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DOE OSTI · 3366996

Reaching quantum critical point by adding nonmagnetic disorder in single crystals of superconductor (Ca 𝑥 ⁢Sr 1−𝑥 ) 3 ⁢Rh 4 ⁢Sn 13

Krenkel, Elizabeth H. [Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States); Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000308750634)·Tanatar, Makariy A. [Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States); Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000321299833)·Grasset, Romain [Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau (France)] (ORCID:0000000347698947)·Kończykowski, Marcin [Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau (France)] (ORCID:0000000333765635)·Chen, Shuzhang [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department; Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States)]·Petrovic, Cedomir [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department; Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States); Shanghai Key Laboratory of Material Frontiers Reseasrch in Extreme Environments (China); Univ. of Belgrade (Serbia)] (ORCID:0000000160631881)·Levchenko, Alex [Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)] (ORCID:000000020319386X)·Prozorov, Ruslan [Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States); Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000280886096)
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Abstract

The Remeika series superconductor, (Ca 𝑥 ⁢Sr 1−𝑥 ) 3 ⁢Rh 4 ⁢Sn 13 , shows a rare nonmagnetic quantum critical point (QCP) associated with the continuous charge-density wave (CDW) and structural transition under the “dome” of superconductivity achieved by tuning composition and applying pressure. Here, we use a nonmagnetic pointlike disorder induced by 2.5 MeV electron irradiation to suppress the CDW and drive the system to and even beyond the QCP. This conclusion is based on a clear evolution of temperature-dependent resistivity, 𝜌⁡(𝑇), from the Fermi liquid to the non-Fermi liquid regime with increasing amount of disorder. Starting on the CDW side, below the suggested QCP concentration of 𝑥 𝑐 =0.9, added disorder resulted in a progressively larger linear term and a reduced quadratic term in 𝜌⁡(𝑇). Nearly perfect 𝑇−linear dependence is observed at the dose at which long-range CDW order is suppressed to 𝑇=0, consistent with the expectations. We refine the QCP location in this system and place it in the interval between 𝑥=0.75 and 0.85. Our results strongly support the concept that the disorder can tune the system to the quantum critical regime and even beyond. It follows from the argument by Imry and Ma that any ordered phase is unstable toward quenched disorder. Introduced in a controlled way, this disorder becomes a nonthermal tuning parameter likely applicable to a variety of different systems.

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75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITYCharge density wavesQuantum criticalitySuperconductors

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Krenkel, Elizabeth H. [Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States); Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000308750634), Tanatar, Makariy A. [Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States); Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000321299833), Grasset, Romain [Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau (France)] (ORCID:0000000347698947), Kończykowski, Marcin [Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau (France)] (ORCID:0000000333765635), Chen, Shuzhang [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department; Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States)], Petrovic, Cedomir [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department; Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States); Shanghai Key Laboratory of Material Frontiers Reseasrch in Extreme Environments (China); Univ. of Belgrade (Serbia)] (ORCID:0000000160631881), Levchenko, Alex [Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)] (ORCID:000000020319386X), Prozorov, Ruslan [Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States); Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000280886096). 2026-05-19. Reaching quantum critical point by adding nonmagnetic disorder in single crystals of superconductor (Ca 𝑥 ⁢Sr 1−𝑥 ) 3 ⁢Rh 4 ⁢Sn 13. https://doi.org/10.1103/hpjw-8b2s

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