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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.

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At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Non-Equilibrium relaxation, aging scaling, and critical depinning dynamics of skyrmions in disordered magnetic films. Final Report

Technical applications of type-II superconductors, especially high-Tc compounds, in external magnetic fields require an effective flux pinning mechanism to reduce Ohmic losses due to flux creep and flow. Naturally abundant point defects, dislocations, and twin boundaries as well as artificially introduced disorder may serve as effective pinning centers for magnetic vortices. The properties of interacting flux lines subject to strong thermal fluctuations and point-like or extended pinning centers have therefore been a major research focus in condensed matter physics, and considerable progress has been achieved in the characterization and mathematical description of the equilibrium phases and non-equilibrium steady states of vortex matter. Detailed studies of the rich phase diagrams that reveal novel glassy states as well as the associated complex dynamical phenomena have in turn enriched the theoretical understanding of condensed matter systems, elucidating specifically the kinetics of elastic objects driven through disordered media and the important role of topological defects such as vortices and dislocations in various materials.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Uni-layer magnets: a new concept for LTS and HTS based superconducting magnets

A novel geometrical configuration to form a magnetic field perpendicular to an aperture, created by an asymmetric current distribution, within a single layer, and using a continuous ideal current line, named the uni-layer (UL) magnet, is here presented. The idea is compared to existing concepts in superconducting magnets, namely, the $\cos{\theta}$ sector magnet, stress managed $\cos{\theta}$ and canted $\cos{\theta}$. The UL magnet allows for a design with a continuous unit length (no layer jump), and an increased minimum bending radius of the conductor in relation to traditional $\cos{\theta}$ and canted $\cos{\theta}$ designs. Further, the specific characteristics of the UL design are especially advantageous for strain-sensitive and prone to winding degradation high-temperature superconductors, in very high field accelerator magnet applications, in which, high efficiency in the use of conductor, and a small aperture are required. The advantages with regard to the design and fabrication of UL magnets in relation to other concepts are also discussed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Topology Hierarchy of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Built from Quantum Spin Hall Layers

The evolution of the physical properties of 2D material from monolayer limit to the bulk reveals unique consequences from dimension confinement and provides a distinct tuning knob for applications. Monolayer 1T'-phase transition metal dichalcogenides (1T'-TMDs) with ubiquitous quantum spin Hall (QSH) states are ideal 2D building blocks of various 3D topological phases. However, the stacking geometry has been previously limited to the bulk 1T'-WTe 2 type. Here, the novel 2M-TMDs consisting of translationally stacked 1T'-monolayers are introduced as promising material platforms with tunable inverted bandgaps and interlayer coupling. By performing advanced polarization-dependent angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy as well as first-principles calculations on the electronic structure of 2M-TMDs, a topology hierarchy is revealed: 2M-WSe 2 , MoS 2 , and MoSe 2 are weak topological insulators (WTIs), whereas 2M-WS 2 is a strong topological insulator (STI). Further demonstration of topological phase transitions by tunning interlayer distance indicates that band inversion amplitude and interlayer coupling jointly determine different topological states in 2M-TMDs. Finally, it is proposed that 2M-TMDs are parent compounds of various exotic phases including topological superconductors and promise great application potentials in quantum electronics due to their flexibility in patterning with 2D materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Intertwined density waves in a metallic nickelate

Nickelates are a rich class of materials, ranging from insulating magnets to superconductors. But for stoichiometric materials, insulating behavior is the norm, as for most late transition metal oxides. Notable exceptions are the 3D perovskite LaNiO 3 , an unconventional paramagnetic metal, and the layered Ruddlesden-Popper phases R 4 Ni 3 O 10 , (R = La, Pr, Nd). The latter are particularly intriguing because they exhibit an unusual metal-to-metal transition. Here, we demonstrate that this transition results from an incommensurate density wave with both charge and magnetic character that lies closer in its behavior to the metallic density wave seen in chromium metal than the insulating stripes typically found in single-layer nickelates like La 2-x Sr x NiO 4 . We identify these intertwined density waves as being Fermi surface-driven, revealing a novel ordering mechanism in this nickelate that reflects a coupling among charge, spin, and lattice degrees of freedom that differs not only from the single-layer materials, but from the 3D perovskites as well.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Linearly dispersive bands at the onset of correlations in K 𝑥 ⁢C 60 films

Molecular crystals are a flexible platform to induce novel electronic phases. Due to the weak forces between molecules, intermolecular distances can be varied over larger ranges than interatomic distances in atomic crystals. On the other hand, the hopping terms are generally small, which results in narrow bands, strong correlations, and heavy electrons. Here, by growing K x C 60 fullerides on hexagonal layered Bi 2 Se 3 , we show that upon doping the series undergoes a Mott transition from a molecular insulator to a correlated metal and an in-gap state evolves into highly dispersive Dirac-like fermions at half filling, where superconductivity occurs. This picture challenges the commonly accepted description of the low-energy quasiparticles as appearing from a gradual electron doping of the conduction states and suggests an intriguing parallel with the more famous family of the cuprate superconductors. More in general, it indicates that molecular crystals offer a viable route to engineer electron-electron interactions.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Ab Initio Electron-Phonon Interactions in Correlated Electron Systems

Electron-phonon ( e - ph ) interactions are pervasive in condensed matter, governing phenomena such as transport, superconductivity, charge-density waves, polarons, and metal-insulator transitions. First-principles approaches enable accurate calculations of e - ph interactions in a wide range of solids. However, they remain an open challenge in correlated electron systems (CES), where density functional theory often fails to describe the ground state. Therefore reliable e - ph calculations remain out of reach for many transition metal oxides, high-temperature superconductors, Mott insulators, planetary materials, and multiferroics. Here we show first-principles calculations of e - ph interactions in CES, using the framework of Hubbard-corrected density functional theory ( DFT + U ) and its linear response extension ( DFPT + U ), which can describe the electronic structure and lattice dynamics of many CES. We showcase the accuracy of this approach for a prototypical Mott system, CoO, carrying out a detailed investigation of its e - ph interactions and electron spectral functions. While standard DFPT gives unphysically divergent and short-ranged e - ph interactions, DFPT + U is shown to remove the divergences and properly account for the long-range Fröhlich interaction, allowing us to model polaron effects in a Mott insulator. Our work establishes a broadly applicable and affordable approach for quantitative studies of e - ph interactions in CES, a novel theoretical tool to interpret experiments in this broad class of materials.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Designing phase sensitive probes of monopole superconducting order

Distinct from familiar s-, p-, or d-wave pairings, the monopole superconducting order represents a novel class of pairing order arising from nontrivial monopole charge of the Cooper pair. In the weak-coupling regime, this order can emerge when pairing occurs between Fermi surfaces with different Chern numbers in, for example, doped Weyl semimetal systems. However, the phase of monopole pairing order is not well-defined over an entire Fermi surface, making it challenging to design experiments sensitive to both its symmetry and topology. To address this, we propose a scheme based on symmetry and topological principles to identify this elusive pairing order through a set of phase-sensitive Josephson experiments. By examining the discrepancy between global and local angular momentum of the pairing order, we can unveil the monopole charge of the pairing order, including for models with higher pair monopole charge |q p |=1,2, and 3. We demonstrate the proposed probe of monopole pairing order through analytic and numerical studies of Josephson coupling in models of monopole superconductor junctions. This work opens a promising avenue to uncover the unique topological properties of monopole pairing orders and to distinguish them from known pairing orders based on spherical harmonic symmetry.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

2022 American Conference on Neutron Scattering (ACNS 2022)

The 11th American Conference on Neutron Scattering (ACNS 2022) will be held on June 5-9, 2022, in Boulder, CO. The Conference will provide essential information on the breadth and depth of current neutron-related research worldwide. Hosted by the Neutron Scattering Society of America, this year’s Conference will feature a combination of invited and contributed talks, poster sessions, and tutorials. Topics of the conference are: Advances in Neutron Facilities, Instrumentation and Software: Developments in sources, instrumentation, sample environments and control software. Hard Condensed Matter: Magnetism, correlated metals, quantum/topological materials, superconductors, ferroelectrics, multiferroics, glasses, and disorder phenomena. Submissions outlining examples of neutron scattering in industrial and engineering applications involving hard condensed matter systems are also encouraged. Soft Matter: Neutron studies of soft materials and related fields including in situ and in operando studies. Polymers, surfactants, emulsions, gels, nanoparticles, colloidal suspensions and more. Submissions of computational studies or applications of machine learning beneficial to neutron scattering experiments, as well as examples of neutron scattering in industrial and engineering applications are strongly encouraged. Biology, Biophysics and Biotechnology: Neutron studies of biological and biologically relevant systems. Proteins, bio membranes, biological assemblies, natural materials, nucleic acids, drug-delivery platforms and biomedical systems. Submissions of computational studies or applications of machine learning beneficial to biological neutron scattering experiments, as well as examples of neutron scattering in applied research involving biological systems, are strongly encouraged. Materials Chemistry and Energy: Neutron-based studies of functional materials and materials for energy applications. Examples include porous materials such as metal organic frameworks (MOFs), zeolites; phosphors; novel pigments; electrolytes; catalysts; ionic conductors/cathode materials; photovoltaic materials (hybrid perovskites); thermoelectrics; magnetocalorics/electrocalorics. Structural Materials and Engineering: Neutron scattering studies of materials and engineering processes including structural materials, concrete and metals, as well as engineering processes including combustion, corrosion, additive manufacturing, and others. Neutron Physics: Fundamental physical studies of the neutron and related areas. Emerging Applications in Neutron Scattering: Machine Learning and Data Science: Advances in computing power have contributed to rapidly evolving machine learning and data science fields that can be leveraged to the benefit of the neutron scattering community. The purpose of this session is to highlight recent advances in machine learning and data science and to serve as the foundation of a parallel data and computation track highlighting computation advances and applications in neutron scattering throughout the conference.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Linear dichroism infrared resonance in overdoped, underdoped, and optimally doped cuprate superconductors

By measuring the polarization changes in terahertz, infrared, and visible radiation over an extended energy range (3–2330 meV), we observe symmetry breaking in cuprate high-temperature superconductors over wide energy, doping, and temperature ranges. We measure the polarization rotation (Re[$θ_F$]) and ellipticity (Im[$θ_F$]) of transmitted radiation through thin films as the sample is rotated. We observe a twofold rotational symmetry in $θ_F$, which is associated with linear dichroism (LD) and occurs when electromagnetic radiation polarized along one direction is absorbed more strongly than radiation polarized in the perpendicular direction. Such polarization anisotropies can be generally associated with symmetry breakings. We measure the amplitude of the LD signal and study its temperature, energy, and doping dependence. The LD signal shows a resonant behavior with a peak in the few hundred meV range, which is coincident with the midinfrared optical feature that has been associated with the formation of the pseudogap state. In this work, the strongest LD signal is found in underdoped films, although it is also observed in optimally and overdoped samples. The LD signal is consistent with an electronic nematic order which is decoupled from the crystallographic axes as well as novel magnetoelectric effects.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

High Current Density Cables for Simpler HTS Magnets in Fusion Energy Systems

High current density cables are needed for the engineering design of potentially low cost, simpler geometry high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets in the promising magnetic configurations as a fusion pilot plant (FPP) option. Significant technology maturation efforts are underway by privately funded startups with the goal to demonstrate mature HTS magnet technology. Test results, however, indicate critical engineering issues remain to be addressed to meet performance goals, and demonstrate HTS coil operation repeatability and reliability. To this end, exploring and enabling multiple viable conductor and cable options is vital. Partnering with a private fusion startup and manufacturers of superconducting strands and cables, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) is exploring and seeking to de-risk the aggressive high field approach presently targeted by others. Our main objective is to develop, test and calibrate novel high current density cables for a broad deployment of affordable and reliable coils using Bi-2212 conductors. If successful, such a project will provide technical feasibility for promising FPP configurations including spherical tokamaks (ST) and compact stellarators. Here, we aim at the state-of-the-art Bi-2212 cable technologies toward a current density of 100 A/mm 2 at 16 T and 4.2 K–10 K operation for low cost, simpler geometry toroidal field (TF) coils for compact stellarators developed by fusion startup companies on a timeline consistent with the FPP initiatives and beyond.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

SQMS Quantum R&D in Machine Learning, Optimization and Sensing beyond Fundamental Physics Applications

This newly formed team at SQMS under the Ecosystem Thrust is looking to develop capabilities impacting societal advances outside the core domain of HEP and condensed matter physics. We explicitly leverage the experimental and algorithmic innovations developed across all groups as well as connect to broad-scope external projects of the diverse team of PIs. As the inaugural set of projects, we are studying numerically quantum machine learning models inspired by efficiently trainable echo-state and orthogonal neural networks and developing designs for related experiments to be performed on quantum processors based on SQMS SRF cQED technology and Rigetti s transmon arrays. Investigated models exploit ideas and lessons learned from multiple prior work by SQMS team members in a variety of internal and external activities [R1]. Target initial applications include noisy signal processing, potentially captured by quantum sensors or noisy QPUs, as well as simulation and classification of healthcare data. For instance, image reconstruction of the brain s electrical properties by solving the inverse Maxwell equation problem with uncertainty [R2] through a hybrid quantum-classical physics-informed architecture for time-dependent processes [R3]. The group is also investigating the application and development of novel quantum sensors based on magnetic levitation of a superconducting sphere coupled to a superconducting qubit. This coupling enables high-precision measurements of the position of the sphere, which can be used for sensitive detection of forces, enabling practical applications such as gravimetry for geophysics analysis, or accelerometry for GPS-denied navigation [R4] [R1] Rieffel, Eleanor G., Ata Akbari Asanjan, M. Sohaib Alam, Namit Anand, David E. Bernal Neira, Sophie Block, Lucas T. Brady et al. "Assessing and advancing the potential of quantum computing: A NASA case study." Future Generation Computer Systems (2024). [R2] Yu, X., Serrall s, J.E., Giannakopoulos, I.I., Liu, Z., Daniel, L., Lattanzi, R. and Zhang, Z., 2023. Pifon-ept: Mr-based electrical property tomography using physics-informed fourier networks. IEEE Journal on Multiscale and Multiphysics Computational Techniques. [R3] Wudarski, Filip, Daniel OConnor, Shaun Geaney, Ata Akbari Asanjan, Max Wilson, Elena Strbac, P. Aaron Lott, and Davide Venturelli. "Hybrid quantum-classical reservoir computing for simulating chaotic systems." arXiv preprint arXiv:2311.14105 (2023). [R4] Higgins, Gerard, Saarik Kalia, and Zhen Liu. "Maglev for dark matter: Dark-photon and axion dark matter sensing with levitated superconductors." Physical Review D 109.5 (2024): 055024.

Venturelli, Davide↗
DOE OSTI2020

Topological materials by molecular beam epitaxy

Topology appears across condensed matter physics to describe a wide array of phenomena which could alter, augment, or fundamentally change the functionality of many technologies. Linking the basic science of topological materials to applications requires producing high-quality thin films. This will enable combining dissimilar materials while utilizing dimensionality, symmetry, and strain to create or control the electronic phase, as well as platforms to fabricate novel devices. Yet, one of the longstanding challenges in the field remains understanding and controlling the basic material properties of epitaxial thin films. Here, we discuss how understanding the fundamental properties of topological materials grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) is key to deepening the knowledge of the basic physics, while developing a new generation of topological devices. A focus will be on the MBE growth of intrinsic materials, creation, and control of superconducting and magnetic topological phases. Addressing these questions in the coming decade will undoubtedly uncover many surprises as new materials are discovered and their growth as high-quality thin films is refined.

2d quantum materials↗
DOE OSTI2020

False metals, real insulators, and degenerate gapped metals

This paper deals with a significant family of compounds predicted by simplistic electronic structure theory to be metals but are, in fact, insulators. This false metallic state has been traditionally attributed in the literature to reflect the absence of proper treatment of electron-electron correlation (“Mott insulators”) whereas, in fact, even mean-field like density functional theory describes the insulating phase correctly if the restrictions posed on the simplistic theory are avoided. Such unwarranted restrictions included different forms of disallowing symmetry breaking described in this article. As the science and technology of conductors have transitioned from studying simple elemental metals such as Al or Cu to compound conductors such as binary or ternary oxides and pnictides, a special class of degenerate but gapped metals has been noticed. Their presumed electronic configurations show the Fermi level inside the conduction band or valence band, yet there is an “internal band gap” between the principal band edges. The significance of this electronic configuration is that it might be unstable toward the formation of states inside the internal band gap when the formation of such states costs less energy than the energy gained by transferring carriers from the conduction band to these lower energy acceptor states, changing the original (false) metal to an insulator. The analogous process also exists for degenerate but gapped metals with the Fermi level inside the valence band, where the energy gain is defined by transfer of electrons from the donor level to the unoccupied part of the valence band. We focus here on the fact that numerous electronic structure methodologies have overlooked some physical factors that could stabilize the insulating alternative, predicting instead false metals that do not really exist (note that this is in general not a physical phase transition, but a correction of a previous error in theory that led to a false prediction of a metal). Such errors include: (i) ignoring spin symmetry breaking, such as disallowing magnetic spin ordering in CuBi2O4 or disallowing the formation of polymorphous spin networks in paramagnetic LaTiO 3 and YTiO 3 ; (ii) ignoring structural symmetry breaking, e.g., not enabling energy-lowering bond disproportionation (Li-doped TiO 2 , SrBiO 3 , and rare-earth nickelates), or not exploring pseudo-Jahn–Teller-like distortions in LaMnO 3 , or disallowing spontaneous formation of ordered vacancy compounds in Ba 4 As 3 and Ag 3 Al 22 O 34 ; and (iii) ignoring spin–orbit coupling forcing false metallic states in CaIrO 3 and Sr 2 IrO 4 . The distinction between false metals vs real insulators is important because (a) predicting theoretically that a given compound is metal even though it is found to be an insulator often creates the temptation to invoke high order novel physical effects (such as correlation in d-electron Mott insulators) to explain what was in effect caused by a more mundane artifact in a lower-level mean-field band theory, (b) recent prediction of exotic physical effects such as topological semimetals were unfortunately based on the above compounds that were misconstrued by theory to be metal, but are now recognized to be stable insulators not hosting exotic effects, and (c) practical technological applications based on stable degenerate but gapped metals such as transparent conductors or electrides for catalysis must rely on the systematically correct and reliable theoretical classification of metals vs insulators.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Pb-Apatite Framework as a Generator of Novel Flat-Band CuO-Based Physics

Based upon density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we present the basic electronic structure of CuPb 9 (PO 4 ) 6 O (Cu-doped lead apatite, aka LK-99), in two scenarios: (1) where the structure is constrained to the P3 symmetry and (2) where no symmetry is imposed. At the DFT level, the former is predicted to be metallic while the latter is found to be a charge-transfer insulator. In both cases the filling of these states is nominally d 9 , consistent with the standard Cu 2+ valence state, and Cu with a local magnetic moment of order 0.7 μ B . In the metallic case we find these states to be unusually flat (∼0.2 eV dispersion), giving a very high density of electronic states (DOS) at the Fermi level that we argue can be a host for novel electronic physics. The flatness of the bands is the likely origin of symmetry-lowering gapping possibilities that would remove the spectral weight from E F . Motivated by some initial experimental observations of metallic or semiconducting behavior, we propose that disorder (likely structural) is responsible for closing the gap. Here, we consider a variety of possibilities that could possibly close the charge-transfer gap but limit consideration to kinds of disorder that preserve electron count. Of the possible kinds we considered (spin disorder, O populating vacancy sites, and Cu on less energetically favorable Pb sites), the local Cu moment, and consequently the charge-transfer gap, remains robust. We conclude that disorder responsible for metallic behavior entails some kind of doping where the electron count changes. Further, we claim that the emergence of the flat bands should be due to weak wave function overlap between the orbitals on Cu and O sites, owing to the directional character of the constituent orbitals. Therefore, finding an appropriate host structure for minimizing hybridization between Cu and O while allowing them to still weakly interact should be a promising route for generating flat bands at E F which can lead to interesting electronic phenomena, regardless of whether LK-99 is a superconductor.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Multi-mode analysis of surface losses in a superconducting microwave resonator in high magnetic fields

This paper reports on a surface impedance measurement of a bulk metal niobium–titanium superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavity in a magnetic field (up to 10 T). Here, a novel method is employed to decompose the surface resistance contributions of the cylindrical cavity end caps and walls using measurements from multiple TM cavity modes. The results confirm that quality factor degradation of a NbTi SRF cavity in a high magnetic field is primarily from surfaces perpendicular to the field (the cavity end caps), while parallel surface resistances (the walls) remain relatively constant. This result is encouraging for applications needing high Q cavities in strong magnetic fields, such as the Axion Dark Matter eXperiment because it opens the possibility of hybrid SRF cavity construction to replace conventional copper cavities.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Iron telluride ladder compounds: Predicting the structural and magnetic properties of BaFe 2 Te 3

Since the discovery of pressure-induced superconductivity in the two-leg ladder system BaFe 2 X 3 (X=S, Se), with the 3d iron electronic density n=6, quasi-one-dimensional iron-based ladders have attracted considerable attention. In this work, we use density-functional theory to predict that the novel n=6 iron ladder BaFe 2 Se 3 could be stable with a similar crystal structure as BaFe 2 Se 3 . Furthermore, our results also indicate that BaFe2Te3 will display a complex 2×2 block-type magnetic order. Due to the magnetic striction effects of this block order, BaFe2Te3 should be a magnetic noncollinear ferrielectric system with a net polarization 0.31μC/cm2. In summary, the similar electronic density and magnetic ground state of Te- and Se-based ladders indicates both should display similar properties. In particular, the physical and structural similarity with BaFe 2 Se 3 suggests that BaFe 2 Se 3 could become superconducting under high pressure.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Quantum criticality and topology in non-equilibrium systems

A key goal of condensed matter physics research is to identify new phases of matter, and to understand the universal features of the phase transitions between them. In the past decade, physicists have uncovered a wealth of new phases with interesting surface properties, exemplified by the theoretical prediction and subsequent experimental discovery of topological insulators and superconductors. Traditional condensed matter systems are usually in a thermal equilibrium state and typically at very low temperature. Very recently, experimental advances have sparked interest in the non-equilibrium setting. Non-equilibrium systems can host new phases and phenomena with no equilibrium counterpart, and could also enable robust ways to build quantum memory devices to store and manipulate quantum information in a coherent manner. These phases and phenomena are inherently “dynamical”: they are described not by changes in the arrangement or structure of the constituent particles, but instead marked by sharp distinctions in how the particles move and exchange energy or quantum information. The discovery of robust non-equilibrium phases raises many fundamental questions: Can we develop a systematic theory of states of matter and of dynamical transitions between such states? How can such states be realized and probed experimentally? The main goal of this project was to explore the emergence of topological phases and quantum criticality (two cornerstones of modern condensed matter physics in equilibrium) in such non-equilibrium quantum systems. Specific goals included (1) using tensor networks to efficiently represent non-equilibrium states of matter and their phase transitions; (2) studying and designing new probes for periodically driven systems; and (3) developing analytic and numerical tools to analyze non-equilibrium topological phase transitions. Advances in these directions were achieved using novel techniques appropriate to study the non-equilibrium dynamics in many-body quantum systems combining strong interactions and randomness. Taken together, these results provide a new conceptual framework for understanding the emergence of quantum critical and topological properties in quantum systems far from thermal equilibrium.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Pressure-induced superconductivity in a novel germanium allotrope

High-pressure studies on elements play an essential role in superconductivity research, with implications for both fundamental science and applications. Here we report the experimental discovery of surprisingly low pressure driving a novel germanium allotrope into a superconducting state in comparison to that for α-Ge. Raman measurements revealed structural phase transitions and possible electronic topological transitions under pressure up to 58 GPa. Based on pressure-dependent resistivity measurements, superconductivity was induced above 2 GPa and the maximum T c of 6.8 K was observed under 4.6 GPa. Interestingly, a superconductivity enhancement was discovered during decompression, indicating the possibility of maintaining pressure-induced superconductivity at ambient pressure with better superconducting performance. Density functional theory analysis further suggested that the electronic structure of Ge (oP32) is sensitive to its detailed geometry and revealed that disorder in the β-tin structure leads to a higher T c in comparison to the perfect β-tin Ge.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗