Reentrant phase coherence in a quasi-one-dimensional superconductor

ORAL

Abstract

Short coherence lengths characteristic of low-dimensional superconductors are related to high critical fields or temperatures. Fatally, such materials are often sensitive to disorder and suffer from phase fluctuations in the order parameter which diverge with temperature $T$, magnetic field $H$ or current $I$. To solve synthesis and fluctuation problems, we propose to build superconductors from inhomogeneous composites of nanofilaments. Single crystals of quasi-one-dimensional Na$_{2-\delta}$Mo$_6$Se$_6$ featuring Na vacancy disorder ($\delta\sim0.2$) behave as percolative networks of superconducting nanowires. Long range order is established via transverse coupling between individual filaments, yet phase coherence is unstable to fluctuations and localization in the zero-($T$,$H$,$I$) limit. A region of reentrant phase coherence develops upon raising ($T$,$H$,$I$) and is attributed to an enhancement of the transverse coupling due to electron delocalization. The observed reentrance in the electronic transport coincides with a peak in the Josephson energy $E_J$ at non-zero ($T$,$H$,$I$). Na$_{2-\delta}$Mo$_6$Se$_6$ is a blueprint for a new generation of low dimensional superconductors with resilience to phase fluctuations at high ($T$,$H$,$I$).

Authors

  • Diane Ansermet

    Nanyang Technological University

  • Alexander P. Petrovic

    Nanyang Technological University

  • Shikun He

    Nanyang Technological University

  • Dmitri Chernyshov

    European Synchrotron Radiation Facility

  • Moritz Hoesch

    Diamond Light Source

  • Diala Salloum

    Lebanese University

  • Patrick Gougeon

    University of Rennes 1

  • Michel Potel

    University of Rennes 1

  • Lilia Boeri

    Graz University of Technology

  • Ole K. Andersen

    Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research

  • Christos Panagopoulos

    Nanyang Technological University, Div of Physics and Applied Physics, Nanyang Technological University