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Identify the Nematic Superconductivity of Topological Superconductor Pd\(_x\)Bi\(_2\)Te\(_3\) by Angle-dependent Upper Critical Field Measurement

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Abstract

Odd-parity superconductivity is recognized as a key ingredient to realize topological superconductivity. In Bi2Se3-based bulk topological superconductors, the odd-parity pairing, which spontaneously breaks the threefold rotational symmetry of the crystal, leading to a subsidiary nematic order, was discovered. The nematic superconducting state can be identified by thermodynamic measurement, nuclear magnetic resonance measurement, ac-\(\chi\) measurement, magnetic torque measurement or magnetoresistance measurement. Here, the single crystal of topological superconductor Pd\(_x\)Bi2Te3 was grown. Its upper critical fields were obtained by magnetoresistance measurement in various magnetic field orientations parallel to the basal plane. The in-plane upper critical fields clearly demonstrate a twofold symmetry that break the threefold crystal symmetry. This provides experimental evidence that Pd-doped Bi2Te3 is a nematic topological superconductor similar to the Cu-, Sr-, and Nb-doped Bi2Se3.

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Funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 11804194), Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, China (Nos. ZR2016AQ08).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, 266 Xincun Xi Road, Zibo, 255000, China

    Xianyu Wang, Fei Jiao & Bo Liu

  2. Laboratory of Functional Molecules and Materials, School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, 266 Xincun Xi Road, Zibo, 255000, China

    Xianyu Wang, Fei Jiao, Qingyin Tian, Shu Zhu, Lingbo Cai, Qing Lu, Shugang Tan, Cao Wang, Qiang Jing & Bo Liu

  3. Electrical and Electronic Engineering College, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, 255000, China

    Xiangqing Dong & Jianping Sun

  4. Key Laboratory of Artificial Structures and Quantum Control (Ministry of Education), Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

    Jiayuan Hu, Chenhang Xu, Qiang Jing & Dong Qian

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  1. Xianyu Wang
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Wang, X., Jiao, F., Tian, Q. et al. Identify the Nematic Superconductivity of Topological Superconductor Pd\(_x\)Bi\(_2\)Te\(_3\) by Angle-dependent Upper Critical Field Measurement. J Supercond Nov Magn 34, 3045–3052 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10948-021-06055-x

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