Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 23, 2025
09:06
Visualizing Uniaxial-strain Manipulation of Antiferromagnetic Domains in Fe1+YTe Using a Spin-polarized Scanning Tunneling Microscope
Published on: March 24, 2019
8.3K
Strong Correlation Between Superconductivity and Ferromagnetism in an Fe-Chalcogenide Superconductor
Nathan J McLaughlin1, Hailong Wang2, Mengqi Huang1
1Department of Physics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States.
Nano Letters
|August 20, 2021
Summary
Researchers used quantum sensing to image magnetic flux in FeTeSe, revealing a strong correlation between superconductivity and ferromagnetism. This finding advances understanding of topological superconductors and quantum materials.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Solid-State Chemistry
Background:
- Emergent quantum materials exhibit exotic behaviors due to the interplay of topology, superconductivity, and magnetism.
- Fe-chalcogenide superconductors (FeTe$_{x}$Se$_{1-x}$) possess intrinsic topological band structures, high-temperature superconductivity, and unconventional pairing symmetry.
- Local magnetic properties of FeTe$_{x}$Se$_{1-x}$ remain largely unexplored, hindering a complete understanding of their material properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the local magnetic properties of FeTe$_{x}$Se$_{1-x}$ flakes.
- To explore the correlation between superconductivity and ferromagnetism in this material system.
- To demonstrate the potential of nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers for quantum sensing in topological superconductors.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond for nanoscale quantum sensing.
- Imaging magnetic flux generated by exfoliated FeTe$_{x}$Se$_{1-x}$ flakes.
- Correlating quantum sensing data with superconducting and magnetic properties.
Main Results:
- Successfully imaged magnetic flux from FeTe$_{x}$Se$_{1-x}$ flakes using NV centers.
- Demonstrated a strong correlation between superconductivity and ferromagnetism in FeTe$_{x}$Se$_{1-x}$.
- Established the coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism in a topological superconductor.
Conclusions:
- The coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism in FeTe$_{x}$Se$_{1-x}$ opens avenues for exploring novel spin and charge transport phenomena.
- The demonstrated coupling between NV centers and FeTe$_{x}$Se$_{1-x}$ shows promise for hybrid quantum information technologies.
- This study provides crucial insights into the fundamental properties of topological superconductors.
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