High-Temperature Superconductivity in La_(3)Ni_(2)O_(7)

Motivated by the recent discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in bilayer La_(3)Ni_(2)O_(7) under pressure,we study its electronic properties and superconductivity due to strong electron correlation.Using the inversion symmetry,we decouple the low-energy electronic structure into block-diagonal symmetric and antisymmetric sectors.It is found that the antisymmetric sector can be reduced to a one-band system near half filling,while the symmetric bands occupied by about two electrons are heavily overdoped individually.Using the strong coupling mean field theory,we obtain strong superconducting pairing with B_(1g)symmetry in the antisymmetric sector.We propose that due to the spin-orbital exchange coupling between the two sectors,B_(1g)pairing is induced in the symmetric bands,which in turn boosts the pairing gap in the antisymmetric band and enhances the high-temperature superconductivity with a congruent d-wave symmetry in pressurized La_(3)Ni_(2)O_(7).

Electronic Correlation and Pseudogap-Like Behavior of High-Temperature Superconductor La_(3)Ni_(2)O_(7)

High-temperature superconductivity(HTSC)remains one of the most challenging and fascinating mysteries in condensed matter physics.Recently,superconductivity with transition temperature exceeding liquid-nitrogen temperature is discovered in La_(3)Ni_(2)O_(7) at high pressure,which provides a new platform to explore the unconventional HTSC.In this work,using high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and ab initio calculation,we systematically investigate the electronic structures of La_(3)Ni_(2)O_(7) at ambient pressure.Our experiments are in nice agreement with ab initio calculations after considering an orbital-dependent band renormalization effect.The strong electron correlation effect pushes a flat band of d_(z^(2))𝑧2 orbital component below the Fermi level(E_(F)),which is predicted to locate right at E_(F) under high pressure.Moreover,the d_(x^(2)−y^(2)) band shows pseudogap-like behavior with suppressed spectral weight and diminished quasiparticle peak near E_(F).Our findings provide important insights into the electronic structure of La_(3)Ni_(2)O_(7),which will shed light on understanding of the unconventional superconductivity in nickelates.

Integrated multi-scale approach combining global homogenization and local refinement for multi-field analysis of high-temperature superconducting composite magnets

Second-generation high-temperature superconducting(HTS)conductors,specifically rare earth-barium-copper-oxide(REBCO)coated conductor(CC)tapes,are promising candidates for high-energy and high-field superconducting applications.With respect to epoxy-impregnated REBCO composite magnets that comprise multilayer components,the thermomechanical characteristics of each component differ considerably under extremely low temperatures and strong electromagnetic fields.Traditional numerical models include homogenized orthotropic models,which simplify overall field calculation but miss detailed multi-physics aspects,and full refinement(FR)ones that are thorough but computationally demanding.Herein,we propose an extended multi-scale approach for analyzing the multi-field characteristics of an epoxy-impregnated composite magnet assembled by HTS pancake coils.This approach combines a global homogenization(GH)scheme based on the homogenized electromagnetic T-A model,a method for solving Maxwell's equations for superconducting materials based on the current vector potential T and the magnetic field vector potential A,and a homogenized orthotropic thermoelastic model to assess the electromagnetic and thermoelastic properties at the macroscopic scale.We then identify“dangerous regions”at the macroscopic scale and obtain finer details using a local refinement(LR)scheme to capture the responses of each component material in the HTS composite tapes at the mesoscopic scale.The results of the present GH-LR multi-scale approach agree well with those of the FR scheme and the experimental data in the literature,indicating that the present approach is accurate and efficient.The proposed GH-LR multi-scale approach can serve as a valuable tool for evaluating the risk of failure in large-scale HTS composite magnets.

Decoupling of Rattling Mode and Superconductivity in Filled-Skutterudite Ba_(x)Ir_(4)Sb_(12)

The rattling mode,an anharmonic vibrational phonon,is widely recognized as a critical factor in the emergence of superconductivity in caged materials.Here,we present a counterexample in a filled-skutterudite superconductor Ba_(x)Ir_(4)Sb_(12)(x=0.8,0.9,1.0),synthesized via a high-pressure route.Transport measurements down to liquid 3He temperatures reveal a transition temperature(T_(c))of 1.2 K and an upper critical field(H_(c2))of 1.3 T.Unlike other superconductors with caged structures,the Ba_(x)Ir_(4)Sb_(12)(X=P,As,Sb)family exhibits a monotonic decreasing T_(c) with the enhancement of the rattling mode,as indicated by fitting the Bloch–Grüneisen formula.Theoretical analysis suggests that electron doping from Ba transforms the direct bandgap IrSb3 into a metal,with the Fermi surface dominated by the hybridization of Ir 5d and Sb 5p orbitals.Our findings of decoupled rattling modes and superconductivity distinguish the Ba_(x)Ir_(4)Sb_(12) family from other caged superconductors,warranting further exploration into the underlying mechanism.

Signature of Superconductivity in Pressurized La_(4)Ni_(3)O_(10)

The discovery of high-temperature superconductivity near 80K in bilayer nickelate La_(3)Ni_(2)O_(7)under high pressures has renewed the exploration of superconducting nickelate in bulk materials.The extension of superconductivity in other nickelates in a broader family is also essential.Here,we report the experimental observation of superconducting signature in trilayer nickelate La_(4)Ni_(3)O_(10)under high pressures.By using a modified solgel method and post-annealing treatment under high oxygen pressure,we successfully obtained polycrystalline La_(4)Ni_(3)O_(10)samples with different transport behaviors at ambient pressure.Then we performed high-pressure electrical resistance measurements on these samples in a diamond-anvil-cell apparatus.Surprisingly,the signature of possible superconducting transition with a maximum transition temperature(T_(c))of about 20K under high pressures is observed,as evidenced by a clear drop of resistance and the suppression of resistance drops under magnetic fields.Although the resistance drop is sample-dependent and relatively small,it appears in all of our measured samples.We argue that the observed superconducting signal is most likely to originate from the main phase of La_(4)Ni_(3)O_(10).Our findings will motivate the exploration of superconductivity in a broader family of nickelates and shed light on the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of high-T_(c) superconductivity in nickelates.

Unveiling a novel metal-to-metal transition in LuH_(2):Critically challenging superconductivity claims in lutetium hydrides

Following the recent report by Dasenbrock-Gammon et al.[Nature 615,244–250(2023)]of near-ambient superconductivity in nitrogendoped lutetium trihydride(LuH_(3-δ)N_(ε)),significant debate has emerged surrounding the composition and interpretation of the observed sharp resistance drop.Here,we meticulously revisit these claims through comprehensive characterization and investigations.We definitively identify the reported material as lutetium dihydride(LuH_(2)),resolving the ambiguity surrounding its composition.Under similar conditions(270–295 K and 1–2 GPa),we replicate the reported sharp decrease in electrical resistance with a 30%success rate,aligning with the observations by Dasenbrock-Gammon et al.However,our extensive investigations reveal this phenomenon to be a novel pressure-induced metal-to-metal transition intrinsic to LuH_(2),distinct from superconductivity.Intriguingly,nitrogen doping exerts minimal impact on this transition.Our work not only elucidates the fundamental properties of LuH_(2)andLuH_(3),but also critically challenges the notion of superconductivity in these lutetium hydride systems.These findings pave the way for future research on lutetium hydride systems,while emphasizing the crucial importance of rigorous verification in claims of ambient-temperature superconductivity.

Superconductivity in kagome metal ThRu_(3)Si_(2)

We report the physical properties of ThRu_(3)Si_(2)featured with distorted Ru kagome lattice.The combined experiments of resistivity,magnetization and specific heat reveal bulk superconductivity with T_(c)=3.8 K.The specific heat jump and calculated electron–phonon coupling indicate a moderate coupled BCS superconductor.In comparison with LaRu_(3)Si_(2),the calculated electronic structure in ThRu_(3)Si_(2)shows an electron-doping effect with electron filling lifted from 100 meV below flat bands to 300 meV above it.This explains the lower superconducting transition temperature and weaker electron correlations observed in ThRu_(3)Si_(2).Our work suggests the Tc and electronic correlations in the kagome superconductor could have an intimate connection with the flat bands.

First-principles study on stability and superconductivity of ternary hydride LaYH_(x)(x=2,3,6 and 8)

Recent studies have shown that the La-and Y-hydrides can exhibit significant superconducting properties under high pressures.In this paper,we investigate the stability,electronic and superconducting properties of LaYH_(x)(x=2,3,6 and 8)under 0-200 GPa.It is found that LaYH_(2) stabilizes in the C2/m phase at ambient pressure,and transforms to the Pmmn phase at 67 GPa.LaYH_(3) stabilizes in the C2/m phase at ambient pressure,and undergoes phase transitions of C2/m→P2_(1)/m→R3m at 12 GPa and 87 GPa,respectively.LaYH_(6) stabilizes in the P4_32_12 phase at ambient pressure,and undergoes phase transitions of P4_(3)2_(1)2→P4/mmm→Cmcm at 28 GPa and 79 GPa,respectively.LaYH_(8) stabilizes in the Imma phase at 60 GPa and transforms to the P4/mmm phase at 117 GPa.Calculations of the electronic band structures show that the P4/mmm-LaYH_(8) and all phases of LaYH_(2) and LaYH_(3) exhibit metallic character.For the metallic phases,we then study their superconducting properties.The calculated superconducting transition temperatures(T_c)are 0.47 K for C2/m-LaYH_(2) at 0 GPa,0 K for C2/m-LaYH_(3) at 0 GPa,and 55.51 K for P4/mmm-LaYH_(8) at 50 GPa.

Coexistence of antiferromagnetism and unconventional superconductivity in a quasi-one-dimensional flat-band system:Creutz lattice

We study the coexistence of antiferromagnetism and unconventional superconductivity on the Creutz lattice which shows strictly flat bands in the noninteracting regime.The famous renormalized mean-field theory is used to deal with strong electron-electron repulsive Hubbard interaction in the effective low-energy t-J model,the superfluid weight of the unconventional superconducting state has been calculated via the linear response theory.An unconventional superconducting state with both spin-singlet and staggered spin-triplet pairs emerges beyond a critical antiferromagnetic coupling interaction,while antiferromagnetism accompanies this state.The superconducting state with only spin-singlet pairs is dominant with paramagnetic phase.The A phase is analogous to the pseudogap phase,which shows that electrons go to form pairs but do not cause a supercurrent.We also show the superfluid behavior of the unconventional superconducting state and its critical temperature.It is proven directly that the flat band can effectively raise the critical temperature of superconductivity.It is implementable to simulate and control strongly-correlated electrons'behavior on the Creutz lattice in the ultracold atoms experiment or other artificial structures.Our results may help the understanding of the interplay between unconventional superconductivity and magnetism.

A 3–5μm broadband YBCO high-temperature superconducting photonic crystal

Photonic crystal structures have excellent optical properties,so they are widely studied in conventional optical materials.Recent research shows that high-temperature superconducting periodic structures have natural photonic crystal features and they are favourable candidates for single-photon detection.Considering that superconductors have completely different properties from conventional optical materials,we study the energy level diagram and mid-infrared 3μm–5μm transmission spectrum of two-dimensional superconducting photonic crystals in both superconducting and quenched states with the finite element method.The energy level diagram of the circular crystal column superconducting structure shows that the structure has a large band gap width in both states.At the same fill factor,the circular crystal column superconducting structure has a larger band gap width than the others structures.For lattice structures,the zero transmission point of the square lattice structure is robust to the incident angle and environmental temperature.Our research has guiding significance for the design of new material photonic crystals,photon modulation and detection.

Interface-Induced High-Temperature Superconductivity in Single Unit-Cell FeSe Films on SrTiO_(3)

We report high transition temperature superconductivity in one unit-cell(UC)thick FeSe films grown on a Seetched SrTiO_(3)(001)substrate by molecular beam epitaxy(MBE).A superconducting gap as large as 20 meV and the magnetic field induced vortex state revealed by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy(STM)suggest that the superconductivity of the 1 UC FeSe films could occur around 77K.The control transport measurement shows that the onset superconductivity temperature is well above 50K.Our work not only demonstrates a powerful way for finding new superconductors and for raising Tc,but also provides a well-defined platform for systematic studies of the mechanism of unconventional superconductivity by using different superconducting materials and substrates.

Nonlocal Theory of High-Temperature Superconductivity

The Boltzmann local physical kinetics forecasts the destruction of SC regime because of the heat movement of particles. Then, the most fundamental distinction between a strange metal and a conventional metal is the absence of well-defined quasi-particles. Here, we show that the mentioned “quasi-particles” are solitons, which are formed as a result of self-organization of ionized matter. Shortcomings of the Boltzmann physical kinetics consist in the local description of the transport processes on the level of infinitely small physical volumes as elements of diagnostics. The non-local physics leads to the theory superconductivity including the high temperature diapason. The generalized non-local non-stationary London’s formula is derived.

Correlated-Electron Systems and High-Temperature Superconductivity

We present recent theoretical results on superconductivity in correlated-electron systems, especially in the two-dimensional Hubbard model and the three-band d-p model. The mechanism of superconductivity in high-temperature superconductors has been extensively studied on the basis of various electronic models and also electron-phonon models. In this study, we investigate the properties of superconductivity in correlated-electron systems by using numerical methods such as the variational Monte Carlo method and the quantum Monte Carlomethod. The Hubbard model is one of basic models for strongly correlated electron systems, and is regarded as the model of cuprate high temperature superconductors. The d-p model is more realistic model for cuprates. The superconducting condensation energy obtained by adopting the Gutzwiller ansatz is in reasonable agreement with the condensation energy estimated for YBa2Cu3O7. We show the phase diagram of the ground state using this method. We have further investigated the stability of striped and checkerboard states in the under-doped region. Holes doped in a half-filled square lattice lead to an incommensurate spin and charge density wave. The relationship of the hole density x and incommensurability δ, δ~x, is satisfied in the lower doping region, as indicated by the variationalMonte Carlocalculations for the two-dimensional Hubbard model. A checkerboard-like charge-density modulation with a roughly period has also been observed by scanning tunneling microscopy experiments in Bi2212 and Na-CCOC compounds. We have performed a variational Monte Carlo simulation on a two-dimensional t-t′-t″- U Hubbard model with a Bi-2212 type band structure and found that the period checkerboard spin modulation, that is characterized by multi Q vectors, is indeed stabilized. We have further performed an investigation by using a quantumMonte Carlomethod, which is a numerical method that can be used to simulate the behavior of correlated electron systems. We present a new algorithm of the quantum Monte Carlo diagonalization that is a method for the evaluation of expectation value without the negative sign problem. We compute pair correlation functions and show that pair correlation is indeed enhanced with hole doping.

Macroscopic Quantum System, Highly Correlated Electron State, and High-Temperature Superconductivity in Iron Pnictides

The qualitative model of the high-temperature superconductivity suggested earlier for cuprates and based on the idea that the superconductivity is associated with delocalized π bonding between ions is not only confirmed by experimental data on iron pnictides but is also improved. It is shown that the FeAs layer state is similar to that of a macroscopic quantum system characterized by a sandwich-type charge distribution in which negatively charged planes are two-dimensional electron crystals of pairs and positively charged planes are formed by positively charged ions. Superconductivity in such a system is accomplished by a two-dimensional Wigner crystal of bosons condensed into one and the same state. The crystal occupies a middle position with respect to charged planes in the sandwich structure, which leads to mutual compensation of all its interactions with all charged planes. The model can prove useful for development of the theory of superconductivity taking into consideration the highly correlated state of all valence electrons that manifests itself in formation of electron crystals with strong Coulomb interactions between them.

The near-room-temperature upsurge of electrical resistivity in Lu-H-N is not superconductivity,but a metal-to-poor-conductor transition

The recent report of superconductivity in nitrogen-doped lutetium hydride(Lu-H-N)at 294 K and 1 GPa brought hope for long-sought-after ambient-condition superconductors.However,the failure of scientists worldwide to independently reproduce these results has cast intense skepticism on this exciting claim.In this work,using a reliable experimental protocol,we synthesized Lu-H-N while minimizing extrinsic influences and reproduced the sudden change in resistance near room temperature.With quantitative comparison of the temperaturedependent resistance between Lu-H-N and the pure lutetium before reaction,we were able to clarify that the drastic resistance change is most likely caused by a metal-to-poor-conductor transition rather than by superconductivity.Herein,we also briefly discuss other issues recently raised in relation to the Lu-H-N system.

Superconductivity Observed in Tantalum Polyhydride at High Pressure

We report experimental discovery of tantalum polyhydride superconductor.It was synthesized under highpressure and high-temperature conditions using diamond anvil cell combined with in situ high-pressure laser heating techniques.The superconductivity was investigated via resistance measurements at pressures.The highest superconducting transition temperature T_(c)was found to be~30 K at 197 GPa in the sample that was synthesized at the same pressure with~2000 K heating.The transitions are shifted to low temperature upon applying magnetic fields that support the superconductivity nature.The upper critical field at zero temperatureμ_0H_(c2)(0)of the superconducting phase is estimated to be~20 T that corresponds to Ginzburg-Landau coherent length~40 A.Our results suggest that the superconductivity may arise from 143d phase of TaH_(3).It is,for the first time to our best knowledge,experimental realization of superconducting hydrides for the VB group of transition metals.

No evidence of superconductivity in a compressed sample prepared from lutetium foil and H_(2)/N_(2) gas mixture

A material described as lutetium–hydrogen–nitrogen(Lu-H-N in short)was recently claimed to have“near-ambient superconductivity”[Dasenbrock-Gammon et al.,Nature 615,244–250(2023)].If this result could be reproduced by other teams,it would be a major scientific breakthrough.Here,we report our results of transport and structure measurements on a material prepared using the same method as reported by Dasenbrock-Gammon et al.Our x-ray diffraction measurements indicate that the obtained sample contains three substances:the facecentered-cubic(FCC)-1 phase(Fm-3m)with lattice parameter a=5.03Å,the FCC-2 phase(Fm-3m)with a lattice parameter a=4.755Å,and Lu metal.The two FCC phases are identical to the those reported in the so-called near-ambient superconductor.However,we find from our resistance measurements in the temperature range from 300 K down to 4 K and the pressure range 0.9–3.4 GPa and our magnetic susceptibility measurements in the pressure range 0.8–3.3 GPa and the temperature range down to 100 K that the samples show no evidence of superconductivity.We also use a laser heating technique to heat a sample to 1800 XC and find no superconductivity in the produced dark blue material below 6.5 GPa.In addition,both samples remain dark blue in color in the pressure range investigated.

Superconductivity in epitaxially grown LaVO_(3)/KTaO_(3)(111)heterostructures

Complex oxide heterointerfaces can host a rich of emergent phenomena,and epitaxial growth is usually at the heart of forming these interfaces.Recently,a strong crystalline-orientation-dependent two-dimensional superconductivity was discovered at interfaces between KTaO_(3)single-crystal substrates and films of other oxides.Unexpectedly,rare of these oxide films was epitaxially grown.Here,we report the existence of superconductivity in epitaxially grown LaVO_(3)/KTaO_(3)(111)heterostructures,with a superconducting transition temperature of~0.5 K.Meanwhile,no superconductivity was detected in the(001)-and(110)-orientated LaVO_(3)/KTaO_(3)heterostructures down to 50 mK.Moreover,we find that for the LaVO_(3)/KTaO_(3)(111)interfaces to be conducting,an oxygen-deficient growth environment and a minimum LaVO_(3)thickness of~0.8 nm(~2 unit cells)are needed.

First-principles study on the conventional superconductivity of N-doped fcc-LuH_(3)

Recently,room-temperature superconductivity has been reported in a nitrogen-doped lutetium hydride at near-ambient pressure[Dasenbrock-Gammon et al.,Nature 615,244(2023)].The superconducting properties might arise from Fm3m-LuH_(3)−δNε.Here,we systematically study the phase diagram of Lu–N–H at 1 GPa using first-principles calculations,and we do not find any thermodynamically stable ternary compounds.In addition,we calculate the dynamic stability and superconducting properties of N-doped Fm3m-LuH_(3) using the virtual crystal approximation(VCA)and the supercell method.The R3m-Lu_(2)H_(5)N predicted using the supercell method could be dynamically stable at 50 GPa,with a T_(c) of 27 K.According to the VCA method,the highest T_(c) is 22 K,obtained with 1%N-doping at 30 GPa.Moreover,the doping of nitrogen atoms into Fm3m-LuH_(3) slightly enhances T_(c),but raises the dynamically stable pressure.Our theoretical results show that the T_(c) values of N-doped LuH_(3) estimated using the Allen–Dynes-modified McMillan equation are much lower than room temperature.

Cascade excitation of vortex motion and reentrant superconductivity in flexible Nb thin films

High quality Nb films were successfully prepared on both flexible polyimide(PI)and rigid Al2O3substrates and their transport properties were systematically studied at various applied currents,external magnetic fields,and sample orientations.It is found that a curved Nb/PI film exhibits quite different superconducting transition and vortex dynamics compared to the flat Nb/Al2O3film.For the curved Nb/PI film,smooth superconducting transitions were obtained at low currents,while unexpected cascade structures were revealed in theρ(T)curves at high currents.We attribute this phenomenon to the gradient distribution of vortex density together with a variation of superconductivity along the curved film.In addition,reentrant superconductivity was induced in the curved Nb/PI thin film by properly choosing the measurement conditions.We attribute this effect to the vortex pinning from both in-plane vortices and out-of-plane vortices.This work reveals the complex transport properties of curved superconducting thin films,providing important insights for further theoretical investigations and practical developments of flexible superconductors.