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Published on: March 24, 2019
Pair density wave state in a monolayer high-Tc iron-based superconductor
Yanzhao Liu1, Tianheng Wei1, Guanyang He1
1International Center for Quantum Materials, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Researchers discovered a pair density wave (PDW) state in iron-based superconductors. This finding in monolayer Fe(Te,Se) films opens new avenues for studying high-temperature superconductivity.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Superconductivity
Background:
- The pair density wave (PDW) is a superconducting state characterized by Cooper pairs with non-zero momentum.
- Previous evidence for PDW order has been found in cuprate and kagome superconductors.
- PDW order has not been experimentally observed in iron-based high-temperature superconductors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential existence of PDW order in iron-based high-temperature superconductors.
- To explore the electronic properties of monolayer Fe(Te,Se) films.
- To understand the interplay between correlated electronic states and unconventional Cooper pairing.
Main Methods:
- Scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS).
- Fabrication of monolayer Fe(Te,Se) films on SrTiO3(001) substrates.
- Analysis of spatial electronic modulations and superconducting gap properties.
Main Results:
- Discovery of the pair density wave (PDW) state in monolayer Fe(Te,Se) films.
- Observation of PDW order at domain walls with a period of approximately 3.6aFe.
- Characterization of electronic modulations, superconducting gap, and phase shifts around charge density wave vortices.
Conclusions:
- The study reports the first experimental observation of PDW order in iron-based high-temperature superconductors.
- Monolayer Fe(Te,Se) films provide a novel low-dimensional platform for studying PDW phenomena.
- This discovery facilitates research into the complex interactions governing unconventional superconductivity.
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