Magnetic-field-induced superconductivity in a two-dimensional organic conductor

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science
• Organic Electronics

Background:

• Superconducting states are generally suppressed by strong magnetic fields due to Zeeman and orbital effects.
• Layered superconductors exhibit reduced orbital effects when magnetic fields are parallel to conducting layers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the response of a quasi-two-dimensional organic superconductor, lambda-(BETS)2FeCl4, to magnetic fields applied parallel to its conducting layers.
• To explore the potential for magnetic-field-induced superconductivity in layered organic materials.

Main Methods:

• Resistance measurements on single crystals of lambda-(BETS)2FeCl4.
• Magnetic-torque experiments to probe superconducting properties.
• Analysis of the superconducting phase diagram under varying magnetic fields.

Main Results:

• Superconductivity was induced in lambda-(BETS)2FeCl4 for magnetic fields above 17 Tesla applied parallel to the conducting layers at 0.1 K.
• The superconducting transition temperature was observed to increase with increasing magnetic field.
• The superconducting state was found to be stabilized by the applied magnetic field.

Conclusions:

• The study demonstrates magnetic-field-induced superconductivity in a quasi-two-dimensional organic material.
• This finding challenges conventional understanding of magnetic field effects on superconductors.
• The results suggest that layered organic conductors can host novel superconducting states stabilized by magnetic fields.