the chemical potential is tuned close to the band edge, but not intersecting the band, as long as interactions are sufficiently strong. Hence, this is an example where superconductivity can emerge from a band insulator when interactions exceed a threshold. Semiconductors with simple cubic symmetry point groups and with strong spin-orbit coupling provide an example of a system with such band dispersion.