Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Superconducting materials”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 685 records · Page 38
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Understanding temperature-dependent SU(3) spin dynamics in the S = 1 antiferromagnet Ba 2 FeSi 2 O 7

Quantum magnets admit more than one classical limit and N-level systems with strong single-ion anisotropy are expected to be described by a classical approximation based on SU(N) coherent states. Here we test this hypothesis by modeling finite temperature inelastic neutron scattering (INS) data of the effective spin-one antiferromagnet Ba 2 FeSi 2 O 7 . The measured dynamic structure factor is calculated with a generalized Landau-Lifshitz dynamics for SU(3) spins. Unlike the traditional classical limit based on SU(2) coherent states, the results obtained with classical SU(3) spins are in good agreement with the measured temperature dependent spectrum. The SU(3) approach developed here provides a general framework to understand the broad class of materials comprising weakly coupled antiferromagnetic dimers, trimers, or tetramers, and magnets with strong single-ion anisotropy.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Vortex-induced anomalies in the superconducting quantum interference patterns of topological insulator Josephson junctions

The superconducting quantum interference (SQI) patterns of Josephson junctions fabricated from hybrid structures that interface an s-wave superconductor with a topological insulator can be used to detect signatures of novel quasiparticle states. Here, we compare calculated and experimental SQI patterns obtained from hybrid junctions fabricated on cadmium arsenide, a two-dimensional topological insulator. The calculations account for the effects of Abrikosov (anti-) vortices in the superconducting contacts. They describe the experimentally observed deviations of the SQI from an ideal Fraunhofer pattern, including anomalous phase shifts, node lifting, even/odd modulations of the lobes, irregular lobe spacing, and an asymmetry in the positive/negative magnetic field. We also show that under a current bias, these vortices enter the electrodes even if there is no intentionally applied external magnetic field. The results show that Abrikosov vortices in the electrodes of the junctions can explain many of the observed anomalies in the SQI patterns of topological insulator Josephson junctions.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Simulating topological quantum gates in two-dimensional magnet-superconductor hybrid structures

The creation of topological quantum gates using Majorana zero modes—an outstanding problem in the field of topological quantum computing—relies on our ability to control the braiding process in time and space. Here, we propose two-dimensional magnet-superconductor hybrid structures as a new platformfor the successful implementation of topologically protected √σ z -, σ z - and σ x -quantum gates using Majorana zero modes. Employing a novel theoretical formalism to compute the full timedependent many-body wave-function and utilizing a braiding protocol motivated by recent advances in electron-spin-resonance techniques we simulate quantum gates in 2D systems up to 600 sites, on timescales from a few femto- to nanoseconds. We demonstrate that the braiding process can be visualized in time and space by computing the non-equilibrium local density of states, which is proportional to the time-dependent differential conductance measured in scanning tunneling spectroscopy experiments, allowing us to directly image Majorana world lines.

Superconducting properties and materials↗
DOE OSTI2022

Coupling between magnetic order and charge transport in a two-dimensional magnetic semiconductor

Semiconductors, featuring tunable electrical transport, and magnets, featuring tunable spin configurations, form the basis of many information technologies. A long-standing challenge has been to realize materials that integrate and connect these two distinct properties. Two-dimensional (2D) materials offer a platform to realize this concept, but known 2D magnetic semiconductors are electrically insulating in their magnetic phase. In this work, we demonstrate tunable electron transport within the magnetic phase of the 2D semiconductor CrSBr and reveal strong coupling between its magnetic order and charge transport. This provides an opportunity to characterize the layer-dependent magnetic order of CrSBr down to the monolayer via magnetotransport. Exploiting the sensitivity of magnetoresistance to magnetic order, we uncover a second regime characterized by coupling between charge carriers and magnetic defects. The magnetoresistance within this regime can be dynamically and reversibly tuned by varying the carrier concentration using an electrostatic gate, providing a mechanism for controlling charge transport in 2D magnets.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Light-induced electronic polarization in antiferromagnetic Cr 2 O 3

In a solid, the electronic subsystem can exhibit incipient order with lower point group symmetry than the crystal lattice. Ultrafast external fields that couple exclusively to electronic order parameters have rarely been investigated, however, despite their potential importance in inducing exotic effects. Here we show that when inversion symmetry is broken by the antiferromagnetic order in Cr 2 O 3 , transmitting a linearly polarized light pulse through the crystal gives rise to an in-plane rotational symmetry-breaking (from C 3 to C 1 ) via optical rectification. Using interferometric time-resolved second harmonic generation, we show that the ultrafast timescale of the symmetry reduction is indicative of a purely electronic response; the underlying spin and crystal structures remain unaffected. The symmetry-broken state exhibits a dipole moment, and its polar axis can be controlled with the incident light. Furthermore, our results establish a coherent nonlinear optical protocol by which to break electronic symmetries and produce unconventional electronic effects in solids.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Quadrupling the depairing current density in the iron-based superconductor SmFeAsO1–xHx

Abstract Iron-based 1111-type superconductors display high critical temperatures and relatively high critical current densities J c . The typical approach to increasing J c is to introduce defects to control dissipative vortex motion. However, when optimized, this approach is theoretically predicted to be limited to achieving a maximum J c of only ∼30% of the depairing current density J d , which depends on the coherence length and the penetration depth. Here we dramatically boost J c in SmFeAsO 1– x H x films using a thermodynamic approach aimed at increasing J d and incorporating vortex pinning centres. Specifically, we reduce the penetration depth, coherence length and critical field anisotropy by increasing the carrier density through high electron doping using H substitution. Remarkably, the quadrupled J d reaches 415 MA cm –2 , a value comparable to cuprates. Finally, by introducing defects using proton irradiation, we obtain high J c values in fields up to 25 T. We apply this method to other iron-based superconductors and achieve a similar enhancement of current densities.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Atomic-scale frustrated Josephson coupling and multicondensate visualization in FeSe

In a Josephson junction involving multiband superconductors, competition between interband and interjunction Josephson couplings gives rise to frustration and spatial disjunction of superfluid densities among superconducting condensates. Such frustrated coupling manifests as the quantum interference of Josephson currents from different tunnelling channels and becomes tunable if channel transparency can be varied. To explore these unconventional effects in the prototypical s ± -wave superconductor FeSe, we use atomic-resolution scanned Josephson tunnelling microscopy for condensate-resolved imaging and junction tuning—capabilities unattainable in macroscopic Josephson devices with fixed characteristics. We quantitatively demonstrate frustrated Josephson tunnelling by examining two tunnelling inequalities. The relative transparency of two parallel tunnelling pathways is found tunable, revealing a tendency towards a 0–π transition with decreasing scanned Josephson tunnelling microscopy junction resistance. Here, the simultaneous visualization of both superconducting condensates reveals anticorrelated superfluid modulations, highlighting the role of interband scattering. Our study establishes scanned Josephson tunnelling microscopy as a powerful tool enabling new research frontiers of multicondensate superconductivity.

Scanning probe microscopy↗
DOE OSTI2021

Isotropic Pauli-limited superconductivity in the infinite-layer nickelate Nd 0.775 Sr 0.225 NiO 2

The recent observation of superconductivity in thin-film infinite-layer nickelates offers a different angle from which to investigate superconductivity in layered oxides. A wide range of candidate models have been proposed, which emphasize single- or multi-orbital electronic structure, Kondo or Hund’s coupling and analogies to cuprates. Further experimental characterization of the superconducting state is needed to develop a full understanding of the nickelates. Here we use magnetotransport measurements to probe the superconducting anisotropy in Nd 0.775 Sr 0.225 NiO 2 . Here, we find that the upper critical field is surprisingly isotropic at low temperatures despite the layered crystal structure. In a magnetic field, the superconductivity is strongly Pauli-limited, such that the paramagnetic effect dominates over orbital de-pairing. Underlying this isotropic response is a substantial anisotropy in the superconducting coherence length, which is at least four times longer in-plane than out-of-plane. A prominent low-temperature upturn in the upper critical field indicates the presence of an unconventional ground state.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Nematic transition and nanoscale suppression of superconductivity in Fe(Te,Se)

The interplay of different electronic phases underlies the physics of unconventional superconductors. One of the most intriguing examples is a high-temperature superconductor, FeTe 1 – x Se x . This superconductor undergoes both a topological transition, linked to the electronic band inversion, and an electronic nematic phase transition, associated with rotation symmetry breaking, around the same Se composition where the superconducting transition temperature peaks. In this regime, nematic fluctuations and symmetry-breaking strain could be important, but this is yet to be fully explored. Using spectroscopic-imaging scanning tunnelling microscopy, we study the electronic nematic transition in FeTe 1 – x Se x as a function of composition. Near the critical Se composition, we find electronic nematicity in nanoscale regions. The superconducting coherence peaks are suppressed in areas where static nematic order is the strongest. By analysing atomic displacement in scanning tunnelling microscopy topographs, we find that small anisotropic strain can give rise to these strongly nematic localized regions. Furthermore, our experiments reveal a tendency of FeTe 1 – x Se x , near x ≈ 0.45, to form puddles hosting static nematic order, suggestive of nematic fluctuations pinned by structural inhomogeneity, and demonstrate the effect of anisotropic strain on superconductivity in this regime.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Quantum coherence tomography of light-controlled superconductivity

The coupling between superconductors and oscillation cycles of light pulses, i.e., lightwave engineering, is an emerging control concept for superconducting quantum electronics. Although progress has been made towards terahertz-driven superconductivity and supercurrents, the interactions able to drive non-equilibrium pairing are still poorly understood, partially due to the lack of measurements of high-order correlation functions. In particular, the sensing of exotic collective modes that would uniquely characterize light-driven superconducting coherence, in a way analogous to the Meissner effect, is very challenging but much needed. Here we report the discovery of parametrically driven superconductivity by light-induced order-parameter collective oscillations in iron-based superconductors. The time-periodic relative phase dynamics between the coupled electron and hole bands drives the transition to a distinct parametric superconducting state out-of-equalibrium. This light-induced emergent coherence is characterized by a unique phase–amplitude collective mode with Floquet-like sidebands at twice the Higgs frequency. We measure non-perturbative, high-order correlations of this parametrically driven superconductivity by separating the terahertz-frequency multidimensional coherent spectra into pump–probe, Higgs mode and bi-Higgs frequency sideband peaks. We find that the higher-order bi-Higgs sidebands dominate above the critical field, which indicates the breakdown of susceptibility perturbative expansion in this parametric quantum matter.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Evidence for chiral superconductivity on a silicon surface

Tin adatoms on a Si(111) substrate with a one-third monolayer coverage form a two-dimensional triangular lattice with one unpaired electron per site. These electrons order into an antiferromagnetic Mott-insulating state, but doping the Sn layer with holes creates a two-dimensional conductor that becomes superconducting at low temperatures. Although the pairing symmetry of the superconducting state is currently unknown, the combination of repulsive interactions and frustration inherent in the triangular adatom lattice opens up the possibility of a chiral order parameter. Here we study the superconducting state of Sn/Si(111) using scanning tunneling microscopy, scanning tunneling spectroscopy and quasiparticle interference imaging. Here we find evidence for a doping-dependent superconducting critical temperature with a fully gapped order parameter, the presence of time-reversal symmetry breaking and a strong enhancement in zero-bias conductance near the edges of the superconducting domains. Although each individual piece of evidence could have a more mundane interpretation, our combined results suggest the possibility that Sn/Si(111) is an unconventional chiral d-wave superconductor.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Ultrafast lattice disordering can be accelerated by electronic collisional forces

In the prevalent picture of ultrafast structural phase transitions, the atomic motion occurs in a slowly varying potential energy surface determined adiabatically by the fast electrons. However, this ignores non-conservative forces caused by electron-lattice collisions, which can significantly influence atomic motion. Most ultrafast techniques only probe the average structure and are less sensitive to random displacements, and therefore do not detect the role played by non-conservative forces in phase transitions. Here we show that the lattice dynamics of the prototypical insulator-to-metal transition of VO 2 cannot be described by a potential energy alone. We use the sample temperature to control the preexisting lattice disorder before ultrafast photoexcitation across the phase transition and our ultrafast diffuse scattering experiments show that the fluctuations characteristic of the rutile metal develop equally fast (120 fs) at initial temperatures of 100 K and 300 K. This indicates that additional non-conservative forces are responsible for the increased lattice disorder. In conclusion, these results highlight the need for more sophisticated descriptions of ultrafast phenomena beyond the Born-Oppenheimer approximation as well as ultrafast probes of spatial fluctuations beyond the average unit cell measured by diffraction.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Non-local detection of coherent Yu–Shiba–Rusinov quantum projections

Probing spatially confined quantum states from afar—a long-sought goal to minimize external interference—has been proposed to be feasible in condensed-matter systems through the coherent projection of the state. This can be achieved by engineering the eigenstates of the electron sea that surrounds the quantum state using cages built atom by atom, the so-called quantum corrals. However, the demonstration of the coherent nature of the projection and manipulation of its quantum composition are still important goals. Here we show this for the coherent projection of a Yu–Shiba–Rusinov quantum state that is induced by a magnetic impurity, using the eigenmodes of corrals on the surface of a superconductor. This enables us to manipulate the particle–hole composition of the projected state by tuning the corral eigenmodes through the Fermi energy. Our results demonstrate a controlled non-local method for the detection of magnet–superconductor hybrid quantum states.

quantum mechanics↗
DOE OSTI2022

Unconventional spectral signature of $T_c$ in a pure d -wave superconductor

We report in conventional superconductors, the phase transition into a zero-resistance and perfectly diamagnetic state is accompanied by a jump in the specific heat and the opening of a spectral gap. In the high-transition-temperature (high-T c ) cuprates, although the transport, magnetic and thermodynamic signatures of T c have been known since the 1980s, the spectroscopic singularity associated with the transition remains unknown. Here we resolve this long-standing puzzle with a high-precision angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) study on overdoped (Bi,Pb) 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+δ (Bi2212). We first probe the momentum-resolved electronic specific heat via spectroscopy and reproduce the specific heat peak at T c , completing the missing link for a holistic description of superconductivity. Then, by studying the full momentum, energy and temperature evolution of the spectra, we reveal that this thermodynamic anomaly arises from the singular growth of in-gap spectral intensity across T c . Furthermore, we observe that the temperature evolution of in-gap intensity is highly anisotropic in the momentum space, and the gap itself obeys both the d-wave functional form and particle–hole symmetry. These findings support the scenario that the superconducting transition is driven by phase fluctuations. They also serve as an anchor point for understanding the Fermi arc and pseudogap phenomena in underdoped cuprates.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Momentum dependent $d_{xz/yz}$ band splitting in LaFeAsO

The nematic phase in iron based superconductors (IBSs) has attracted attention with a notion that it may provide important clue to the superconductivity. A series of angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) studies were performed to understand the origin of the nematic phase. However, there is lack of ARPES study on LaFeAsO nematic phase. Here, we report the results of ARPES studies of the nematic phase in LaFeAsO. Degeneracy breaking between the d xz and d yz hole bands near the Γ and M point is observed in the nematic phase. Different temperature dependent band splitting behaviors are observed at the Γ and M points. The energy of the band splitting near the M point decreases as the temperature decreases while it has little temperature dependence near the Γ point. The nematic nature of the band shift near the M point is confirmed through a detwin experiment using a piezo device. Since a momentum dependent splitting behavior has been observed in other iron based superconductors, our observation confirms that the behavior is a universal one among iron based superconductors.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Evidence for unconventional superconductivity and nontrivial topology in PdTe

Abstract PdTe is a superconductor with T c ~ 4.25 K. Recently, evidence for bulk-nodal and surface-nodeless gap features has been reported in PdTe. Here, we investigate the physical properties of PdTe in both the normal and superconducting states via specific heat and magnetic torque measurements and first-principles calculations. Below T c , the electronic specific heat initially decreases in T 3 behavior (1.5 K < T < T c ) then exponentially decays. Using the two-band model, the superconducting specific heat can be well described with two energy gaps: one is 0.372 meV and another 1.93 meV. The calculated bulk band structure consists of two electron bands (α and β) and two hole bands (γ and η) at the Fermi level. Experimental detection of the de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations allows us to identify four frequencies ( F α = 65 T, F β = 658 T, F γ = 1154 T, and F η = 1867 T for H // a ), consistent with theoretical predictions. Nontrivial α and β bands are further identified via both calculations and the angle dependence of the dHvA oscillations. Our results suggest that PdTe is a candidate for unconventional superconductivity.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2026

A scalable superconducting nanowire memory array with row–column addressing

Scalable superconducting memory is required for the development of low-energy superconducting computers and fault-tolerant quantum computers. Conventional superconducting logic-based memory cells possess a large footprint that limits scaling; nanowire-based superconducting memory cells, although more compact, have high error rates, which hinders integration into large arrays. Here we report a 4 × 4 superconducting nanowire memory array that is designed for scalable row–column operations and has a functional density of 2.6 Mbit cm −2 . Each memory cell is based on a nanowire loop consisting of two temperature-dependent superconducting switches and a variable kinetic inductor. The arrays operate at 1.3 K, where we implement and characterize multiflux quanta state storage and destructive read-out. By optimizing the write- and read-pulse sequences, we minimize bit errors and maximize operating margins. We achieve a minimum bit error rate of 10 −5 . Here, we also use circuit-level simulations to understand the memory cell’s dynamics, performance limits and stability under varying pulse amplitudes.

Electrical and electronic engineering↗
DOE OSTI2020

Relative importance of nonlinear electron-phonon coupling and vertex corrections in the Holstein model

Determining the range of validity of Migdal’s approximation for electron-phonon (e-ph) coupled systems is a long-standing problem. Many attempts to answer this question employ the Holstein Hamiltonian, where the electron density couples linearly to local lattice displacements. When these displacements are large, however, nonlinear corrections to the interaction must also be included, which can significantly alter the physical picture obtained from this model. Using determinant quantum Monte Carlo and the self-consistent Migdal approximation, we compared superconducting and charge-density-wave correlations in the Holstein model with and without second-order nonlinear interactions. We find a disagreement between the two cases, even for relatively small values of the e-ph coupling strength, and, importantly, that this can occur in the same parameter regions where Migdal’s approximation holds. Our results demonstrate that questions regarding the validity of Migdal’s approximation go hand in hand with questions of the validity of a linear e-ph interaction.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗