Atomic-Scale Andreev Probe of Unconventional Superconductivity

Ko, Wonhee; Song, Sang Yong; Yan, Jiaqiang; Lado, Jose L.; Maksymovych, Petro

doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c02658

Title: Atomic-Scale Andreev Probe of Unconventional Superconductivity

Journal Article · 27 August 2023 · Nano Letters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c02658 · OSTI ID:1999064

^[1]; Song, Sang Yong ^[2];

^[3]; Lado, Jose L. ^[4];

^[2]

University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Aalto University, Espoo (Finland)

Recent emergence of low-dimensional unconventional superconductors and their exotic interface properties calls for new approaches to probe the pairing symmetry, a fundamental and frequently elusive property of the superconducting condensate. Here, we introduce the unique capability of tunneling Andreev reflection (TAR) to probe unconventional pairing symmetry, utilizing the sensitivity of this technique to specific Andreev reflections. Specifically, suppression of the lowest-order Andreev reflection due to quantum interference but emergence of the higher-order Andreev processes provides direct evidence of the sign-changing order parameter in the paradigmatic FeSe superconductor. Furthermore, TAR spectroscopy also reveals two superconducting gaps, points to a possibility of a nodal gap structure, and directly confirms that superconductivity is locally suppressed along the nematic twin boundary, with preferential and near-complete suppression of the larger energy gap. Furthermore, our findings therefore enable new, atomic-scale insight into microscopic, inhomogeneous, and interfacial properties of emerging quantum materials.

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Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division (MSE); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 1999064

Journal Information:: Nano Letters, Journal Name: Nano Letters Journal Issue: 17 Vol. 23; ISSN 1530-6984

Publisher:: American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: Atomic-Scale Andreev Probe of Unconventional Superconductivity

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