2021/11/29 by Arnab Bera, Bera, Arnab, Sirshendu Gayen +29
Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #2D Materials and Applications #FOS: Physical sciences #Iron-based superconductors research #Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci) #Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall) #Other Condensed Matter (cond-mat.other) #Rare-earth and actinide compounds #Superconductivity (cond-mat.supr-con)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2111.14525
openalex publication_date 2021/11/29 · openalex created_date 2022/05/05 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Low-dimensional materials with broken inversion symmetry and strong spin-orbit coupling can give rise to fascinating quantum phases and phase transitions. Here we report coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism below 2.5 K in the quasi-one dimensional crystals of non-centrosymmetric (TaSe4)3I (space group: P421c). The unique phase is a direct consequence of inversion symmetry breaking as the same material also stabilizes in a centro-symmetric structure (space group: P4/mnc) where it behaves like a non-magnetic insulator. The coexistence here upfront contradicts the popular belief that superconductivity and ferromagnetism are two apparently antagonistic phenomena. Notably, here, for the first time, we have clearly detected Meissner effect in the superconducting state despite the coexisting ferromagnetic order. The coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism projects non-centrosymmetric (TaSe4)3I as a host for complex ground states of quantum matter including possible unconventional superconductivity with elusive spin-triplet pairing.