Time-reversal symmetry-breaking charge order in a kagome superconductor

C. Mielke, D. Das, J.-X. Yin, H. Liu, R. Gupta, Y.-X. Jiang, M. Medarde, X. Wu, H. C. Lei, J. Chang, Pengcheng Dai, Q. Si, H. Miao, R. Thomale, T. Neupert, Y. Shi, R. Khasanov, M. Z. Hasan (), H. Luetkens and Z. Guguchia ()
Additional contact information
C. Mielke: Paul Scherrer Institute
D. Das: Paul Scherrer Institute
J.-X. Yin: Princeton University
H. Liu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
R. Gupta: Paul Scherrer Institute
Y.-X. Jiang: Princeton University
M. Medarde: Paul Scherrer Institut
X. Wu: Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
H. C. Lei: Renmin University of China
J. Chang: Physik-Institut, Universität Zürich
Pengcheng Dai: Rice University
Q. Si: Rice University
H. Miao: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
R. Thomale: Universitat Wurzburg
T. Neupert: Physik-Institut, Universität Zürich
Y. Shi: Chinese Academy of Sciences
R. Khasanov: Paul Scherrer Institute
M. Z. Hasan: Princeton University
H. Luetkens: Paul Scherrer Institute
Z. Guguchia: Paul Scherrer Institute

Nature, 2022, vol. 602, issue 7896, 245-250

Abstract: Abstract The kagome lattice1, which is the most prominent structural motif in quantum physics, benefits from inherent non-trivial geometry so that it can host diverse quantum phases, ranging from spin-liquid phases, to topological matter, to intertwined orders2–8 and, most rarely, to unconventional superconductivity6,9. Recently, charge sensitive probes have indicated that the kagome superconductors AV3Sb5 (A = K, Rb, Cs)9–11 exhibit unconventional chiral charge order12–19, which is analogous to the long-sought-after quantum order in the Haldane model20 or Varma model21. However, direct evidence for the time-reversal symmetry breaking of the charge order remains elusive. Here we use muon spin relaxation to probe the kagome charge order and superconductivity in KV3Sb5. We observe a noticeable enhancement of the internal field width sensed by the muon ensemble, which takes place just below the charge ordering temperature and persists into the superconducting state. Notably, the muon spin relaxation rate below the charge ordering temperature is substantially enhanced by applying an external magnetic field. We further show the multigap nature of superconductivity in KV3Sb5 and that the $${T}_{{\rm{c}}}/{\lambda }_{ab}^{-2}$$ T c / λ a b − 2 ratio (where Tc is the superconducting transition temperature and λab is the magnetic penetration depth in the kagome plane) is comparable to those of unconventional high-temperature superconductors. Our results point to time-reversal symmetry-breaking charge order intertwining with unconventional superconductivity in the correlated kagome lattice.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04327-z

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