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Visualizing nematic instability and suppression of superconductivity in Fe(Te,Se)

ORAL

Abstract

FeTe1-xSex is a highly tunable high-Tc superconductor. It undergoes both a topological transition and an electronic nematic phase transition, around the same critical composition xc where the superconducting transition temperature Tc peaks. This regime enables exploring the impact of electronic nematicity and symmetry-breaking strain on different electronic phases. Here, we use scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy to visualize the electronic nematic transition in FeTe1-xSex across xc. At xc, we discover the emergence of nanoscale regions hosting electronic nematicity with suppressed superconductivity, embedded within the non-nematic superconducting matrix. We conclude by discussing the role of anisotropic strain on the emergence of nematic regions, which could impact exotic topological phenomena reported in this system.

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Presenters

  • He Zhao

    Boston College

Authors

  • He Zhao

    Boston College

  • Hong Li

    Boston College

  • Lianyang Dong

    Materials, University of Santa Barbara

  • Binjie Xu

    Zhejiang University

  • John Schneeloch

    Univ of Virginia, Physics, University of Virginia, Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, University of Virginia, Brookhaven National Laboratory

  • Ruidan Zhong

    Princeton University, Brookhaven National Labs, Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department, Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory

  • Minghu Fang

    Zhejiang University

  • Genda Gu

    Brookhaven National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratories, Brookhaven national lab, Brookhaven National Labs, Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department, Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, CMPMS, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Lab, COndensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory

  • John W Harter

    Materials, University of Santa Barbara, University of California, Santa Barbara

  • Stephen D. Wilson

    Materials Department, UC Santa Barbara, Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-5050, USA, Materials, University of Santa Barbara, Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara

  • Ziqiang Wang

    Boston University, Physics, Boston College, Boston College, Department of Physics, Boston College

  • Ilija Zeljkovic

    Boston College