arXiv subjects

Yanfeng Guo

Publications and source records attributed to Yanfeng Guo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Chiral-Structured Superconductors TrX4 (Tr = Rh, Ir; X = Ge, Si): A Platform for Mixed-Parity Pairing and Topological States

Chiral-structured superconductors, with simultaneous broken mirror and inversion symmetries, promote unconventional superconductivity through parity-mixing mechanisms. Yet a few bulk chiral-structured superconductors are known, partly due to the difficulty in directly determining their atomic-scale chirality. Here we report three chiral-structured superconductors, , RhGe4, IrGe4, and IrSi4, synthesized under high pressure, with Tc values of about 1.6 K, 1.1 K, and 2.5 K, respectively.Using atomic resolution Cs-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) combined with X-ray diffraction characterizations, we directly confirm their chiral structure (space group P3121). This real space imaging approach overcomes ambiguities in traditional diffraction based methods. These materials exhibit type-II superconductivity, and the enhancement of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) leads to the emergence of mixed parity pairing. Calculations also reveal symmetry protected Weyl points near the Fermi level, which is robust against the SOC. Our work not only expands the family of chiral-structured superconductors but also demonstrates the indispensable role of STEM in directly determining chiral crystal structures. These materials thus offer a clean platform to explore the interplay among structural chirality, SOC, mixed parity superconductivity, and topological quantum phenomena.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2026

Ising superconductivity and anomalous metallic states in a bulk crystal with artificial unidirectional stacking layers

The two-dimensional (2D) limit in macroscopic bulk crystals provides a powerful platform for exploring exotic quantum phases. Here, we report the synthesis of a Sr0.75ClNbS2 superconductor that achieves unidirectional, parallel AA stacking-a configuration never before realized in a bulk crystal. Unlike conventional intercalation, which merely expands the interlayer spacing, our approach employs a planar Sr-Cl network to enforce a complete stacking reorganization, driving all NbS2 layers from the native antiparallel AB stacking into a unidirectional, parallel AA arrangement. This stacking switch globally breaks inversion symmetry, transforming centrosymmetric 2H-NbS2 into a noncentrosymmetric bulk crystal with D3h point group symmetry. Crucially, this structural design reproduces, in three dimensions, the electronic environment of an isolated monolayer, thereby preventing cancellation of the local Ising fields. As a result, strong Ising spin-orbit coupling and spin-split bands persist throughout the bulk. Transport measurements reveal extreme superconducting anisotropy ({\gamma} ~ 77), an in-plane upper critical field (~ 10.65 T) that far exceeds the Pauli paramagnetic limit, and clean-limit superconductivity indicative of high crystalline quality. Moreover, magnetotransport uncovers a novel magnetic-field-induced anomalous metallic state characterized by finite dissipation yet a vanishing Hall response. Direct band-structure measurements corroborate the layer-decoupled, quasi-2D electronic nature of the system. This work establishes stacking-geometry engineering as a powerful strategy to artificially enforce a globally noncentrosymmetric, quasi-2D superconducting state in bulk crystals, paving the way for designing quantum materials with tunable crystalline symmetry and electronic band topology.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2026

Orbital-selective band evolution and out-of-plane correlation in the FeGe-family kagome antiferromagnet ScFe$_6$Ge$_6$

In strongly correlated materials such as high-temperature superconductors, the relation between charge density wave (CDW) order and magnetism remains an important unresolved problem. FeGe is the first kagome metal known to exhibit CDW order deep within an antiferromagnetic state, accompanied by an unconventional evolution of lattice symmetry. To elucidate the general conditions governing such spin-correlated CDW order, we investigate ScFe$_6$Ge$_6$, which lacks CDW order and therefore exhibits reduced involvement of charge degrees of freedom while retaining other properties of FeGe. Instead of a CDW order, ScFe$_6$Ge$_6$ undergoes a magnetic transition at $T^*$ = 195 K. Across this transition, angle-resolved photoemission and Raman spectroscopy reveal orbital-selective behavior confined to a single kagome Dirac band, together with electron-phonon and magnetoelastic coupling to an out-of-plane phonon mode. These results suggest that orbital-selective physics and out-of-plane correlations play enhanced roles in realizing spin-correlated CDW order in magnetic kagome metals.

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arXiv2026

Andreev Reflection to Probe Momentum-Dependent Spin Polarization in Altermagnet CrSb

Altermagnetic materials have recently emerged as promising candidates for next-generation spintronic applications, characterized by the k-dependent spin-splitted band structure and a simultaneous zero-net-magnetization. Among them, altermagnetic candidate CrSb has attracted considerable attention, owing to its g-wave spin splitting and high N\'eel temperature. In this article, we employed mechanical point-contact spectroscopy (MPCS) with superconducting Nb tips to probe the Andreev reflection on CrSb single crystals along three principal crystallographic orientations. The extracted momentum-dependent spin polarizations are approximately 73.4% for the (0001) plane, 67.9% for the (-1-120) plane, and 61.9% for the (10-10) plane, respectively, distinct from conventional antiferromagnets. Furthermore, conductance spectra from spatial line-scans on the sample surface support the existence of altermagnetic domains with a characteristic size of 250-500 nm separated by domain-walls with width about 250 nm. These results strongly support the momentum-dependent spin polarization in altermagnetic CrSb and establish Andreev reflection as a new paradigm to probe k-dependent spin textures.

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arXiv2026

Quenching of Nonrelativistic $p$-Wave Spin Splitting by Reduced $c\text{-}f$ Coupling in $\text{CeNiAsO}$

The application of spin-space group symmetries to noncollinear antiferromagnets has led to the prediction of odd-parity, nonrelativistic spin splittings, making the physical realization of a practical $p$-wave magnet a central pursuit in spintronics. The layered heavy-fermion oxypnictide $\text{CeNiAsO}$ has been widely regarded as a prototypical platform to verify this paradigm. Here, we investigate the electronic structure of single-crystal $\text{CeNiAsO}$ using high-resolution, ultra-low-temperature and resonant angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), and $ab-initio$ calculations. Across the consecutive magnetic transitions into the ordered phases, our spectroscopic data reveal neither the expected band folding associated with a spin density wave nor any observable $p$-wave spin splitting, demonstrating that the conduction bands retain full degeneracy. By tracking the temperature dependence of the Ce 4$f$ spectral weight via resonant ARPES, we find negligible $c\text{-}f$ hybridization near the Fermi level within magnetically ordered states, confirming that the Ce 4$f$ electrons reside close to the localized limit. Our findings establish a clear many-body constraint on the projection of real-space magnetic symmetries onto momentum-space electronic bands, demonstrating that symmetry classifications constitute a necessary framework but are not a sufficient condition for nonrelativistic spin splittings in the presence of strong electronic correlations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Rare-Earth-Tuned Evolution from d- to f-Orbital Dominance and Giant Anomalous Hall Effect in Topological RGaGe (R = Ce, Pr, Nd) Semimetals

The family of noncentrosymmetric rare-earth germanides RGaGe (R = Ce, Pr, Nd) provides a rich materials platform to explore the intertwined physics of strong magnetism, electronic correlations, and topological band structures. Through a combination of crystal growth, characterization, and first-principles calculations, we reveal that these compounds exhibit a pronounced uniaxial magnetic anisotropy, leading to distinct ground states: RGaGe orders ferromagnetically with moments along the crystallographic c-axis, and shows an antiferromagnetic-like structure in the ab-plane. A key finding is a significantly enhanced intrinsic anomalous Hall conductivity (AHC) compared to their well-known RAlGe counterparts, which even reaches as high as 948 {\Omega}-1 cm-1 at 2 K in PrGaGe. Our theoretical analysis predicts that this AHC originates from a robust Weyl semimetallic state driven by inversion symmetry breaking, where Weyl points near the Fermi level couple strongly to the magnetic order. Importantly, this topological state persists above the magnetic ordering temperature, confirming its intrinsic electronic origin. Our calculation also reveals that, while the near-Fermi-level states in CeGaGe and PrGaGe are dominated by d-orbital contributions, NdGaGe exhibits significant f-orbital involvement, signaling a progressive evolution from d- to f-orbital dominated topology. These results establish the RGaGe system as a tunable platform for systematically extending the RAlGe-related family, showcasing a large anomalous Hall response and orbital evolution near the Fermi level, and advancing the understanding of the interplay between topology and magnetism in quantum materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

Breaking the Trade-off: Bulk 2D Ising Superconductivity with High Tc and Giant Interlayer Spacing via a Unique Chain Intercalation in (BaS)1/3TaS2

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are promising platforms for low dimensional superconductivity. However, in conventional intercalated systems, achieving a high superconducting transition temperature (Tc) often comes at the expense of reduced interlayer spacing and weakened 2D character. Here, we overcome this long-standing compromise through a unique chain-like intercalation strategy. We report the synthesis and properties of a new polymorph, (BaS)1/3TaS2, in which a distinctive Ba-S-S-Ba chain structure is inserted between TaS2 bilayers. This unique configuration breaks the bulk c axis mirror symmetry while achieving exceptional interlayer decoupling, with an inter-bilayer spacing of 12.75 {\AA}-more than three times that of pristine 2H-TaS2. By suppressing interlayer electronic coupling, this structural evolution allows local inversion symmetry breaking within individual TaS2 layers to dominate. This prevents compensation of the Ising spin-orbit fields typical of centrosymmetric bulk phases, enabling robust 2D Ising superconductivity. Remarkably, the compound exhibits an enhanced Tc without sacrificing its large interlayer spacing, thereby breaking the conventional trade-off between large spacing/high anisotropy and high Tc. Comprehensive transport, magnetic, and thermodynamic measurements confirm its robust superconducting state. Our work establishes a versatile intercalation framework for designing bulk-like 2D Ising superconductors, providing a new route to reconcile competing material demands and expanding the scope of Ising superconductivity research.

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arXiv2026

Observation of anomalous thermal Hall effect in altermagnets

Altermagnets, recently proposed as a third category of collinear magnets, combine the features of zero net magnetization in antiferromagnets and the spin splitting in ferromagnets. While abundant spectroscopic evidence for altermagnetism has been reported, experimental observation of the anomalous Hall effect, a hallmark of ferromagnetism, remains scarce. Here, we shift the paradigm from charge to heat carriers and report the systematic study of the thermal Hall effect in two representative altermagnet candidates, MnTe and CrSb. In both materials, we observe a pronounced anomalous phonon thermal Hall signal, with no electrical counterpart observed, attributed to the coupling of this distinctive magnetic structure with phonons. Our findings establish the anomalous phonon thermal Hall effect as an intrinsic feature of altermagnets, and provide a sensitive probe to identify this new kind of quantum magnets. The anomalous phonon thermal Hall effect in altermagnets directly links the N\'eel vector to lattice vibrations, opening prospects for low-loss phononic devices and thermally readable memories.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

Observation of Resonance of Kagome Flat Band Doublet

The interplay between local and itinerant electrons underpins many correlated and topological quantum states. Kagome lattices provide an ideal platform by hosting both flat (localized states) and dispersive bands (itinerant states), yet direct spectroscopic evidence of their dynamical coupling has remained elusive. Here we report the long-sought flat band resonance in the quasi-two-dimensional kagome bilayer material CsCr6Sb6. Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, transport measurements, and combined density functional theory and dynamical mean-field theory, we identify coexisting flat band doublets and dispersive bands near the Fermi energy. Upon cooling, the flat and dispersive bands exhibit a pronounced enhancement of spectral weight and hybridization, directly evidencing flat band resonance. Crucially, this emergence coincides with the onset of short-range antiferromagnetic correlations, contrasting sharply with conventional Kondo lattice behavior. Our findings demonstrate not only the long-sought flat band resonance in kagome materials, but also its unconventional correlation with magnetism.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2026

Evolution from three-dimensional charge density wave to one-dimensional stripe order in CsV$_{3-x}$Ti$_x$Sb$_5$

Understanding intertwined phases near quantum criticality is a central challenge in correlated electron systems. The kagome metal CsV$_{3-x}$Ti$_x$Sb$_5$ provides a fertile platform to investigate the interplay between charge-density-wave (CDW) and superconductivity. Here, combining x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we uncover a dimensional evolution of the CDW upon Ti substitution. We find that even infinitesimal Ti doping (x = 0.009) completely suppresses the three-dimensional 2 $\times$ 2 $\times$ 4 CDW present in pristine CsV3Sb5, while reducing the remaining 2 $\times$ 2 $\times$ 2 CDW to a quasi-two-dimensional order. With further Ti substitution, although no CDW transition is discernible in resistivity measurements, our XRD and STM data reveal the emergence of a (quasi-)one-dimensional CDW with a short correlation length of $\sim$ 20 $\AA$ at x = 0.2. The stripelike CDW undergoes a continuous second-order phase transition, characterized by a gradual increase in intensity and correlation length below $\sim$ 56 K. Our results elucidate the dimensional evolution of CDW order in CsV$_{3-x}$Ti$_x$Sb$_5$ and provide new insight into understanding the unconventional CDWs and their role in kagome superconductors.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Isotropic Dirac fermion and anomalous oscillator strength of zeroth Landau level transition

Dirac fermions, characterized by their linear dispersion and relativistic nature, have emerged as a prominent class of quasiparticles in condensed matter physics. While the Dirac equation, initially developed in the context of high-energy physics, provides a remarkable framework for describing the electronic properties of these materials, the inherent symmetry constraints of condensed matter often lead to deviations from the idealized paradigm. In particular, three-dimensional Dirac fermions in solids often exhibit anisotropic behavior, challenging the notion of perfect symmetry inherent in the Dirac equation. Here, we report the observation of isotropic massive Dirac fermions in LaAlSi through Landau level spectroscopy. The presence of three-dimensional massive Dirac fermions across the Fermi energy is demonstrated by quantized and semiclassical analyses of the magnetic field evolution of Landau level transitions. The isotropic topological nature, Fermi velocity, and Dirac mass are evidenced by the identical magneto-infrared response among the Faraday and three Voigt geometries. Furthermore, we observe an unusually large oscillator strength in the zeroth Landau level transition of the Dirac fermion, compared to transitions with higher indices. This phenomenon, supported by model calculations, can be attributed to the combined effects of the partial excitation of Dirac fermion and the resonant dielectric coupling with the Weyl plasma. Our work provides a strategy for realizing ideal quasiparticle excitations and their coupling effects in condensed matter systems, offering a platform for exploring relativistic physics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Gate tuning of coupled electronic and structural phase transition in atomically thin Ta$_2$NiSe$_5$

Realizing an excitonic insulator phase from narrow-gap semiconductors remains challenging, as unambiguous experimental signatures are difficult to establish. Ta$_2$NiSe$_5$ has been widely regarded as a leading candidate, yet the nature of its phase transition and insulating state remains controversial. Here, we report a systematic Raman spectroscopy study of Ta$_2$NiSe$_5$ as a function of thickness and field-effect doping, complemented by electrical transport measurements. The phase transition persists down to the monolayer limit, with the critical temperature increasing as thickness decreases. In bilayer samples, both electron and hole doping suppress the insulating state, with electron doping lowering and hole doping raising the transition temperature. Importantly, the quasi-elastic scattering, previously attributed to excitonic fluctuations, evolves monotonically across the entire doping range, inconsistent with the expected suppression of excitonic correlations by Coulomb screening. These findings rule out a dominant excitonic mechanism and instead point to a coupled electronic and structural phase transition, whose stability is tunable by carrier doping. Our doping-based approach offers a general strategy for evaluating the role of excitonic effects in candidate excitonic insulators.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Field-Tunable Anisotropic Fulde-Ferrell Phase in NbSe$_2$/CrSiTe$_3$ Heterostructures

The emergence of superconductivity in two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides with strong spin orbit coupling (SOC) has opened new avenues for exploring exotic superconducting states. Here, we report experimental observation of an anisotropic Fulde-Ferrell (FF) phase in few-layer NbSe$_2$/CrSiTe$_3$ heterostructures under in-plane magnetic fields. Through combined magnetoresistance and nonreciprocal transport measurements, we find that due to the couplings from the ferromagnetic CrSiTe$_3$, a half-dome-shaped region emerges in the magnetic field-temperature ($B$-$T$) diagram. Importantly, the half-dome-shaped region exhibits finite second harmonic resistance with in-plane anisotropy, indicating that the superconducting state is an anisotropic FF phase. Through a symmetry analysis combined with mean field calculations, we attribute the emergent anisotropic FF phase to the CrSiTe$_3$ layer induced Rashba SOC and three-fold rotational symmetry breaking. These results demonstrate that heterostructure stacking is a powerful tool for symmetry engineering in superconductors, which can advance the design of quantum devices in atomically thin superconducting materials.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2025

Ground state magnetic structure of Mn3Sn

We use spherical neutron polarimetry to determine the ground state magnetic structure of Mn3Sn. We find that Mn3Sn adopts an inverse triangular structure with spins parallel to <100> (Type III) rather than spins parallel to <110> (Type IV). Density functional theory calculations reveal no energy difference between these two structures, suggesting that the selection is caused by subtle effects such as sixth-order anisotropy. Partial control of the magnetic domain population through a moderate magnetic field is key to distinguish between the two models. We find that three of the six domains are approximately equally populated, while the others have negligible population. Upon entering the low temperature incommensurate phase, the domain structure is lost. The domains decouple from the magnetic field, and can therefore not be controlled by any known method.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Surface reconstruction and orthogonal decoupling in SrAl4 and EuAl4

Surface-induced symmetry breaking in quantum materials can stabilize exotic electronic phases distinct from those in the bulk, yet its momentum-space manifestations remain elusive due to domain-averaging effects. Here, using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we present a microscopic investigation of the electronic structures of SrAl4 and EuAl4, layered tetragonal intermetallic compounds that exhibit well-characterized incommensurate charge-density-wave (CDW) transitions. Below the CDW transition temperatures, we uncover linearly dispersing electronic states and pronounced unidirectional replica bands orthogonal to the bulk CDW wave vector, evidencing the emergence of an in-plane C4 symmetry-breaking electronic order that is not dictated by the bulk incommensurate CDW. STM measurements further reveal a 1 times 2 surface reconstruction with quasi-one-dimensional modulations and half-unit-cell steps, traced to ordered 50 percent Sr/Eu vacancies, which vanish irreversibly upon thermal cycling, indicating decoupled surface and bulk orders. These findings establish SrAl4 and EuAl4 as model platforms for exploring surface-confined nematicity and emergent low-dimensional phases in quantum materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Multi-origin driven giant planar Hall effect in topological antiferromagnet EuAl2Si2 with tunable spin texture

In topological materials, the planar Hall effect (PHE) is often regarded as a hallmark of profound quantum phenomena-most notably the Adler-Bell-Jackiw chiral anomaly and Berry curvature-rendering it an indispensable tool for deciphering the topological essence of emergent phases. In this study, we delve into the PHE and anisotropic magnetoresistance in the recently discovered layered topological antiferromagnet EuAl2Si2. Our analysis of the robust PHE signal (~3.8 {\mu}{\Omega} cm at 2 K and 8 T) unveils a distinct interplay of mechanisms. While Berry curvature plays a minor role, the dominant contributions stem from classical orbital MR in the field-induced ferromagnetic state and field-suppressed spin fluctuations in the paramagnetic regime. These insights not only position EuAl2Si2-with its highly tunable spin texture-as an exemplary system for probing the intricate coupling between spin configurations and band topology in magnetotransport but also pave the way for designing novel materials with tailored PHE responses, highlighting significant application prospects in quantum sensing, spintronic devices, and topologically protected electronic systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Emergent dynamical Kondo coherence and competing magnetic order in a correlated kagome flat-band metal CsCr6Sb6

Correlated kagome metals host unique electronic states that enable exotic quantum phenomena. In the recently emerged CsCr6Sb6, these manifest through Kondo behavior from localized Cr-3d electrons and unprecedented band flattening near the Fermi level. Yet the intricate interplay among Kondo screening, magnetic frustration, and electronic correlations remains poorly understood-a fundamental gap we address through multifaceted experimental and theoretical approaches. Our angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements reveal electronic correlation-renormalized flat bands and muon spin relaxation study detect short-range magnetic order at TN ~ 80 K. Complementing these findings, density-functional theory and dynamical mean-field theory calculations identify a coherent-incoherent crossover at TN, with a remarkable restoration of coherence accompanying local moment suppression-an anomalous hallmark of Kondo behavior. Intriguingly, despite strong interlayer antiferromagnetic coupling, the system evades long-range magnetic order due to competing magnetic configurations separated by sub-meV energy differences. These insights establish CsCr6Sb6 as a prototypical platform for investigating dynamical Kondo screening in correlated flat-band systems, opening new avenues to study flat band physics and frustrated magnetism in correlated kagome lattices.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2025

Sliding two-dimensional superconductivity and charge-density-wave state in a bulk crystal

Superconductivity in the two-dimensional (2D) limit is a fertile ground for exotic quantum phenomena-many of which remain elusive in their 3D counterparts. While studies of 2D superconductivity have predominantly focused on mono- or few-layer systems, we demonstrate an alternative route-interlayer sliding in bulk crystals. Through a precisely controlled growth strategy, we engineer interlayer sliding in bulk 3R-NbSe2, deliberately disrupting [001] mirror symmetry and drastically suppressing interlayer coupling. Remarkably, this structural manipulation stabilizes Ising-type superconductivity coexisting with an unconventional charge-density-wave (CDW) state akin to that of monolayer 2H-NbSe2. The sliding phase exhibits a pronounced suppression of the upper critical field at low temperatures, revealing a delicate competition between Ising and Rashba spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in the globally noncentrosymmetric lattice. Intriguingly, the superconducting state displays two-fold symmetry, a signature that may arise from asymmetric SOC or a multi-component pairing order parameter. Our work establishes interlayer sliding as a symmetry-breaking tool to promote 2D superconductivity in bulk materials-without resorting to extrinsic intercalation or doping. More broadly, this approach sets a paradigm for unlocking hidden quantum states in layered materials, offering a new dimension in design of quantum matter.

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