arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M. Z. Hasan.
The physical properties and their pressure dependence of recently synthesized Ti2AlX (X = B, C, and N) MAX phases are investigated for the very first time applying density functional theory (DFT).
We report on the effect of magnetic impurities on the microscopic superconducting (SC) properties of the kagome-lattice superconductor La(Ru$_{1-x}$Fe$_{x}$)$_{3}$Si$_{2}$ using muon spin relaxation/rotation. A strong suppression of the superconducting critical temperature $T_{\rm c}$, the SC volume fraction, and the superfluid density was observed. We further find a correlation between the superfluid density and $T_{\rm c}$ which is considered a hallmark feature of unconventional superconductivity. Most remarkably, measurements of the temperature-dependent magnetic penetration depth $λ$ reveal a change in the low-temperature behavior from exponential saturation to a linear increase, which indicates that Fe doping introduces nodes in the superconducting gap structure at concentrations as low as $x=$~0.015. Our results point to a rare example of unconventional superconductivity in the correlated kagome lattice and accessible tunability of the superconducting gap structure, offering new insights into the microscopic mechanisms involved in superconducting order.
The kagome lattice has emerged as a promising platform for hosting unconventional chiral charge order at high temperatures. Notably, in LaRu$_{3}$Si$_{2}$, a room-temperature charge-ordered state with a propagation vector of ($\frac{1}{4}$,~0,~0) has been recently identified. However, understanding the interplay between this charge order and superconductivity, particularly with respect to time-reversal-symmetry breaking, remains elusive. In this study, we employ single crystal X-ray diffraction, magnetotransport, and muon-spin rotation experiments to investigate the charge order and its electronic and magnetic responses in LaRu$_{3}$Si$_{2}$ across a wide temperature range down to the superconducting state. Our findings reveal the emergence of a charge order with a propagation vector of ($\frac{1}{6}$,~0,~0) below $T_{\rm CO,2}$ ${\simeq}$ 80 K, coexisting with the previously identified room-temperature primary charge order ($\frac{1}{4}$,~0,~0). The primary charge-ordered state exhibits zero magnetoresistance. In contrast, the appearance of the secondary charge order at $T_{\rm CO,2}$ is accompanied by a notable magnetoresistance response and a pronounced temperature-dependent Hall effect, which experiences a sign reversal, switching from positive to negative below $T^{*}$ ${\simeq}$ 35 K. Intriguingly, we observe an enhancement in the internal field width sensed by the muon ensemble below $T^{*}$ ${\simeq}$ 35 K. Moreover, the muon spin relaxation rate exhibits a substantial increase upon the application of an external magnetic field below $T_{\rm CO,2}$ ${\simeq}$ 80 K. Our results highlight the coexistence of two distinct types of charge order in LaRu$_{3}$Si$_{2}$ within the correlated kagome lattice, namely a non-magnetic charge order ($\frac{1}{4}$,~0,~0) below $T_{\rm co,1}$ ${\simeq}$ 400 K and a time-reversal-symmetry-breaking charge order below $T_{\rm CO,2}$.
The breaking of time-reversal symmetry (TRS) in the normal state of kagome superconductors $A$V$_{3}$Sb$_{5}$ stands out as a significant feature. Yet the extent to which this effect can be tuned remains uncertain, a crucial aspect to grasp in light of the varying details of TRS breaking observed through different techniques. Here, we employ the unique low-energy muon spin rotation technique combined with local field numerical analysis to study the TRS breaking response as a function of depth from the surface in single crystals of RbV$_{3}$Sb$_{5}$ with charge order and Cs(V$_{0.86}$Ta$_{0.14}$)$_{3}$Sb$_{5}$ without charge order. In the bulk (i.e., > 33 nm from the surface) of RbV$_{3}$Sb$_{5}$, we have detected a notable increase in the internal magnetic field width experienced by the muon ensemble. This increase occurs only within the charge ordered state. Intriguingly, the muon spin relaxation rate is significantly enhanced near the surface (i.e., < 33 nm from the surface) of RbV$_{3}$Sb$_{5}$, and this effect commences at temperatures significantly higher than the onset of charge order. Conversely, in Cs(V$_{0.86}$Ta$_{0.14}$)$_{3}$Sb$_{5}$, we do not observe a similar enhancement in the internal field width, neither in the bulk nor near the surface. These observations indicate a strong connection between charge order and TRS breaking on one hand, and on the other hand, suggest that TRS breaking can occur prior to long-range charge order. This research offers compelling evidence for depth-dependent magnetism in $A$V$_{3}$Sb$_{5}$ superconductors in the presence of charge order. Such findings are likely to elucidate the intricate microscopic mechanisms that underpin the TRS breaking phenomena in these materials.
The kagome lattice is an intriguing and rich platform for discovering, tuning and understanding the diverse phases of quantum matter, which is a necessary premise for utilizing quantum materials in all areas of modern and future electronics in a controlled and optimal way. The system LaRu$_{3}$Si$_{2}$ was shown to exhibit typical kagome band structure features near the Fermi energy formed by the Ru-$dz^{2}$ orbitals and the highest superconducting transition temperature $T_{\rm c}$ ${\simeq}$ 7K among the kagome-lattice materials. However, the effect of electronic correlations on the normal state properties remains elusive. Here, we report the discovery of charge order in La(Ru$_{1-x}$Fe$_{x}$)$_{3}$Si$_{2}$ ($x$ = 0, 0.01, 0.05) beyond room-temperature. Namely, single crystal X-ray diffraction reveals charge order with a propagation vector of ($\frac{1}{4}$,0,0) below $T_{\rm CO-I}$ ${\simeq}$ 400K in all three compounds. At lower temperatures, we see the appearance of a second set of charge order peaks with a propagation vector of ($\frac{1}{6}$,0,0). The introduction of Fe, which is known to quickly suppress superconductivity, does not drastically alter the onset temperature for charge order. Instead, it broadens the scattered intensity such that diffuse scattering appears at the same onset temperature, however does not coalesce into sharp Bragg diffraction peaks until much lower in temperature. Our results present the first example of a charge ordered state at or above room temperature in the correlated kagome lattice with bulk superconductivity.
Charge ordered kagome lattices have been demonstrated to be intriguing platforms for studying the intertwining of topology, correlation, and magnetism. The recently discovered charge ordered kagome material ScV_6Sn_6 does not feature a magnetic groundstate or excitations, thus it is often regarded as a conventional paramagnet. Here, using advanced muon-spin rotation spectroscopy, we uncover an unexpected hidden magnetism of the charge order. We observe a striking enhancement of the internal field width sensed by the muon ensemble, which takes place within the charge ordered state. More remarkably, the muon spin relaxation rate below the charge ordering temperature is substantially enhanced by applying an external magnetic field. Taken together with the hidden magnetism found in AV_3Sb_5 (A = K, Rb, Cs) and FeGe kagome systems, our results suggest ubiqitous time-reversal symmetry-breaking in charge ordered kagome lattices.
Unconventional superconductors often feature competing orders, small superfluid density, and nodal electronic pairing. While unusual superconductivity has been proposed in the kagome metals AV3Sb5, key spectroscopic evidence has remained elusive. Here we utilize pressure-tuned (up to 1.85 GPa) and ultra-low temperature (down to 18 mK) muon spin spectroscopy to uncover the unconventional nature of superconductivity in RbV3Sb5. At ambient pressure, we detect an enhancement of the width of the internal magnetic field distribution sensed by the muon ensemble, indicative of time-reversal symmetry breaking charge order. Remarkably, the superconducting state displays nodal energy gap and a reduced superfluid density, which can be attributed to the competition with the novel charge order. Upon applying pressure, the charge-order transitions are suppressed, the superfluid density increases, and the superconducting state progressively evolves from nodal to nodeless. Once charge order is eliminated, we find a superconducting pairing state that is not only fully gapped, but also spontaneously breaks time-reversal symmetry. Our results point to unprecedented tunable nodal kagome superconductivity competing with time-reversal symmetry-breaking charge order and offer unique insights into the nature of the pairing state.
The kagome lattice, the most prominent structural motif in quantum physics, benefits from inherent nontrivial geometry to host diverse quantum phases, ranging from spin-liquid phases, topological matter to intertwined orders, and most rarely unconventional superconductivity. Recently, charge sensitive probes have suggested that the kagome superconductors AV_3Sb_5 (A = K, Rb, Cs) (A = K, Rb, Cs) exhibit unconventional chiral charge order, which is analogous to the long-sought-after quantum order in the Haldane model or Varma model. However, direct evidence for the time-reversal symmetry-breaking of the charge order remains elusive. Here we utilize muon spin relaxation to probe the kagome charge order and superconductivity in KV_3Sb_5. We observe a striking enhancement of the internal field width sensed by the muon ensemble, which takes place just below the charge ordering temperature and persists into the superconducting state. Remarkably, the muon spin relaxation rate below the charge ordering temperature is substantially enhanced by applying an external magnetic field. We further show the multigap nature of superconductivity in KV_3Sb_5 and that the T_c/lambda_{ab}^{-2} ratio is comparable to those of unconventional high-temperature superconductors. Our results point to time-reversal symmetry breaking charge order intertwining with unconventional superconductivity in the correlated kagome lattice.
Magnetic topological phases of quantum matter are an emerging frontier in physics and material science. Along these lines, several kagome magnets have appeared as the most promising platforms. Here, we explore magnetic correlations in the transition-metal-based kagome magnet TbMn$_{6}$Sn$_{6}$ using muon spin rotation, combined with local field analysis and neutron diffraction. Our results show that the system exhibits an out-of-plane ferrimagnetic structure $P6/mm'm'$ (comprised by Tb and Mn moments) with slow magnetic fluctuations below $T_{\rm C2}$~=~320~K. These fluctuations exhibit a slowing down below $T_{\rm C1}^{*}$~${\simeq}$~120~K, and we see the formation of static patches with ideal out-of-plane order below $T_{\rm C1}$~${\simeq}$~20~K which grow in a volume with decreasing temperature. The appearance of the static patches has a similar onset to the interesting phenomenon such as spin-polarized Dirac dispersion with a large Chern gap and topological edge states. We further show that the temperature evolution of the anomalous Hall conductivity (AHC) is strongly influenced by the low temperature magnetic crossover. Our presented experimental results show that the onset of the topological electronic properties tied to the Dirac band is promoted only by true static out-of-plane ferrimagnetic order in TbMn$_{6}$Sn$_{6}$ and is washed out by the slow magnetic fluctuations above $T_{\rm C1}$~${\simeq}$~20~K. Remarkably, hydrostatic pressure of 2.1 GPa stabilises static out-of-plane topological ferrimagnetic ground state in the whole volume of the sample. Therefore the exciting perspective arises of a magnetic system in which the topological response can be controlled, and thus explored, over a wide range of parameters.
Symmetry plays a central role in conventional and topological phases of matter, making the ability to optically drive symmetry change a critical step in developing future technologies that rely on such control. Topological materials, like the newly discovered topological semimetals, are particularly sensitive to a breaking or restoring of time-reversal and crystalline symmetries, which affect both bulk and surface electronic states. While previous studies have focused on controlling symmetry via coupling to the crystal lattice, we demonstrate here an all-electronic mechanism based on photocurrent generation. Using second-harmonic generation spectroscopy as a sensitive probe of symmetry change, we observe an ultrafast breaking of time-reversal and spatial symmetries following femtosecond optical excitation in the prototypical type-I Weyl semimetal TaAs. Our results show that optically driven photocurrents can be tailored to explicitly break electronic symmetry in a generic fashion, opening up the possibility of driving phase transitions between symmetry-protected states on ultrafast time scales.
Elucidating the symmetry of intertwined orders in exotic superconductors is at the quantum frontier. Recent surface sensitive studies of the topological kagome superconductor CsV$_3$Sb$_5$ discovered a cascade 4a$_0$ superlattice below the charge density wave (CDW) ordering temperature, which can be related to the pair density modulations in the superconducting state. If the 4a$_0$ phase is a bulk and intrinsic property of the kagome lattice, this would form a striking analogy to the stripe order and pair density wave discovered in the cuprate high-temperature superconductors, and the cascade ordering found in twisted bilayer graphene. High-resolution X-ray diffraction has recently been established as an ultra-sensitive probe for bulk translational symmetry-breaking orders, even for short-range orders at the diffusive limit. Here, combining high-resolution X-ray diffraction, scanning tunneling microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy, we demonstrate that the 4a$_0$ superstructure emerges uniquely on the surface and hence exclude the 4a$_0$ phase as the origin of any bulk transport or spectroscopic anomaly. Crucially, we show that our detected 2$\times$2$\times$2 CDW order breaks the bulk rotational symmetry to C2, which can be the driver for the bulk nematic orders and nematic surface superlattices including the 4a$_0$ phase. Our high-resolution data impose decisive spatial symmetry constraints on emergent electronic orders in the kagome superconductor CsV$_3$Sb$_5$.
Kagom${é}$ lattice is a fertile platform for topological and intertwined electronic excitations. Recently, experimental evidence of an unconventional charge density wave (CDW) is observed in a Z2 kagom${é}$ metal AV$_{3}$Sb$_{5}$ (A= K, Cs, Rb). This observation triggers wide interests on the interplay between frustrated crystal structure and Fermi surface instabilities. Here we analyze the lattice effect and its impact on CDW in AV$_{3}$Sb$_{5}$. Based on published experimental data, we show that the CDW induced structural distortions is consistent with the theoretically predicted inverse star-of-David pattern, which preserves the $D_{6h}$ symmetry in the kagom${é}$ plane but breaks the sixfold rotational symmetry of the crystal due to the phase shift between kagom${é}$ layers. The coupling between the lattice and electronic degrees of freedom yields a weak first order structural transition without continuous change of lattice dynamics. Our result emphasizes the fundamental role of lattice geometry in proper understanding of unconventional electronic orders in AV$_{3}$Sb$_{5}$.
The exploration of topological electronic phases that result from strong electronic correlations is a frontier in condensed matter physics. One class of systems that is currently emerging as a platform for such studies are so-called kagome magnets based on transition metals. Using muon spin-rotation, we explore magnetic correlations in the kagome magnet Co$_{3}$Sn$_{2-x}$In$_{x}$S$_{2}$ as a function of In-doping, providing putative evidence for an intriguing incommensurate helimagnetic (HM) state. Our results show that, while the undoped sample exhibits an out-of-plane ferromagnetic (FM) ground state, at 5 ${\%}$ of In-doping the system enters a state in which FM and in-plane antiferromagnetic (AFM) phases coexist. At higher doping, a HM state emerges and becomes dominant at the critical doping level of only $x_{\rm cr,1}$ ${\simeq}$ 0.3. This indicates a zero temperature first order quantum phase transition from the FM, through a mixed state, to a helical phase at $x_{\rm cr,1}$. In addition, at $x_{\rm cr,2}$ ${\simeq}$ 1, a zero temperature second order phase transition from helical to paramagnetic phase is observed, evidencing a HM quantum critical point (QCP) in the phase diagram of the topological magnet Co$_{3}$Sn$_{2-x}$In$_{x}$S$_{2}$. The observed diversity of interactions in the magnetic kagome lattice drives non-monotonous variations of the topological Hall response of this system.
We combine transport, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and scanning tunneling spectroscopy to investigate several low energy manifestations of the Hund coupling in a canonical FeSC family Li(Fe,Co)As. We determine the doping dependence of the coherent-incoherent crossover temperature and the quasi-particle effective mass enhancement in the normal state. Our tunneling spectroscopy result in the superconducting state supports the idea that superconductivity emerging from Hund's metal state displays a universal maximal superconducting gap vs transition temperature (2$Δ_{max}/k_{B}T_{c}$) value, which is independent of doping level and $T_{c}$.
Recently, the niobium (Nb)-doped topological insulator Bi_2Se_3, in which the finite magnetic moments of the Nb atoms are intercalated in the van der Waals gap between the Bi_2Se_3 layers, has been shown to exhibit both superconductivity with T_c = 3 K and topological surface states. Here we report on muon spin rotation experiments probing the temperature-dependent of effective magnetic penetration depth Lambda_eff(T) in the layered topological superconductor candidate Nb_0.25Bi_2Se_3. The exponential temperature dependence of lambda_(eff)^(-2)(T) at low temperatures suggests a fully gapped superconducting state in the bulk with the superconducting transition temperature T_c = 2.9 K and the gap to T_c ratio 2Delta/k_BT_c = 3.95(19). We also revealed that the ratio T_c/lambda_(eff)^(-2) is comparable to those of unconventional superconductors, which hints at an unconventional pairing mechanism. Furthermore, time reversal symmetry breaking was excluded in the superconducting state with sensitive zero-field muSR experiments. We hope the present results will stimulate theoretical investigations to obtain a microscopic understanding of the relation between superconductivity and the topologically non-trivial electronic structure of Nb_0.25Bi_2Se_3.
We report on high-pressure (p_max = 2.1 GPa) muon spin rotation experiments probing the temperature-dependent magnetic penetration depth in the layered superconductor 2H-NbSe_2. Upon increasing the pressure, we observe a substantial increase of the superfluid density n_s, which we find to scale linearly with T_c. This linear scaling is considered a hallmark feature of unconventional superconductivity, especially in high-temperature cuprate superconductors. Our current results, along with our earlier findings on 1T'-MoTe_2 (Z. Guguchia et. al., Nature Communications 8, 1082 (2017)), demonstrate that this linear relation is also an intrinsic property of the superconductivity in transition metal dichalcogenides, whereas the ratio T_c/T_F is approximately a factor of 20 lower than the ratio observed in hole-doped cuprates. We, furthermore, find that the values of the superconducting gaps are insensitive to the suppression of the quasi-two-dimensional CDW state, indicating that the CDW ordering and the superconductivity in 2H-NbSe_2 are independent of each other.
Magnetic topological phases of quantum matter are an emerging frontier in physics and material science. Along these lines, several kagome magnets have appeared as the most promising platforms. However, the magnetic nature of these materials in the presence of topological state remains an unsolved issue. Here, we explore magnetic correlations in the kagome magnet Co_3Sn_2S_2. Using muon spin-rotation, we present evidence for competing magnetic orders in the kagome lattice of this compound. Our results show that while the sample exhibits an out-of-plane ferromagnetic ground state, an in-plane antiferromagnetic state appears at temperatures above 90 K, eventually attaining a volume fraction of 80% around 170 K, before reaching a non-magnetic state. Strikingly, the reduction of the anomalous Hall conductivity above 90 K linearly follows the disappearance of the volume fraction of the ferromagnetic state. We further show that the competition of these magnetic phases is tunable through applying either an external magnetic field or hydrostatic pressure. Our results taken together suggest the thermal and quantum tuning of Berry curvature field via external tuning of magnetic order. Our study shows that Co_3Sn_2S_2 is a rare example where the magnetic competition drives the thermodynamic evolution of the Berry curvature field, thus tuning its topological state.
The interaction between superconductivity and band topology can lead to various unconventional superconducting (SC) states, and represents a new frontier in condensed matter physics research. Recently, the transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) system 2M-WS2 has been identified as a Dirac semimetal exhibiting both superconductivity with the highest Tc = 8.5 K among all the TMD materials and topological surface states with a single Dirac cone. Here we report on muon spin rotation (muSR) and density functional theory studies of microscopic SC properties and the electronic structure in 2M-WS2 at ambient and under hydrostatic pressures (p_max = 1.9 GPa). The SC order parameter in 2M-WS2 is determined to have single-gap s-wave symmetry. We further show a strong negative pressure effect on Tc and on the SC gap. This may be partly caused by the pressure induced reduction of the size of the electron pocket around the Gamma-point, at which a band inversion appears up to the highest applied pressure. We also find that the superfluid density ns is very weakly affected by pressure. The absence of a strong pressure effect on the superfluid density and the absence of a correlation between ns and Tc in 2M-WS2, in contrast to the other SC TMDs Td-MoTe2 and 2H-NbSe2, is explained in terms of its location in the optimal (ambient pressure) and above the optimal (under pressure) superconducting regions of the phase diagram and its large distance to the other possible competing or cooperating orders. These results hint towards a complex nature of the superconductivity in TMDs, despite the observed s-wave order parameter.