Electronic Structure and Properties of SrAlGe and BaAlGe

Abstract

The electronic structures of BaAlGe and SrAlGe which are superconductors with hexagonal honeycomb layers have been studied by using a first principles method. Energy bands, Fermi surafces, and density of states are presented. The two materials have topologically different Fermi surfaces. BaAlGe has two Fermi surfaces: One has a three dimensional spinning-top-like shape and the other has a cylindrical shape with two dimensional character. SrAlGe has only one connected Fermi surface. Two gap superconductivity for BaAlGe is suggested from the inherently different character of the two Fermi surfaces. The higher $T_c$ of SrAlGe than BaAlGe is related to the difference in both the topology of the Fermi surface and the band dispersions along the $z$ direction.