Diverging Nematic Susceptibility in Superconducting Cu_xTiSe₂

The transition metal dichalcogenide TiSe₂ has been the focus of many studies over the years. Its charge density wave ordering, found below ~T= 200 K, has been highlighted both for its atypical resistivity behavior and for its relationship to an unconventional superconductivity which is revealed when TiSe₂ is intercalated with Cu or placed under pressure. In this talk, we present a study of the strain response of Cu_xTiSe₂. Measurements of the elastoresistivity of Cu_xTiSe₂ show a strongly diverging susceptibility, indicating that electronic nematic fluctuations may play a role in the material’s ordering. Thanks to the trigonal symmetry of the lattice, this system could provide a valuable platform for studying nematicity with a three-state Potts ordering parameter as well as give valuable insight into the interplay of superconductivity and charge density waves within the compound.