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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Conventional superconductivity in single-crystalline BiPt

Binary Bi-Pd/Pt systems have attracted a lot of interest because of their topologically nontrivial nature along with superconductivity. We report the structural and superconducting properties of high-quality single-crystalline BiPt using a comprehensive range of experimental techniques, including X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, muon spin rotation/relaxation (𝜇⁢SR), magnetization, resistivity, and heat capacity. Our findings establish that BiPt is a weak type-II superconductor with a transition temperature (𝑇 𝑐 ) of 1.2 K which exhibits pronounced anisotropic superconducting characteristics attributed to its hexagonal crystal structure. Magnetization and electronic transport studies reveal that BiPt lies within the dirty limit, while 𝜇⁢SR and heat capacity data indicate conventional 𝑠-wave superconductivity that maintains time-reversal symmetry. Here, this work provides valuable insights into the pairing symmetry and superconducting mechanism of topologically trivial BiPt, a sound comparison system for other Bi-based topologically nontrivial superconductors.

Demagnetization↗
DOE OSTI2025

Topography of Fermi arcs in 𝑡−PtBi 2 using high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

Here, we use high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the electronic structure of trigonal phase PtBi 2 (𝑡 −PtBi 2 ), a proposed Weyl semimetal that is expected to exhibit topological Fermi arcs. Our ARPES data elucidates the topography of these objects and confirms their Fermi arc character. The arcs are formed by surface bands that have fairly flat bottoms located very close to the chemical potential ∼ 6–8 meV, before they merge with bulk bands at higher binding energy. Comparison of the ARPES data with DFT calculations shows good agreement about their location and topography. Data acquired at low temperatures does not show any signatures of superconductivity down to 3 K in terms of expected changes in dispersion due to formation of Bogoliubov quasiparticles or superconducting gap in the form of reliable shifts of peaks in energy distribution curves.

Fermi surface↗
DOE OSTI2021

Superconducting state of Sr 2 RuO 4 in the presence of longer-range Coulomb interactions

The symmetry of the superconducting condensate in Sr 2 RuO 4 remains controversial after recent experiments overturned the dominant chiral p-wave paradigm.We perform a theoretical study of pairing by spin- and chargefluctuations in Sr 2 RuO 4 , including the effects of spin-orbit coupling, and both local and longer-range Coulomb repulsion. The latter has important consequences for Sr 2 RuO 4 due to the near-degeneracy of symmetry-distinct pairing states in this material. Here we find leading nodal s', d xy , and helical (p) solutions, while both the g- and d x 2 –y 2 -wave channels remain noncompetitive. This suggests nodal time-reversal symmetry broken s' + id xy or s' + ip phases, promoted by longer-range Coulomb repulsion, as the most favorable candidates for Sr 2 RuO 4 . We analyze the properties of these states and show that the s' + id xy solution agrees with the bulk of available experimental data.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Prediction of double-Weyl points in the iron-based superconductor CaKFe 4 As 4

Employing a combination of symmetry analysis, low-energy modeling, and ab initio simulations, we predict the presence of magnetic-field-induced Weyl points close to the Fermi level in CaKFe 4 As 4 . Depending on the relative strengths of the magnetic field and of the spin-orbit coupling, the Weyl fermions can carry a topological charge of ±1 or ±2, making CaKFe 4 As 4 a rare realization of a double-Weyl semimetal. Here, we further predict experimental manifestations of these Weyl points, both in bulk properties, such as the anomalous Hall effect, and in surface properties, such as the emergence of prominent Fermi arcs. Because CaKFe 4 As 4 displays unconventional fully gapped superconductivity below 30 K, our findings open a route to investigate the interplay between superconductivity and Weyl fermions.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Orbital and spin character of doped carriers in infinite-layer nickelates

The recent discovery of superconductivity in Nd1-xSrxNiO2 has drawn significant attention in the field. A key open question regards the evolution of the electronic structure with respect to hole doping. Here we exploit x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) to probe the doping-dependent electronic structure of Nd1-xSrxNiO2. Upon doping, a high-energy feature in Ni L3-edge XAS develops in addition to the main absorption peak, while XAS at the O K-, Nd M3- and Nd M5-edge exhibits a much weaker response. This implies that doped holes are mainly introduced into Ni 3d states. By comparing our data to atomic multiplet calculations including D4h crystal field, the doping-induced feature in Ni L3-edge XAS is consistent with a d8 spin-singlet state in which doped holes reside in the 3dx2-y2 orbitals. This is further supported by the softening of RIXS orbital excitations due to doping, corroborating with the Fermi level shift associated with increasing holes in the Ni 3dx2-y2 orbital.

2-dimensional systems↗
DOE OSTI2022

Distinguishing finite-momentum superconducting pairing states with two-electron photoemission spectroscopy

Here, we show theoretically that double photoemission (2e-ARPES) may be used to identify the pairing state in superconductors in which the Cooper pairs have a nonzero center-of-mass momentum, q cm . We theoretically evaluate the 2e-ARPES counting rate P (2) for the cases of a d x 2 -y 2 -wave superconductor, a pair-density-wave (PDW) phase, and a Fulde-Ferrel-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) phase. We show that P (2) provides direct insight into the center-of-mass momentum and spin state of the superconducting condensate, and thus can distinguish between these three different superconducting pairing states. In addition, P (2) can be used to map out the momentum dependence of the superconducting order parameter. Our results identify 2e-ARPES as an ideal tool for identifying and probing q cm ≠ 0 superconducting pairing states in superconductors.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Revised phase diagram of the high- T c cuprate superconductor Pb-doped Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 + δ revealed by anisotropic transport measurements

Although phase diagrams can be leveraged to investigate high transition temperature (high-T c ) superconductivity, the issue has not been discussed thoroughly. In this study, we elucidate the phase diagram of the overdoped side of high-T c cuprates via systematic anisotropic transport measurements for Pb-doped Bi-2212 single crystals. We demonstrate that the characteristic temperatures of the “weak” pseudogap opening and electronic coherence cross each other at a critical doping level, while those of the “strong” pseudogap merges into that of superconducting fluctuations above the critical doping level. Her the results indicate the importance of Mottness in high-T c superconductivity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Pairing properties of the $t$–$t$'–$t$"–$J$ model

We study the pairing properties of the two-dimensional t–t'–t"–J model, where t' and t" are second and third neighbor hoppings, at a doping level x ≈ 0.1. Recent studies of the t–t'–J model find strong pairing for t' > 0, associated with electron doping, but an absence of pairing for t'<0, associated with hole doping. This is in contrast to the cuprates, where the highest transition temperatures appear for hole doping. Model parametrizations for the cuprates estimate a t" comparable to t', which, in principle, might fix this discrepancy. However, we find that it does not; we observe a suppression of pairing for the hole-doped system (t' < 0,t" > 0), while for the electron-doped system (t' > 0,t" < 0) d-wave pairing is robust. As a result, extended hoppings appear to be insufficient to make the one-band t–t'–J model capable of describing the pairing in the hole-doped system.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Effects of spin-orbit interaction and electron correlations in strontium titanate

Here, we show that the Bloch states in the conduction band of SrTiO 3 arise from the interplay between highly anisotropic hopping in subbands derived from the Ti t2g orbitals and spin-orbit coupling that mixes these orbitals. Because of the nearly flat-band characteristics for one of the principal axes, at sufficiently high doping these Bloch states become unstable with respect to electron interactions, resulting in Mott-like singlet correlations. These findings may be relevant to the anomalous electronic properties of SrTiO 3 , including its unusual superconductivity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Anomalous Shiba states in topological iron-based superconductors

We demonstrate the formation of robust zero energy modes close to magnetic impurities in the iron-based superconductor FeSe 1–x Te x . We find that the Zeeman field generated by the impurity favors a spin-triplet inter-orbital pairing as opposed to the spin-singlet intra-orbital pairing prevalent in the bulk. The preferred spin-triplet pairing preserves time-reversal symmetry and is topological, as robust, topologically-protected zero modes emerge at the boundary between regions with different pairing states. Moreover, the zero modes form Kramers doublets that are insensitive to the direction of the spin polarization or to the separation between impurities. Here, we argue that our theoretical results are consistent with recent experimental measurements on FeSe 1–x Te x .

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Following the Higgs mode across the BCS-BEC crossover in two dimensions

Although substantial effort has been dedicated to analyzing the Higgs (amplitude) mode in superconducting systems, there are relatively few studies of the Higgs peak's dispersion and width, quantities which are observable in spectroscopic measurements. These properties can be obtained from the location of the pole of the amplitude (Higgs) susceptibility in the lower half plane of complex frequency. We analyze the behavior of the Higgs mode in a two-dimensional neutral fermionic superfluid at T = 0 throughout the crossover from Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) to Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) behavior. Here, this occurs when the dressed chemical potential μ changes sign from positive to negative. For μ > 0, we find a pole in the Higgs susceptibility in the lower half plane of frequency and demonstrate that it leads to a well-defined peak in spectroscopic probes. For μ < 0, the pole still exists but is “hidden,” not giving rise to a peak in spectroscopic probes. Extending this analysis to a charged superconductor, we find that the Higgs mode is unaffected by the long-range Coulomb interaction.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Hybrid s -wave superconductivity in CrB 2

In a metal with multiple Fermi pockets, the formation of s-wave superconductivity can be conventional due to electron-phonon coupling or unconventional due to spin fluctuations. Here, we analyze the hexagonal diboride CrB 2 , which is an itinerant antiferromagnet at ambient conditions and turns superconducting upon increasing pressure. While the high-pressure behavior of T c suggests conventional s-wave pairing, we find that spin fluctuations promoting unconventional s-wave pairing become important in the vicinity of the antiferromagnetic dome. As the symmetry class of the s-wave state is independent of its underlying mechanism, we argue that CrB 2 is a realization of a hybrid s-wave superconductor where unconventional and conventional s-wave mechanisms team up to form a joint superconducting dome.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Two-Dimensional Superconducting Fluctuations Associated with Charge-Density-Wave Stripes in La 1.87 ⁢Sr 0.13 ⁢Cu 0.99 ⁢Fe 0.01 ⁢O 4

The presence of a small concentration of in-plane Fe dopants in La 1.87 Sr 0.13 Cu 0.99 Fe 0.01 O 4 is known to enhance stripelike spin and charge density wave (SDW and CDW) order and suppress the superconducting T c . Here, we show that it also induces highly two-dimensional superconducting correlations that have been argued to be the signatures of a new form of superconducting order, the so-called pair density wave (PDW) order. In addition, using resonant soft x-ray scattering, we find that the two-dimensional superconducting fluctuation is strongly associated with the CDW stripe. In particular, the PDW signature first appears when the correlation length of the CDW stripe grows over eight times the lattice unit (~8 a). In conclusion, these results provide critical conditions for the formation of the PDW order.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Phonon-Mediated Long-Range Attractive Interaction in One-Dimensional Cuprates

Establishing a minimal microscopic model for cuprates is a key step towards the elucidation of a high-T c mechanism. By a quantitative comparison with a recent in situ angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurement in doped 1D cuprate chains, our simulation identifies a crucial contribution from long-range electron-phonon coupling beyond standard Hubbard models. Using reasonable ranges of coupling strengths and phonon energies, we obtain a strong attractive interaction between neighboring electrons, whose strength is comparable to experimental observations. Additionally, nonlocal couplings play a significant role in the mediation of neighboring interactions. Considering the structural and chemical similarity between 1D and 2D cuprate materials, this minimal model with long-range electron-phonon coupling will provide important new insights on cuprate high-T c superconductivity and related quantum phases.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Emergent Superconductivity and Competing Charge Orders in Hole-Doped Square-Lattice t – J Model

The square-lattice Hubbard and closely related t-J models are considered as basic paradigms for understanding strong correlation effects and unconventional superconductivity (SC). Recent large-scale density matrix renormalization group simulations on the extended t-J model have identified d-wave SC on the electron-doped side (with the next-nearest-neighbor hopping t 2 > 0) but a dominant charge density wave (CDW) order on the hole-doped side (t 2 < 0), which is inconsistent with the SC of hole-doped cuprate compounds. We re-examine the ground-state phase diagram of the extended t-J model by employing the state-of-the-art density matrix renormalization group calculations with much enhanced bond dimensions, allowing more accurate determination of the ground state. On six-leg cylinders, while different CDW phases are identified on the hole-doped side for the doping range δ = 1/16 – 1/8, a SC phase emerges at a lower doping regime, with algebraically decaying pairing correlations and d-wave symmetry. On the wider eight-leg systems, the d-wave SC also emerges on the hole-doped side at the optimal 1=8 doping, demonstrating the winning of SC over CDW by increasing the system width. Furthermore, our results not only suggest a new path to SC in general t-J model through weakening the competing charge orders, but also provide a unified understanding on the SC of both hole- and electron-doped cuprate superconductors.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Scanning SQUID study of ferromagnetism and superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelates

Infinite-layer nickelates R 1-x Sr x NiO 2 (R = La, Pr, Nd) are a class of superconductors with structural similarities to cuprates. Although long-range antiferromagnetic order has not been observed for these materials, magnetic effects such as antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations and spin-glass behavior have been reported. Different experiments have drawn different conclusions about whether the pairing symmetry is s or d wave. In this paper, we applied a scanning superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) to probe the magnetic behavior of film samples of three infinite-layer nickelates (La 0.85 Sr 0.15 NiO 2 , Pr 0.8 Sr 0.2 NiO 2 , and Nd 0.775 Sr 0.225 NiO 2 ) grown on SrTiO 3 (STO), each with a nominal thickness of 20 unit cells. In all three films, we observed a ferromagnetic background. We also measured the magnetic susceptibility above the superconducting critical temperature in Pr 0.8 Sr 0.2 NiO 2 and La 0.85 Sr 0.15 NiO 2 and identified a non-Curie-Weiss dynamic susceptibility. Both magnetic features are likely due to NiO x nanoparticles. We investigated superconductivity in Pr 0.8 Sr 0.2 NiO 2 and Nd 0.775 Sr 0.225 NiO 2 , which exhibited inhomogeneous diamagnetic screening. The superfluid density inferred from the diamagnetic susceptibility in relatively homogeneous regions shows T-linear behavior in both samples. Finally, we observed superconducting vortices in Nd 0.775 Sr 0.225 NiO 2 . We determined a Pearl length of 330 µm for Nd 0.775 Sr 0.225 NiO 2 at 300 mK, both from the strength of the diamagnetism and from the size and shape of the vortices. These results highlight the importance of considering NiO x particles when interpreting experimental results for these films.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗