arXiv subjects

Xianxin Wu

Publications and source records attributed to Xianxin Wu.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Hyperbolic fringe signal for twin impurity quasiparticle interference

We study the quasiparticle interference (QPI) pattern emanating from a pair of adjacent impurities on the surface of a gapped superconductor (SC). We find that hyperbolic fringes (HF) in the QPI signal can appear due to the loop contribution of the two-impurity scattering, where the location of the two impurities are the hyperbolic focus points. For a single pocket Fermiology, an HF pattern signals chiral SC order for non-magnetic impurities and requires magnetic impurities for non-chiral SC. For a multi-pocket scenario, a sign-changing order parameter such as $s_{\pm}$-wave likewise yields an HF signature. We discuss twin impurity QPI as a new tool to complement the analysis of superconducting order from local spectroscopy.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Enhanced nematicity emerging from higher-order van Hove singularities

Motivated by the experimental identification of a higher-order van Hove singularity (VHS) in AV$_3$Sb$_5$ kagome metals, we study electronic instabilities of 2D lattice models with higher-order VHS and flavor degeneracy. In contrast to conventional VHSs, the larger power-law density of states and the weaker nesting propensity of higher-order VHSs conspire together to generate distinct competing instabilities. After discussing the occurrence of higher-order VHSs on square and kagome lattice models, we perform unbiased renormalization group calculations to study competing instabilities and find a rich phase diagram containing ferromagnetism, anti-ferromagnetism, superconductivity and Pomeranchuk orders. Remarkably, there is a generic transition from superconductivity to a $d$-wave Pomeranchuk order with increasing flavor number. Implications for the intriguing quantum states of AV$_3$Sb$_5$ kagome metals are also discussed.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Phonon promoted charge density wave in topological kagome metal ScV$_{6}$Sn$_{6}$

Charge density wave (CDW) orders in vanadium-based kagome metals have recently received tremendous attention due to their unique properties and intricate interplay with exotic correlated phenomena, topological and symmetry-breaking states. However, the origin of the CDW order remains a topic of debate. The discovery of ScV$_{6}$Sn$_{6}$, a vanadium-based bilayer kagome metal exhibiting an in-plane $\sqrt{3}$ x $\sqrt{3} $ $\textit{R}$30$°$ CDW order with time-reversal symmetry breaking, provides a novel platform to explore the underlying mechanism behind the unconventional CDW. Here, we combine high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, Raman scattering measurements and density functional theory to investigate the electronic structures and phonon modes of ScV$_{6}$Sn$_{6}$ and their evolution with temperature. We identify topologically nontrivial Dirac surface states and multiple van Hove singularities (VHSs) in the vicinity of the Fermi level, with one VHS near the K point exhibiting nesting wave vectors in proximity to the $\sqrt{3}$ x $\sqrt{3}$ $\textit{R}$30$°$ CDW wave vector. Additionally, Raman measurements indicate a strong intrinsic electron-phonon coupling in ScV$_{6}$Sn$_{6}$, as evidenced by the presence of a two-phonon mode and a large frequency amplitude mode. Our findings highlight the fundamental role of lattice degrees of freedom in promoting the CDW in ScV$_{6}$Sn$_{6}$ and provide important insights into the fascinating correlation phenomena observed in kagome metals.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2023

Nature of unconventional pairing in the kagome superconductors AV$_3$Sb$_5$

The recent discovery of AV$_3$Sb$_5$ (A=K,Rb,Cs) has uncovered an intriguing arena for exotic Fermi surface instabilities in a kagome metal. Among them, superconductivity is found in the vicinity of multiple van Hove singularities, exhibiting indications of unconventional pairing. We show that the sublattice interference mechanism is central to understanding the formation of superconductivity in a kagome metal. Starting from an appropriately chosen minimal tight-binding model with multiple with multiple van Hove singularities close to the Fermi level for AV$_3$Sb$_5$, we provide a random phase approximation analysis of superconducting instabilities. Non-local Coulomb repulsion, the sublattice profile of the van Hove bands, and the bare interaction strength turn out to be the crucial parameters to determine the preferred pairing symmetry. Implications for potentially topological surface states are discussed, along with a proposal for additional measurements to pin down the nature of superconductivity in AV$_3$Sb$_5$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Room-Temperature Bound States in the Continuum Polariton Condensation

Exciton-polaritons resulting from the strong exciton-photon interaction stimulate the development of novel coherent light sources with low threshold, long range spatial, and temporal coherence to circumvent the ever increasing energy demands of optical communications. Polaritons from bound states in the continuum (BICs) are promising for Bose-Einstein condensation owing to their infinite quality factors that enlarge photon lifetimes and benefit polariton accumulations. However, BIC polariton condensation remains limited to cryogenic temperatures ascribed to the small exciton binding energies of conventional material platforms. Herein, we demonstrated a room-temperature BIC polaritonic platform based on halide perovskite air-hole photonic crystals, profiting from the non-radiative BIC states and stable excitons of cesium lead bromide. BIC polariton condensation was achieved near the dispersion minimum that generates directional vortex beam emission with long-range coherence. Our work provides a significant basis for the applications of polariton condensates for integrated photonic and topological circuits.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Nodeless electron pairing in CsV$_3$Sb$_5$-derived kagome superconductors

The newly discovered kagome superconductors represent a promising platform for investigating the interplay between band topology, electronic order, and lattice geometry. Despite extensive research efforts on this system, the nature of the superconducting ground state remains elusive. In particular, consensus on the electron pairing symmetry has not been achieved so far, in part owing to the lack of a momentum-resolved measurement of the superconducting gap structure. Here we report the direct observation of a nodeless, nearly isotropic, and orbital-independent superconducting gap in the momentum space of two exemplary CsV$_3$Sb$_5$-derived kagome superconductors -- Cs(V$_{0.93}$Nb$_{0.07}$)$_3$Sb$_5$ and Cs(V$_{0.86}$Ta$_{0.14}$)$_3$Sb$_5$, using ultrahigh resolution and low-temperature angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). Remarkably, such a gap structure is robust to the appearance or absence of charge order in the normal state, tuned by isovalent Nb/Ta substitutions of V. Moreover, we observe a signature of the time-reversal symmetry (TRS) breaking inside the superconducting state, which extends the previous observation of TRS-breaking CDW in the kagome lattice. Our comprehensive characterizations of the superconducting state provide indispensable information on the electron pairing of kagome superconductors, and advance our understanding of unconventional superconductivity and intertwined electronic orders.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2023

Fundamental laws of chiral band crossings: local constraints, global constraints, and topological phase diagrams

We derive two fundamental laws of chiral band crossings: (i) a local constraint relating the Chern number to phase jumps of rotation eigenvalues; and (ii) a global constraint determining the number of chiral crossings on rotation axes. Together with the fermion doubling theorem, these laws describe all conditions that a network of chiral band crossing must satisfy. We apply the fundamental laws to prove the existence of enforced double Weyl points, nodal planes, and generic Weyl points, among others. In addition, we show that chiral space-group symmetries cannot stabilize nodal lines with finite Chern numbers. Combining the local constraint with explicit low-energy models, we determine the generic topological phase diagrams of all multi-fold crossings. Remarkably, we find a four-fold crossing with Chern number 5, which exceeds the previously conceived maximum Chern number of 4. We identify BaAsPt as a suitable material with this four-fold crossing exhibiting Chern number 5 near the Fermi energy.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Competing Vortex Topologies in Iron-based Superconductors

In this work, we establish a new theoretical paradigm for vortex Majorana physics in the recently discovered topological iron-based superconductors (tFeSCs). While tFeSCs are widely accepted as an exemplar of topological insulators (TIs) with intrinsic $s$-wave superconductivity, our theory implies that such common belief could be oversimplified. Our main finding is that the normal-state bulk Dirac nodes, usually ignored in TI-based vortex Majorana theories for tFeSCs, will play a key role of determining the vortex state topology. In particular, the interplay between TI and Dirac nodal bands will lead to multiple competing topological phases for a superconducting vortex line in tFeSCs, including an unprecedented hybrid topological vortex state that carries both Majorana bound states and a gapless dispersion. Remarkably, this exotic hybrid vortex phase generally exists in the vortex phase diagram for our minimal model for tFeSCs and is directly relevant to tFeSC candidates such as LiFeAs.When the four-fold rotation symmetry is broken by vortex-line tilting or curving, the hybrid vortex gets topologically trivialized and becomes Majorana-free, which could explain the puzzle of ubiquitous trivial vortices observed in LiFeAs. Origin of Majorana signal in other tFeSC candidates such as FeTe$_x$Se$_{1-x}$ and CaKFe$_4$As$_4$ are also interpreted within our theory framework. Our theory sheds new light on theoretically understanding and experimentally engineering Majorana physics in high-temperature iron-based systems.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Non-trivial band topology and orbital-selective electronic nematicity in a new titanium-based kagome superconductor

Electronic nematicity that spontaneously breaks rotational symmetry has been shown as a generic phenomenon in correlated quantum systems including high-temperature superconductors and the AV3Sb5 (A = K, Rb, Cs) family with a kagome network. Identifying the driving force has been a central challenge for understanding nematicity. In iron-based superconductors, the problem is complicated because the spin, orbital and lattice degrees of freedom are intimately coupled. In vanadium-based kagome superconductors AV3Sb5, the electronic nematicity exhibits an intriguing entanglement with the charge density wave order (CDW), making understanding its origin difficult. Recently, a new family of titanium-based kagome superconductors ATi3Bi5 has been synthesized. In sharp contrast to its vanadium-based counterpart, the electronic nematicity occurs in the absence of CDW. ATi3Bi5 provides a new window to explore the mechanism of electronic nematicity and its interplay with the orbital degree of freedom. Here, we combine polarization-dependent angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy with density functional theory to directly reveal the band topology and orbital characters of the multi-orbital RbTi3Bi5. The promising coexistence of flat bands, type-II Dirac nodal line and nontrivial Z2 topological states is identified in RbTi3Bi5. Remarkably, our study clearly unveils the orbital character change along the G-M and G-K directions, implying a strong intrinsic inter-orbital coupling in the Ti-based kagome metals, reminiscent of iron-based superconductors. Furthermore, doping-dependent measurements directly uncover the orbital-selective features in the kagome bands, which can be well explained by the d-p hybridization. The suggested d-p hybridization, in collaboration with the inter-orbital coupling, could account for the electronic nematicity in ATi3Bi5.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Nodal s$_\pm$ Pairing Symmetry in an Iron-Based Superconductor with only Hole Pockets

The origin of the high temperature superconductivity in the iron-based superconductors remains elusive after being extensively studied for more than a decade. Determination of the pairing symmetry is essential in understanding the superconductivity mechanism. In the iron-based superconductors that have hole pockets around the Brillouin zone center and electron pockets around the zone corners, the pairing symmetry is generally considered to be s$_\pm$, endowing a sign change in the superconducting gap between the hole and electron pockets. For the iron-based superconductors with only hole pockets, however, a couple of pairing scenarios have been proposed but the exact symmetry is still highly controversial. Here we report our determination of the pairing symmetry in KFe$_2$As$_2$ which is a prototypical iron-based superconductor with hole pockets both around the zone center and around the zone corners. By taking laser-based angle resolved photoemission measurements with super-high resolution and at ultra-low temperature, we have precisely determined the superconducting gap distribution and identified the locations of the gap nodes on all the Fermi surface around the zone center and the zone corners. The complete superconducting gap structure, in combination with the observation of the spin resonance in neutron scattering, provides strong evidence on the s$_\pm$ pairing symmetry in KFe$_2$As$_2$ with a gap sign reversal between the hole pockets around the zone center and the hole pockets around the zone corners. These results unify the pairing symmetry in the hole-doped iron-based superconductors and point to the spin fluctuation as the pairing glue in generating superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Tunable Topological Dirac Surface States and Van Hove Singularities in Kagome Metal GdV${_6}$Sn${_6}$

Transition-metal-based kagome materials at van Hove filling are a rich frontier for the investigation of novel topological electronic states and correlated phenomena. To date, in the idealized two-dimensional kagome lattice, topologically nontrivial Dirac surface states (TDSSs) have not been unambiguously observed, and the manipulation of TDSSs and van Hove singularities (VHSs) remains largely unexplored. Here, we reveal TDSSs originating from a Z${_2}$ bulk topology and identify multiple VHSs near the Fermi level ($\textit{E}$${_F}$) in magnetic kagome material GdV${_6}$Sn${_6}$. Using in-situ surface potassium deposition, we successfully realize manipulation of the TDSSs and VHSs. The Dirac point of the TDSSs can be tuned from above to below ($\textit{E}$${_F}$), which reverses the chirality of the spin texture at the Fermi surface. These results establish GdV${_6}$Sn${_6}$ as a fascinating platform for studying the nontrivial topology, magnetism and correlation effects native to kagome lattices. They also suggest potential application of spintronic devices based on kagome materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Diagnosis of pairing symmetry by vortex and edge spectra in kagome superconductors

Layered kagome metals AV3Sb5 (A=K, Rb, Cs) exhibit diverse correlated electron phenomena. It includes charge density wave formation and superconductivity the pairing symmetry of which, however, is controversial due to contradictory experimental evidence. Through calculations based on real-space lattice models at the mean-field level, we investigate the vortex and surface spectra of all competitive pairing propensities suggested for AV3Sb5 from a weak coupling analysis of unconventional superconductivity. Chiral p-wave pairing emerges as the only option to host Majorana bound states in the vortex core. We find chiral edge states for both p-wave and d-wave pairing, along with flat Andreev surface bound states for f -wave pairing. Our results expand the fingerprint of superconducting pairing, and thus will contribute to resolving the nature of superconductivity in AV3Sb5.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Caging-Pnictogen-Induced Superconductivity in Skutterudites IrX3 (X = As, P)

Here we report on a new kind of compound, XδIr4X12-δ (X = P, As), the first hole-doped skutterudites superconductor. We provide atomic resolution images of the caging As atoms using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). By inserting As atoms into the caged structure under a high pressure, superconductivity emerges with a maximum transition temperature (Tc) of 4.4 K (4.8 K) in IrAs3 (IrP3). In contrast to all of the electron-doped skutterudites, the electronic states around the Fermi level in XδIr4X12-δ are dominated by the caged X atom, which can be described by a simple body-centered tight-binding model, implying a distinct paring mechanism. Our density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal an intimate relationship between the pressure-dependent local-phonon mode and the enhancement of Tc. The discovery of XδIr4X12-δ provides an arena to investigate the uncharted territory of hole-doped skutterudites, and the method proposed here represents a new strategy of carrier doping in caged structures, without introducing extra elements.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Lifshitz transition enhanced triplet $p_z$-wave superconductivity in hydrogen doped KCr$_3$As$_3$

The recently synthesized air-insensitive hydrogen doped KCr$_3$As$_3$ superconductor has aroused great research interests. This material has, for the first time in the research area of the quasi-one-dimensional Cr-based superconductivity (SC), realized a tunability through charge doping, which will potentially significantly push the development of this area. Here based on the band structure from first-principle calculations, we construct a six-band tight-binding (TB) model equipped with multi-orbital Hubbard interactions, and adopt the random-phase-approximation approach to study the hydrogen-doping dependence of the pairing symmetry and superconducting $T_c$. Under the rigid-band approximation, our pairing phase diagram is occupied by the triplet $p_z$-wave pairing through out the hydrogen-doping regime $x\in (0.4,1)$ in which SC has been experimentally detected. Remarkably, the $x$-dependence of $T_c$ shows a peak at the 3D-quasi-1D Lifshitz transition point, although the total density of state exhibit a dip there. A thorough investigation of the band structure reveals type-II van-Hove singularities (VHSs) in the $γ$ band, which favor the formation of the triplet SC. It turns out that the $γ$- Fermi surface (FS) comprises two flat quasi-1D FS sheets almost parallel to the $k_z=0$ plane and six almost perpendicular tube-like FS sheets, and the type-II VHS just lies in the boundary between these two FS parts. Furthermore, the $\left|k_z\right|$ of the VH planes reaches the maximum near the Lifshitz-transition point, which pushes the $T_c$ of the $p_z$-wave SC to the maximum. Our results appeal more experimental access into this intriguing superconductor.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2022

Coexistence of Tri-Hexagonal and Star-of-David Pattern in the Charge Density Wave of the Kagome Superconductor AV$_3$Sb$_5$

The recently discovered layered kagome metals AV$_3$Sb$_5$(A=K, Rb, Cs) have attracted much attention because of their unique combination of superconductivity, charge density wave (CDW) order, and nontrivial band topology. The CDW order with an in-plane 2x2 reconstruction is found to exhibit exotic properties, such as time-reversal symmetry breaking and rotational symmetry breaking. However, the nature of the CDW, including its dimensionality, structural pattern, and effect on electronic structure, remains elusive despite intense research efforts. Here, using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we unveil for the first time characteristic double-band splittings and band reconstructions, as well as the band gap resulting from band folding, in the CDW phase. Supported by density functional theory calculations, we unambiguously show that the CDW in AV$_3$Sb$_5$ originates from the intrinsic coexistence of Star-of-David and Tri-Hexagonal distortions. The alternating stacking of these two distortions naturally leads to three-dimensional 2x2x2 or 2x2x4 CDW order. Our results provide crucial insights into the nature and distortion pattern of the CDW order, thereby laying down the basis for a substantiated understanding of the exotic properties in the family of AV$_3$Sb$_5$ kagome metals.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Spectroscopic Evidence for a Three-Dimensional Charge Density Wave in Kagome Superconductor CsV$_3$Sb$_5$

The recently discovered AV3Sb5 (A=K, Rb, Cs) family, possessing V kagome nets, has received considerable attention due to the topological electronic structure and intriguing correlated phenomena, including an exotic charge density wave (CDW) and superconductivity. Detailed electronic structure studies are essential to unravel the characteristics and origin of the CDW as well as its interplay with superconductivity. Here, we present angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements for CsV3Sb5 at multiple temperatures and photon energies to reveal the nature of the CDW from an electronic structure perspective. We present evidence for a three-dimensional (3D) CDW order. In the process we also pinpoint a surface state attributed to a Cs terminated surface. This state was previously attributed to band folding band due to a CDW along the c direction or a quantum well state from quantum confinement. The CDW expected 2-fold lattice reconstruction along c axis is observed to be a quadrupling of the unit cell, thus for the first time directly demonstrating the 3D nature of the CDW from the electronic structure perspective. Moreover, this 3D CDW configuration originates from two distinct types of distortions in adjacent kagome layers. These present results not only provide key insights into the nature of the unconventional CDW in CsV3Sb5 but also provides an important reference for further studies on the relationship between the CDW and superconductivity.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Discovery of two families of VSb-based compounds with V-kagome lattice

We report the structure and physical properties of two newly-discovered compounds AV8Sb12 and AV6Sb6 (A = Cs, Rb), which have C2 (space group: Cmmm) and C3 (space group: R-3m) symmetry, respectively. The basic V-kagome unit is present in both compounds, but stacking differently. A V2Sb2 layer is sandwiched between two V3Sb5 layers in AV8Sb12, altering the V-kagome lattice and lowering the symmetry of kagome layer from hexagonal to orthorhombic. In AV6Sb6, the building block is a more complex slab made up of two half-V3Sb5 layers that are intercalated by Cs cations along the c-axis. Transport property measurements demonstrate that both compounds are nonmagnetic metals, with carrier concentrations at around 1021cm-3. No superconductivity has been observed in CsV8Sb12 above 0.3 K under in-situ pressure up to 46 GPa. In contrast to CsV3Sb5, theoretical calculations and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) reveal a quasi-two-dimensional electronic structure in CsV8Sb12 with C2 symmetry and no van Hove singularities near the Fermi level. Our findings will stimulate more research into V-based kagome quantum materials.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2021

Van Hove tuning of AV3Sb5 kagome metals under pressure and strain

From first-principles calculations, we investigate the structural and electronic properties of the kagome metals AV3Sb5 (A = Cs, K, Rb) under isotropic and anisotropic pressure. Charge ordering patterns are found to be unanimously suppressed, while there is a significant rearrangement of p-type and m-type van Hove point energies with respect to the Fermi level. Already for moderate tensile strain along the V plane and compressive strain normal to the V layer, we find that a van Hove point can be shifted to the Fermi energy. Such a mechanism provides an invaluable tuning knob to alter the correlation profile in the kagome metal, and suggests itself for further experimental investigation. It might allow to reconcile possible multi-dome superconductivity in kagome metals not only from phonons, but also from the viewpoint of unconventional pairing.

cond-mat.supr-con↗