Topology meets time-reversal symmetry breaking in FeSe1−xTex superconductors

Masaki Roppongi (), Yipeng Cai, Koki Ogawa, Supeng Liu, Guoqiang Zhao, Mohamed Oudah, Takenori Fujii, Kumpei Imamura, Shengjie Fang, Kota Ishihara, Kenichiro Hashimoto, Kohei Matsuura, Yuta Mizukami, Mathew Pula, Cyrus Young, Igor Marković, Douglas A. Bonn, Takao Watanabe, Aichi Yamashita, Yoshikazu Mizuguchi, Graeme M. Luke, Kenji M. Kojima, Yasutomo J. Uemura () and Tasakada Shibauchi ()
Additional contact information
Masaki Roppongi: University of Tokyo
Yipeng Cai: University of British Columbia
Koki Ogawa: University of Tokyo
Supeng Liu: University of Tokyo
Guoqiang Zhao: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Mohamed Oudah: University of British Columbia
Takenori Fujii: University of Tokyo
Kumpei Imamura: University of Tokyo
Shengjie Fang: University of Tokyo
Kota Ishihara: University of Tokyo
Kenichiro Hashimoto: University of Tokyo
Kohei Matsuura: University of Tokyo
Yuta Mizukami: Tohoku University
Mathew Pula: McMaster University
Cyrus Young: University of British Columbia
Igor Marković: University of British Columbia
Douglas A. Bonn: University of British Columbia
Takao Watanabe: Hirosaki University
Aichi Yamashita: Tokyo Metropolitan University
Yoshikazu Mizuguchi: Tokyo Metropolitan University
Graeme M. Luke: McMaster University
Kenji M. Kojima: University of British Columbia
Yasutomo J. Uemura: Columbia University
Tasakada Shibauchi: University of Tokyo

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Time-reversal symmetry breaking (TRSB) in magnetic topological insulators induces a Dirac gap in the topological surface state (TSS), leading to exotic phenomena such as the quantum anomalous Hall effect. Yet, the interplay between TRSB and topology in superconductors remains underexplored due to limited suitable materials. Here we employ zero-field muon spin relaxation (μSR) as a sensitive probe of TRSB to map out the electronic phase diagrams of iron-chalcogenide superconductors FeSe1−xTex. For the Te composition x = 0.64 with the highest superconducting transition temperature Tc = 14.5 K, which is known to host a TSS and Majorana zero modes within vortices, we detect spontaneous magnetic fields below Tc distinct from a magnetic order. This signifies a TRSB superconducting state in the bulk, revealing the convergence of unconventional TRSB superconductivity with topologically nontrivial electronic structures in FeSe1−xTex. Given the relatively high Tc and the tunability of the Fermi level through chemical substitution, iron-chalcogenide superconductors offer an intriguing platform for investigating the synergy between topological superconductivity and TRSB.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61651-y

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