arXiv subjects

Chihao Li

Publications and source records attributed to Chihao Li.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A Disconnected Superconducting Regime at the Parent Limit of Infinite-Layer Nickelates

Infinite-layer nickelates have been widely viewed as cuprate analogs in which superconductivity emerges and forms a superconducting dome centered around 10-20% cation substitution. Here we show that pristine and stoichiometric PrNiO2, without cation substitution, exhibits intrinsic superconductivity characterized by zero resistance and diamagnetism in uncapped films. Through heterostructure engineering, we further exclude an interfacial origin of the superconductivity. Remarkably, zero-resistance superconductivity is consistently observed in trivalent-substituted PrNiO2, whereas it is rapidly suppressed by dilute divalent substitution. Combined with angle-resolved photoemission studies, these results indicate that such a new superconducting regime is confined to within 3% additional hole doping from pristine PrNiO2. Furthermore, this phase is separated from the previously established superconducting dome around ~ 20% divalent doping by a non-superconducting region in the phase diagram, and is further distinguished by a remarkably stronger upper-critical-field anisotropy. These findings establish a unique separated superconducting regime, suggesting that infinite-layer nickelates are not merely cuprate analogs but host distinct superconducting physics.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2026

Marginal-Fermi-Liquid-like Behavior without Pseudogap in Infinite-Layer Nickelates

Pseudogap formation, strange-metal behavior and unconventional superconductivity are closely intertwined in hole-doped cuprates, yet their relationship remains unresolved. Infinite-layer nickelates offer a distinct 3d9-derived platform to address this question by combining a cuprate-like Ni dx2-y2 Fermi surface with multiband electronic degrees of freedom. Here we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to resolve the low-energy spectral function of superconducting La0.8Ca0.2NiO2 and parent LaNiO2 thin films. In La0.8Ca0.2NiO2, the electronic self-energy Im Sigma(omega) is approximately linear in energy and its slope increases from (pi/2, pi/2) to (pi, 0), revealing momentum-dependent marginal-Fermi-liquid-like scattering. Both films show a progressive suppression of low-energy spectral weight from the diagonal direction toward (pi, 0), with stronger suppression in parent LaNiO2. However, finite Fermi-level spectral weight persists around the entire Fermi surface, with no leading-edge shift or back-bending indicative of pseudogap formation in either the electron pocket or the cuprate-like hole band. Our results demonstrate that momentum-selective correlations and marginal-Fermi-liquid-like scattering can occur without a detectable cuprate-like pseudogap, providing a benchmark for identifying the essential normal-state electronic ingredients of high-temperature superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2026

Electronic Origin of Ferromagnetic Excitations in the Candidate Spin-Triplet Superconductor CeSb2

The origin of quasi-one-dimensional (q1D) ferromagnetic (FM) excitations in the candidate spin-triplet superconductor CeSb$_2$ has remained unclear. Here we report an electronic mechanism for emergent q1D magnetism in the quasi-two-dimensional lattice of CeSb$_2$, revealed by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). High-resolution ARPES resolves no spin-density-wave gap on the dispersive Fermi pockets, disfavoring a nesting-driven mechanism for the q1D FM excitations. Instead, resonant ARPES reveals a pronounced selective enhancement of Ce 4$f$ spectral weight on the $C_2$-distributed Fermi pockets aligned with the Ce ladder. This observation signifies band-selective Kondo coupling that generates strongly anisotropic magnetic exchange interactions, which can naturally account for both the q1D ferromagnetic excitations and the competing magnetic orders. Our results identify a band-selective Kondo coupling mechanism for emergent low-dimensional magnetism in correlated $f$-electron systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

A 24-Channel Ultra-Low-Noise Preamplifier for dN/dx Measurements with Drift Tube Detectors

Cluster counting dN/dx is a promising method to enhance particle identification for gaseous detectors, especially in next-generation collider experiments like the FCC-ee, where good pion-kaon separation over a broad momentum range is essential. However, its implementation in large-scale systems has been limited by the challenging requirements for high-resolution signal amplification and readout. This paper presents a 24-channel ultra-low-noise preamplifier board designed for drift tube detectors to enable dN/dx measurements. The three-stage amplification topology employs SiGe transistors and integrates dedicated noise-minimization techniques, achieving a charge gain of 21.11 mV/fC from 0.3 fC to 50 fC, a bandwidth of 542 MHz, and a voltage gain of 47.8 dB. The measured voltage noise density is 0.35 nV/sqrt(Hz), surpassing most of the state-of-the-art preamplifiers for gaseous and silicon detectors. Validation tests conducted on the sMDT chambers at the CERN Proton Synchrotron test beam facility demonstrate that the proposed design meets the stringent preamplifier requirements for implementing the dN/dx method in drift-tube detector systems, achieving an equivalent noise charge of 0.14 fC and a signal-to-noise ratio of 73 when operated with a He:iC4H10 (90:10) gas mixture. The design also shows promise for broader application in other gaseous or semiconductor detectors.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2026

Performance Evaluation of Straw Tubes with Muon Beams at CERN

We present results from two test beam campaigns that investigate the performance of straw tube detectors as potential candidates for an FCC-ee straw tracker. These studies were carried out at CERN using 150 GeV muon beams. Dedicated algorithms were developed to determine both single tube spatial resolution for the primary coordinate in the $r-\phi$ plane and spatial resolution for the secondary coordinate along the tube direction within a straw chamber. Detection efficiency was also evaluated as a function of the extrapolated hit position for each tube. Both datasets showed consistent results for spatial resolutions and efficiency. Our findings will help establish benchmark performance metrics and provide valuable insight for future design, optimization, and construction of straw chambers for high-precision tracking applications.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Thermoelectricity evidence for quantum criticality in clean infinite-layer nickelate films

We investigate the Seebeck coefficient ($S$) in infinite-layer nickelate films with different disorder levels. The disordered NdNiO$_{2}$ film exhibits a flat $S/T$ curve, whereas cleaner samples display a logarithmic divergence with decreasing temperature, followed by a pronounced ``hump'' near 25 K. These distinct behaviors reveal a disorder-driven transition from band-structure-dominated transport to quantum-critical-dominated transport. Below the ``hump'' temperature, four-fold symmetry breaking is observed in the in-plane angular magnetoresistance, indicating the presence of short-range antiferromagnetic order in parent infinite-layer nickelate films. Furthermore, the logarithmic divergence in $S/T$ is also observed in a clean superconducting Sm$_{0.73}$Ca$_{0.05}$Eu$_{0.22}$NiO$_{2}$ film, where it coexists with linear-in-temperature resistivity over the same temperature range. These findings demonstrate the existence of quantum criticality over a wide doping range in clean infinite-layer nickelate films, similar to cuprates, which highlights the central role of antiferromagnetic spin correlations in their superconducting pairing mechanisms.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Observation of Electride-like $s$ States Coexisting with Correlated $d$ Electrons in NdNiO$_2$

Despite exhibiting a similar $d_{x^2-y^2}$ band character to cuprates, infinite-layer nickelates host additional electron pockets that distinguish them from single-band cuprates. The elusive orbital origin of these electron pockets has led to competing theoretical scenarios. Here, using polarization-dependent and resonant angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), we determine the orbital character of the Fermi surfaces in NdNiO$_2$. Our data reveal that the electron-like pocket arises predominantly from interstitial $s$ states, with negligible contributions from rare-earth 5$d$ and 4$f$ orbitals near the Fermi level. The observation of well-defined quantum well states indicates a uniform distribution of these interstitial electrons throughout the film thickness. By comparing with electronic structure of LaNiO$_2$, we find that the rare-earth element modulates the Ni-derived bands and hopping integrals through a chemical pressure effect. These findings clarify the role of rare-earth elements in shaping the low-energy electronic structure and establish the presence of electride-like interstitial $s$ states in a correlated oxide system, where electrons occupy lattice voids rather than atomic orbitals. The electride-like character offer new insight into the self-doping and superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelates.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Absence of altermagnetic spin splitting character in rutile oxide RuO$_2$

Rutile RuO$_2$ has been posited as a potential $d$-wave altermagnetism candidate, with a predicted significant spin splitting up to 1.4 eV. Despite accumulating theoretical predictions and transport measurements, direct spectroscopic observation of spin splitting has remained elusive. Here, we employ spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to investigate the band structures and spin polarization of thin-film and single-crystal RuO$_2$. Contrary to expectations of altermagnetism, our analysis indicates that RuO$_2$'s electronic structure aligns with those predicted under non-magnetic conditions, exhibiting no evidence of the hypothesized spin splitting. Additionally, we observe significant in-plane spin polarization of the low-lying bulk bands, which is antisymmetric about the high-symmetry plane and contrary to the $d$-wave spin texture due to time-reversal symmetry breaking in altermagnetism. These findings definitively challenge the altermagnetic order previously proposed for rutile RuO$_2$, prompting a reevaluation of its magnetic properties.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Interface suppressed nematicity and enhanced superconductivity of FeSe/NdFeO3 in the low doping regime

The discovery of interface-enhanced superconductivity in single-layer FeSe/oxides has generated intensive research interests. Beyond the family of FeSe interfaced with various TiO$_2$ terminated oxides, high pairing temperature up to 80~K has been recently observed in FeSe interfaced with FeO$_x$-terminated LaFeO$_3$. Here we successfully extend the FeSe/FeO$_x$ superconducting interface to FeSe/NdFeO$_3$, by constructing 1uc-FeSe/6uc-NdFeO$_3$/Nb:SrTiO$_3$ heterostructures. Intriguingly, well-annealed FeSe/NdFeO$_3$ exhibits a low doping level of 0.038$\sim$0.046 ~e$^-/$Fe which deviates universally magic doping level (0.10$\sim$0.12 e$^-/\rm{Fe}$) and provides a new playground for studying the FeSe/oxide interface in the low electron-doped regime. Comparing it with thick FeSe films at the comparable electron doping level induced by surface potassium dosing, FeSe/NdFeO$_3$ shows a larger superconducting gap and the absence of a nematic gap, indicating an enhancement of the superconductivity and suppression of nematicity by the FeSe/FeO$_x$ interface. These results not only expand the FeSe/FeO$_x$ superconducting family but also enrich the current understanding on the roles of the oxide interface.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Real-space Observation of Incommensurate Spin Density Wave and Coexisting Charge Density Wave on Cr(001) surface

In itinerant magnetic systems, a spin density wave (SDW) state can be induced by Fermi surface nesting and electron-electron interaction. It may intertwine with other orders such as charge density wave (CDW), while their relation is still yet to be understood. Here via spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy, we directly observed long-range spin modulation on Cr(001) surface, which corresponds to the well-known incommensurate SDW of bulk Cr. It displays 6.0 nm in-plane period and anti-phase behavior between adjacent (001) planes. Meanwhile, we simultaneously observed the coexisting CDW with half the period of SDW. Such SDW/CDW have highly correlated domain structures and are in-phase. Surprisingly, the CDW displays a contrast inversion around a density-of-states dip at -22 meV, indicating an anomalous CDW gap opened below EF. These observations support that the CDW is a secondary order driven by SDW. Our work is not only a real-space characterization of incommensurate SDW, but also provides insights on how SDW and CDW coexist.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗