arXiv subjects

Huiqiu Yuan

Publications and source records attributed to Huiqiu Yuan.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2024

High-temperature superconductivity with zero-resistance and strange metal behavior in La$_{3}$Ni$_{2}$O$_{7-δ}$

Recently signatures of superconductivity were observed close to 80 K in \LN\ under pressure. This discovery positions \LN\ as the first bulk nickelate with high-temperature superconductivity, but the lack of zero resistance presents a significant drawback for validating the findings. Here we report pressure measurements up to over 30 GPa using a liquid pressure medium and show that single crystals of \LNO\ do exhibit zero resistance. We find that \LNO\ remains metallic under applied pressures, suggesting the absence of a metal-insulator transition proximate to the superconductivity. Analysis of the normal state $T$-linear resistance suggests an intricate link between this strange metal behaviour and superconductivity, whereby at high pressures both the linear resistance coefficient and superconducting transition are slowly suppressed by pressure, while at intermediate pressures both the superconductivity and strange metal behaviour appear disrupted, possibly due to a nearby structural instability. The association between strange metal behaviour and high-temperature superconductivity is very much in line with diverse classes of unconventional superconductors, including the cuprates and Fe-based superconductors. Understanding the superconductivity of \LNO\ evidently requires further revealing the interplay of strange metal behaviour, superconductivity, as well as possible competing electronic or structural phases.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Distinct pressure evolution of superconductivity and charge-density-wave in kagome superconductor CsV$_3$Sb$_5$ thin flakes

It is intriguing to explore the coexistence and (or) competition between charge-density-wave (CDW) and superconductivity (SC) in many correlated electron systems, such as cuprates, organic superconductors and dichacolgenides. Among them, the recently discovered $\mathbb{Z} _2$ topological kagome metals AV$_3$Sb$_5$ (A=K, Rb, Cs) serve as an ideal platform to study the intricate relation between them. Here, we report the electrical resistance measurements on CsV$_3$Sb$_5$ thin flakes ($\approx$ 60 nm) under hydrostatic pressure up to 2.12 GPa to compare its pressure phase diagram of CDW and SC with its bulk form. Even though the CDW transition temperature (T$_{CDW}$) in CsV$_3$Sb$_5$ thin flakes is still monotonically suppressed under pressure and totally vanishes at P$_2$=1.83 GPa similar to the bulk, the superconducting transition temperature (T$_c$) shows an initial decrease and consequent increase up to its maximum $\sim$ 8.03 K at P$_2$, in sharp contrast with the M-shaped double domes in the bulk CsV$_3$Sb$_5$. Our results suggest the important role of reduced dimensionality on the CDW state and its interplay with the SC, offering a new perspective to explore the exotic nature of CsV$_3$Sb$_5$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2024

Direction dependent switching of carrier-type enabled by Fermi surface geometry

While charge carriers can typically be designated as either electron- or hole- type, depending on the sign of the Hall coefficient, some materials defy this straightforward classification. Here we find that LaRh$_6$Ge$_4$ goes beyond this dichotomy, where the Hall resistivity is electron-like for magnetic fields along the $c$-axis but hole-like in the basal plane. Together with first-principles calculations, we show that this direction-dependent switching of the carrier type arises within a single band, where the special geometry leads to charge carriers on the same Fermi surface orbiting as electrons along some directions, but holes along others. The relationship between the Fermi surface geometry and occurrence of a Hall sign reversal is further generalized by considering tight-binding model calculations, which show that this type of Fermi surface corresponds to a more robust means of realizing this phenomenon, suggesting an important route for tailoring direction dependent properties for advanced electronic device applications.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Unconventional fully-gapped superconductivity in the heavy-fermion metal CeCu$_2$Si$_2$

The heavy-fermion metal CeCu$_2$Si$_2$ was the first discovered unconventional, non-phonon-mediated superconductor, and for a long time was believed to exhibit single-band $d$-wave superconductivity, as inferred from various measurements hinting at a nodal gap structure. More recently however, measurements using a range of techniques at very low temperatures ($T \lessapprox 0.1$ K) provided evidence for a fully-gapped superconducting order parameter. In this Colloquium, after a brief historical overview we survey the apparently conflicting results of numerous experimental studies on this compound. We then address the different theoretical scenarios which have been applied to understand the particular gap structure, including both isotropic (sign-preserving) and anisotropic two-band $s$-wave superconductivity, as well as an effective two-band $d$-wave model, where the latter can explain the currently available experimental data on CeCu$_2$Si$_2$. The lessons from CeCu$_2$Si$_2$ are expected to help uncover the Cooper-pair states in other unconventional, fully-gapped superconductors with strongly correlated carriers, and in particular highlight the rich variety of such states enabled by orbital degrees of freedom.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Electronic band reconstruction across the insulator-metal transition in colossal magnetoresistive EuCd2P2

While colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) in Eu-based compounds is often associated with strong spin-carrier interactions, the underlying reconstruction of the electronic bands is much less understood from spectroscopic experiments. Here using angle-resolved photoemission, we directly observe an electronic band reconstruction across the insulator-metal (and magnetic) transition in the recently discovered CMR compound EuCd2P2. This transition is manifested by a large magnetic band splitting associated with the magnetic order, as well as unusual energy shifts of the valence bands: both the large ordered moment of Eu and carrier localization in the paramagnetic phase are crucial. Our results provide spectroscopic evidence for an electronic structure reconstruction underlying the enormous CMR observed in EuCd2P2, which could be important for understanding Eu-based CMR materials, as well as designing CMR materials based on large-moment rare-earth magnets.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Synthesis and physical properties of Ce$_2$Rh$_{3+δ}$Sb$_4$ single crystals

Millimeter-sized Ce$_2$Rh$_{3+δ}$Sb$_4$ ($δ\approx 1/8$) single crystals were synthesized by a Bi-flux method and their physical properties were studied by a combination of electrical transport, magnetic and thermodynamic measurements. The resistivity anisotropy $ρ_{a,b}/ρ_{c}\sim2$, manifesting a quasi-one-dimensional electronic character. Magnetic susceptibility measurements confirm $\mathbf{ab}$ as the magnetic easy plane. A long-range antiferromagnetic transition occurs at $T_N=1.4$ K, while clear short-range ordering can be detected well above $T_N$. The low ordering temperature is ascribed to the large Ce-Ce distance as well as the geometric frustration. Kondo scale is estimated to be about 2.4 K, comparable to the strength of magnetic exchange. Ce$_2$Rh$_{3+δ}$Sb$_4$, therefore, represents a rare example of dense Kondo lattice whose Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida exchange and Kondo coupling are both weak but competing.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Superconductivity of cerium under pressures up to 54GPa

Cerium is a fascinating element due to its diverse physical properties, which include forming various crystal structures ($γ$, $α$, $α^{'}$, $α^{''}$ and $ε$), mixed valence behavior and superconductivity, making it an ideal platform for investigating the interplay between different electronic states. Here, we present a comprehensive transport study of cerium under hydrostatic pressures up to 54 GPa. Upon applying pressure, cerium undergoes the $α$ $\rightarrow$ $α^{''}$ transition at around 4.9 GPa, which is accompanied by the appearance of superconductivity with $T_{\rm c}$ of 0.4 K, and $T_{\rm c}$ slightly increases to 0.5 K at 11.4 GPa. At 14.3 GPa, $T_{\rm c}$ suddenly increases when the $α^{''}$ phase transforms into the $ε$ phase, reaching a maximum value of 1.25 K at around 17.2 GPa. Upon further increasing the pressure, $T_{\rm c}$ monotonically decreases. Together with the results of previous studies, our findings suggest that the evolution of superconductivity in cerium is closely correlated with the multiple pressure-induced structural transitions and corresponding unusual electronic structures.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Structural phase transitions and superconductivity in the Heusler intermetallics $X$Pd$_2$Sn ($X$ = Ti, Zr, Hf)

We report the discovery of structural phase transitions and superconductivity in the full Heusler compounds $X$Pd$_2$Sn ($X$ = Ti, Zr, Hf), by means of electrical transport, magnetic susceptibility, specific heat and x-ray diffraction measurements. TiPd$_2$Sn, ZrPd$_2$Sn and HfPd$_2$Sn undergo structural phase transitions from the room-temperature cubic MnCu$_2$Al-type structure (space group $Fm\bar{3}m$) to a low-temperature tetragonal structure at around 160 K, 110 K and 90 K, respectively, which are likely related charge density wave (CDW) instabilities. Low temperature single crystal x-ray diffraction measurements of ZrPd$_2$Sn demonstrate the emergence of a superstructure with multiple commensurate modulations below $T_s$. ZrPd$_2$Sn and HfPd$_2$Sn have bulk superconductivity (SC) with transition temperatures $T_c$ $\sim$ 1.2 K and 1.3 K, respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal evidence for structural and electronic instabilities which can give rise to CDW formation, suggesting that these $X$Pd$_2$Sn systems are good candidates for examining the interplay between CDW and SC.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

ARPES signature of the competition between magnetic order and Kondo effect in CeCoGe3

The competition between magnetic order and Kondo effect is essential for the rich physics of heavy fermion systems. Nevertheless, how such competition is manifested in the quasiparticle bands in a real periodic lattice remains elusive in spectroscopic experiments. Here we report a high-resolution photoemission study of the antiferromagnetic Kondo lattice system CeCoGe3 with a high TN1 of 21K. Our measurements reveal a weakly dispersive 4f band at the Fermi level near the Z point, arisingfrom moderate Kondo effect. The intensity of this heavy 4f band exhibits a logarithmic increase with lowering temperature and begins to deviate from this Kondo-like behavior below 25 K, just above TN1, and eventually ceases to grow below 12 K. Our work provides direct spectroscopic evidence for the competition between magnetic order and the Kondo effect in a Kondo lattice system with local-moment antiferromagnetism, indicating a distinct scenario for the microscopic coexistence and competition of these phenomena, which might be related to the real-space modulation.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Nodeless superconductivity in the topological nodal-line semimetal CaSb2

CaSb2 is a topological nodal-line semimetal that becomes superconducting below 1.6 K, providing an ideal platform to investigate the interplay between topologically nontrivial electronic bands and superconductivity. In this work, we investigated the superconducting order parameter of CaSb2 by measuring its magnetic penetration depth change Δλ(T) down to 0.07 K, using a tunneling diode oscillator (TDO) based technique. Well inside the superconducting state, Δλ(T) shows an exponential activated behavior, and provides direct evidence for a nodeless superconducting gap. By analyzing the temperature dependence of the superfluid density and the electronic specific heat, we find both can be consistently described by a two-gap s-wave model, in line with the presence of multiple Fermi surfaces associated with distinct Sb sites in this compound. These results demonstrate fully-gapped superconductivity in CaSb2 and constrain the allowed pairing symmetry.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

A Family of Lanthanide Noncentrosymmetric Superconductors La$_4$$TX$ ($T$ = Ru, Rh, Ir; $X$ = Al, In)

We report the discovery of superconductivity in a series of noncentrosymmetric compounds La$_4$$TX$ ($T$ = Ru, Rh, Ir; $X$ = Al, In), which have a cubic crystal structure with space group $F\bar{4}3m$. La$_4$RuAl, La$_4$RhAl, La$_4$IrAl, La$_4$RuIn and La$_4$IrIn exhibit bulk superconducting transitions with critical temperatures $T_c$ of 1.77 K, 3.05 K, 1.54 K, 0.58 K and 0.93 K, respectively. The specific heat of the La$_4$$T$Al compounds are consistent with an $s$-wave model with a fully open superconducting gap. In all cases, the upper critical fields are well described by the Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg model, and the values are well below the Pauli limit, indicating that orbital limiting is the dominant pair-breaking mechanism. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the degree of band splitting by the antisymmetric spin-orbit coupling (ASOC) shows considerable variation between the different compounds. This indicates that the strength of the ASOC is highly tunable across this series of superconductors, suggesting that these are good candidates for examining the relationship between the ASOC and superconducting properties in noncentrosymmetric superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Muon-spin relaxation study of the layered kagome superconductor CsV$_3$Sb$_5$

The ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ topological metals $R$V$_3$Sb$_5$ ($R$ = K, Rb, Cs) with a layered kagome structure provide a unique opportunity to investigate the interplay between charge order, superconductivity and topology. Here, we report muon-spin relaxation/rotation ($μ$SR) measurements performed on CsV$_3$Sb$_5$ across a broad temperature range, in order to uncover the nature of the charge-density wave order and superconductivity in this material. From zero-field $μ$SR, we find that spontaneous magnetic fields appear below 50 K which is well below the charge-density wave transition ($T^* \sim 93$ K). We show that these spontaneous fields are dynamic in nature making it difficult to associate them with a hidden static order. The superconducting state of CsV$_3$Sb$_5$ is found to preserve time-reversal symmetry and the transverse-field $μ$SR results are consistent with a superconducting state that has two fully open gaps.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Consecutive topological phase transitions and colossal magnetoresistance in a magnetic topological semimetal

The combination of magnetic symmetries and electronic band topology provides a promising route for realizing topologically nontrivial quasiparticles, and the manipulation of magnetic structures may enable the switching between topological phases, with the potential for achieving functional physical properties. Here, we report measurements of the electrical resistivity of EuCd$_2$As$_2$ under pressure, which show an intriguing insulating dome at pressures between $p_{\rm c1}\sim1.0$~GPa and $p_{\rm c2}\sim2.0$~GPa, situated between two regimes with metallic transport. The insulating state can be fully suppressed by a small magnetic field, leading to a colossal negative magnetoresistance on the order of $10^5$\%, accessible via a modest field of $\sim0.2$~T. First-principles calculations reveal that the dramatic evolution of the resistivity under pressure is due to consecutive transitions of EuCd$_2$As$_2$ from a magnetic topological insulator to a trivial insulator, and then to a Weyl semimetal, with the latter resulting from a pressure-induced change in the magnetic ground state. Similarly, the colossal magnetoresistance results from a field-induced polarization of the magnetic moments, transforming EuCd$_2$As$_2$ from a trivial insulator to a Weyl semimetal. These findings underscore weak magnetic exchange couplings and spin anisotropy as ingredients for discovering tunable magnetic topological materials with desirable functionalities.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Spin-triplet superconductivity in Weyl nodal-line semimetals

Topological semimetals are three dimensional materials with symmetry-protected massless bulk excitations. As a special case, Weyl nodal-line semimetals are realized in materials either having no inversion or broken time-reversal symmetry and feature bulk nodal lines. The 111-family of materials, LaNiSi, LaPtSi and LaPtGe (all lacking inversion symmetry), belong to this class. Here, by combining muon-spin rotation and relaxation with thermodynamic measurements, we find that these materials exhibit a fully-gapped superconducting ground state, while spontaneously breaking time-reversal symmetry at the superconducting transition. Since time-reversal symmetry is essential for protecting the normal-state topology, its breaking upon entering the superconducting state should remarkably result in a topological phase transition. By developing a minimal model for the normal-state band structure and assuming a purely spin-triplet pairing, we show that the superconducting properties across the family can be described accurately. Our results demonstrate that the 111-family reported here provides an ideal test-bed for investigating the rich interplay between the exotic properties of Weyl nodal-line fermions and unconventional superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Evolution of superconductivity and charge order in pressurized RbV$_3$Sb$_5$

The kagome metals $A$V$_3$Sb$_5$ ($A=$ K, Rb, Cs) under ambient pressure exhibit an unusual charge order, from which superconductivity emerges. In this work, by applying hydrostatic pressure using a liquid pressure medium and carrying out electrical resistance measurements for RbV$_3$Sb$_5$, we find the charge order becomes suppressed under a modest pressure $p_{\rm c}$ ($1.4<p_{\rm c}<1.6$ GPa), while the superconducting transition temperature $T_{\rm c}$ is maximized. $T_{\rm c}$ is then gradually weakened with further increase of pressure and reaches a minimum around 14.3 GPa, before exhibiting another maximum around 22.8 GPa, signifying the presence of a second superconducting dome. Distinct normal state resistance anomalies are found to be associated with the second superconducting dome, similar to KV$_3$Sb$_5$. Our findings point to qualitatively similar temperature-pressure phase diagrams in KV$_3$Sb$_5$ and RbV$_3$Sb$_5$, and suggest a close link between the second superconducting dome and the high-pressure resistance anomalies.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Superconductivity modulated by structural phase transitions in pressurized vanadium-based kagome metals

The interplay of superconductivity with electronic and structural instabilities on the kagome lattice provides a fertile ground for the emergence of unusual phenomena. The vanadium-based kagome metals $A$V$_3$Sb$_5$ ($A=$ K, Rb, Cs) exhibit superconductivity on an almost ideal kagome lattice, with the superconducting transition temperature $T_{\rm c}$ forming two domes upon pressure-tuning. The first dome arises from the competition between superconductivity and a charge-density-wave, whereas the origin for the second dome remains unclear. Herein, we show that the appearance of the second superconducting dome in KV$_3$Sb$_5$ and RbV$_3$Sb$_5$ is associated with transitions from hexagonal $P6$/$mmm$ to monoclinic $P2$/$m$ structures, evidenced by splitting of structural peaks from synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction experiments and imaginary phonon frequencies in first-principles calculations. In KV$_3$Sb$_5$, transition to an orthorhombic $Pmmm$ structure is further observed for pressure $p\gtrsim20$ GPa, and is correlated with the strong suppression of $T_{\rm c}$ in the second superconducting dome. Our findings indicate distortions of the crystal structure modulates superconductivity in $A$V$_3$Sb$_5$ under pressure, providing a platform to study the emergence of superconductivity in the presence of multiple structural instabilities.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Revealing the Heavy Quasiparticles in the Heavy-Fermion Superconductor CeCu2Si2

The superconducting order parameter of the first heavy-fermion superconductor CeCu2Si2 is currently under debate. A key ingredient to understand its superconductivity and physical properties is the quasiparticle dispersion and Fermi surface, which remains elusive experimentally. Here we present measurements from angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Our results emphasize the key role played by the Ce 4f electrons for the low-temperature Fermi surface, highlighting a band-dependent conduction-f electron hybridization. In particular, we find a very heavy quasi-two-dimensional electron band near the bulk X point and moderately heavy three-dimensional hole pockets near the Z point. Comparison with theoretical calculations reveals the strong local correlation in this compound, calling for further theoretical studies. Our results provide the electronic basis to understand the heavy fermion behavior and superconductivity; implications for the enigmatic superconductivity of this compound are also discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Full superconducting gap and type-I to type-II superconductivity transition in single crystalline NbGe2

We report a mechanical point-contact spectroscopy study on the single crystalline NbGe$_2$ with a superconducting transition temperature $T\rm_c$ = 2.0 - 2.1 K. The differential conductance curves at 0.3 K can be well fitted by a single gap s-wave Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk model and the temperature dependent gap follows a standard Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer behavior, yielding $Δ_0 \sim$ 0.32 meV and 2$Δ_0$/$k\rm_{B}$$T\rm_{c}$ = 3.62 in the weak coupling limit. In magnetic field, the superconducting gap at 0.3 K keeps constant up to $H_{c1}\sim$150 Oe and gradually decreases until $H_{c2}\sim$350 Oe, indicating NbGe$_2$ going through a transition from type-I to type-II (possible type-II/1) superconductor at low temperature.

cond-mat.supr-con↗