TY - JOUR
T1 - Two-component nematic superconductivity in 4Hb-TaS2
AU - Silber, I.
AU - Mathimalar, S.
AU - Mangel, I.
AU - Nayak, A. K.
AU - Green, O.
AU - Avraham, N.
AU - Beidenkopf, H.
AU - Feldman, I.
AU - Kanigel, A.
AU - Klein, A.
AU - Goldstein, M.
AU - Banerjee, A.
AU - Sela, E.
AU - Dagan, Y.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024, The Author(s).
PY - 2024/12
Y1 - 2024/12
N2 - Most superconductors have an isotropic, single component order parameter and are well described by the standard (BCS) theory for superconductivity. Unconventional, multiple-component superconductors are exceptionally rare and are much less understood. Here, we combine scanning tunneling microscopy and angle-resolved macroscopic transport for studying the candidate chiral superconductor, 4Hb-TaS2. We reveal quasi-periodic one-dimensional modulations in the tunneling conductance accompanied by two-fold symmetric superconducting critical field. The strong modulation of the in-plane critical field, Hc2, points to a nematic, unconventional order parameter. However, the imaged vortex core is isotropic at low temperatures. We suggest a model that reconciles this apparent discrepancy and takes into account previously observed spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking at low temperatures. The model describes a competition between a dominating chiral superconducting order parameter and a nematic one. The latter emerges close to the normal phase. Our results strongly support the existence of two-component superconductivity in 4Hb-TaS2 and can provide valuable insights into other systems with coexistent charge order and superconductivity.
AB - Most superconductors have an isotropic, single component order parameter and are well described by the standard (BCS) theory for superconductivity. Unconventional, multiple-component superconductors are exceptionally rare and are much less understood. Here, we combine scanning tunneling microscopy and angle-resolved macroscopic transport for studying the candidate chiral superconductor, 4Hb-TaS2. We reveal quasi-periodic one-dimensional modulations in the tunneling conductance accompanied by two-fold symmetric superconducting critical field. The strong modulation of the in-plane critical field, Hc2, points to a nematic, unconventional order parameter. However, the imaged vortex core is isotropic at low temperatures. We suggest a model that reconciles this apparent discrepancy and takes into account previously observed spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking at low temperatures. The model describes a competition between a dominating chiral superconducting order parameter and a nematic one. The latter emerges close to the normal phase. Our results strongly support the existence of two-component superconductivity in 4Hb-TaS2 and can provide valuable insights into other systems with coexistent charge order and superconductivity.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85183371136
U2 - 10.1038/s41467-024-45169-3
DO - 10.1038/s41467-024-45169-3
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AN - SCOPUS:85183371136
SN - 2041-1723
VL - 15
JO - Nature Communications
JF - Nature Communications
IS - 1
M1 - 824
ER -