Phys.org April 8, 2024
Magnetism can cause a modulation of superconducting pairing in real space in both copper-based and iron-based materials. Researchers in China reported on the discovery of a spatially varying superconducting state residing at the interface between KTaO3 and ferromagnetic EuO. Electrical transport measurements revealed different values of the critical temperature and magnetic field at which the superconductivity breaks down when current was applied along the two orthogonal in-plane directions. This anisotropy occurred in low-carrier-density samples that were characterized by strong coupling between the Ta 5d and Eu 4f electrons, whereas in high-carrier-density samples, the coupling was weakened, and the superconducting properties became isotropic. According to the researchers their observations implied the emergence of superconducting stripes where phase coherence was established ahead of the rest of the interface, arising from a band-filling-dependent ferromagnetic proximity… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
2DEG formed at the KTO(110) surface and transport measurements on EuO/KTO(110) interface samples. Credit: Nature Physics, 7 March 2024