journal article·2019-09

Gap suppression at a Lifshitz transition in a multi-condensate superconductor

G. Singh, A. Jouan, G. Herranz, M. Scigaj, F. Sánchez, L. Benfatto, S. Caprara, M. Grilli, G. Saiz, F. Couëdo, C. Feuillet-Palma, J. Lesueur, N. Bergeal

Nature Materials· Volume 18· Issue 9
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Abstract

In multi-orbital materials, superconductivity can exhibit several coupled condensates. In this context, quantum confinement in two-dimensional superconducting oxide interfaces offers new degrees of freedom to engineer the band structure and selectively control the occupancy of 3d orbitals by electrostatic doping. Here, we use resonant microwave transport to extract the superfluid stiffness of the (110)-oriented LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface in the entire phase diagram. We provide evidence of a transition from single-condensate to two-condensate superconductivity driven by continuous and reversible electrostatic doping, which we relate to the Lifshitz transition between 3d bands based on numerical simulations of the quantum well. We find that the superconducting gap is suppressed while the second band is populated, challenging Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory. We ascribe this behaviour to the existence of superconducting order parameters with opposite signs in the two condensates due to repulsive coupling. Our findings offer an innovative perspective on the possibility to tune and control multiple-orbital physics in superconducting interfaces.
Source: europepmc · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Electronic and Structural Properties of Oxides · Magnetic and transport properties of perovskites and related materials · Advanced Condensed Matter Physics

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

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