Equal-spin pairing at finite Cooper-pair momentum in $p$-wave magnets

Abstract

The realization of Fulde-Ferrell (FF) superconducting states has long been pursued but remains challenging because of the large Zeeman splitting required. Here, we demonstrate that $p$-wave magnets can host equal-spin finite-pair-momentum states with $p$-wave symmetry, termed FF states, at arbitrarily weak fields. Our Bogoliubov-de Gennes analysis shows that, owing to the displacement of the Fermi surface, two equal-spin electrons in the FF states pair at the same energy, just as in the opposite-spin zero-pair-momentum states of the same gap symmetry. At zero field, the FF states are therefore exactly degenerate with these zero-pair-momentum counterparts. An arbitrarily weak Zeeman field lifts this degeneracy and makes the FF states the superconducting ground state, since they remain stable owing to their equal-spin nature, whereas their counterparts are suppressed by the formation of Bogoliubov Fermi surfaces. These findings identify the fermiology of $p$-wave magnets as a promising route toward long-sought finite-momentum superconductivity.