New results from experimental studies of single-crystal quantum structures of spin-triplet superconductor Sr$_{2}$RuO$_{4}$

POSTER

Abstract

Sr$_{2}$RuO$_{4}$, the only layered perovskite that becomes superconducting without the presence of Cu, was predicted to be an odd-parity, spin-triplet (possibly chiral p-wave) superconductor shortly after the discovery of its superconductivity. This prediction was supported by intensive work in the past two decades. Our experimental studies of Sr$_{2}$RuO$_{4}$ aim at detecting novel topological objects predicted for this superconducting material, including chiral edge currents, domains and domain walls, half-quantum vortices, and others. We established a process to prepare single-crystal quantum structures of Sr$_{2}$RuO$_{4}$ starting from mechanically exfoliated thin flakes. We identified Ru-free flakes of Sr$_{2}$RuO$_{4}$ showing enhanced superconductivity and demonstrated the link between the local enhancement of $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ and the presence of edge dislocations due to symmetry lowering. We fabricated mesoscopic superconducting rings of Sr$_{2}$RuO$_{4}$ and carried out Little-Parks resistance oscillation measurements, finding anomalously large resistance oscillations of full-flux period. With the application of an in-plane field and a large measurement current, the emergence of a second set of resistance oscillations was observed that suggested the existence of half-flux L-P resistance oscillations. Further experimental issues need to be clarified before the half-flux L-P resistance oscillations are fully established.

Authors

  • Xinxin Cai

    Pennsylvania State Univ

  • Brain Zakrzewski

    Pennsylvania State Univ

  • Shaun Mills

    Pennsylvania State Univ

  • Eva Andrei

    National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Pennsylvania State Univ, Department of Physics, Temple University, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Science, Department of Physics, Boise State University, National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, York Univ, Erciyes Univ, Chinese Academy of Sciences Hefei, Pennsylvania State Univ and USTC, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, MIT, Harvard, Penn State University, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania State University, Penn State, Department of Physics, Penn State University, University Park, USA, National Institute for Material Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Japan, Carnegie Mellon University, IPICYT, Mexico, Shinshu University, Japan, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tsinghua University, China, American Physical Society, Appalachian State University, West Chester Univ, Lehigh University, Drew University, University of Balearics Islands, Roanoke College, NIST, Tulane Univ, Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Zhejiang Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the Pennsylvania State University, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, International Center for Quantum Materials, Peking University, Villanova University, West Virginia University, Institut Lumiere Matiere, PSU, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Towson Univ, CINVESTAV-Queretaro, Prince George Community College, Howard University, Towson University, The Pennsylvania State University, Hokkaido Univ, Cinvestav-Unidad Queretaro, Queretaro-76230, Mexico, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Osaka University, Penn State Univ, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, ILM Universit\'{e} Lyon 1, Moravian College, Bloomsburg Univ, Universit\"at Bielefeld, Syracuse University, Alabama A\&M University, Indiana University of PA, University of Denver, IUP, University of Nebraska, University of Science and Technology of China, Seoul National University, Soochow University China, US Army Research Laboratory, Drexel University, University of Stuttgart, Youngstown State University, University of Surrey, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Department of Mathematics, West Virginia University, University of Delaware, Physics Department, The Pennsylvania State University, 104 Davey Lab, University Park, PA, 16802, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, McMaster University, University of Toronto, The University of Texas at Austin, Army Research Lab, Adelphi MD, University of Connecticut, Notre Dame, University of Maryland, Department of Physics and Center for 2-Dimensional and Layered Materials, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rutgers University

  • Eva Andrei

    National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Pennsylvania State Univ, Department of Physics, Temple University, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Science, Department of Physics, Boise State University, National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, York Univ, Erciyes Univ, Chinese Academy of Sciences Hefei, Pennsylvania State Univ and USTC, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, MIT, Harvard, Penn State University, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania State University, Penn State, Department of Physics, Penn State University, University Park, USA, National Institute for Material Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Japan, Carnegie Mellon University, IPICYT, Mexico, Shinshu University, Japan, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tsinghua University, China, American Physical Society, Appalachian State University, West Chester Univ, Lehigh University, Drew University, University of Balearics Islands, Roanoke College, NIST, Tulane Univ, Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Zhejiang Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the Pennsylvania State University, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, International Center for Quantum Materials, Peking University, Villanova University, West Virginia University, Institut Lumiere Matiere, PSU, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Towson Univ, CINVESTAV-Queretaro, Prince George Community College, Howard University, Towson University, The Pennsylvania State University, Hokkaido Univ, Cinvestav-Unidad Queretaro, Queretaro-76230, Mexico, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Osaka University, Penn State Univ, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, ILM Universit\'{e} Lyon 1, Moravian College, Bloomsburg Univ, Universit\"at Bielefeld, Syracuse University, Alabama A\&M University, Indiana University of PA, University of Denver, IUP, University of Nebraska, University of Science and Technology of China, Seoul National University, Soochow University China, US Army Research Laboratory, Drexel University, University of Stuttgart, Youngstown State University, University of Surrey, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Department of Mathematics, West Virginia University, University of Delaware, Physics Department, The Pennsylvania State University, 104 Davey Lab, University Park, PA, 16802, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, McMaster University, University of Toronto, The University of Texas at Austin, Army Research Lab, Adelphi MD, University of Connecticut, Notre Dame, University of Maryland, Department of Physics and Center for 2-Dimensional and Layered Materials, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rutgers University

  • Eva Andrei

    National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Pennsylvania State Univ, Department of Physics, Temple University, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Science, Department of Physics, Boise State University, National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, York Univ, Erciyes Univ, Chinese Academy of Sciences Hefei, Pennsylvania State Univ and USTC, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, MIT, Harvard, Penn State University, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania State University, Penn State, Department of Physics, Penn State University, University Park, USA, National Institute for Material Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Japan, Carnegie Mellon University, IPICYT, Mexico, Shinshu University, Japan, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tsinghua University, China, American Physical Society, Appalachian State University, West Chester Univ, Lehigh University, Drew University, University of Balearics Islands, Roanoke College, NIST, Tulane Univ, Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Zhejiang Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the Pennsylvania State University, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, International Center for Quantum Materials, Peking University, Villanova University, West Virginia University, Institut Lumiere Matiere, PSU, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Towson Univ, CINVESTAV-Queretaro, Prince George Community College, Howard University, Towson University, The Pennsylvania State University, Hokkaido Univ, Cinvestav-Unidad Queretaro, Queretaro-76230, Mexico, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Osaka University, Penn State Univ, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, ILM Universit\'{e} Lyon 1, Moravian College, Bloomsburg Univ, Universit\"at Bielefeld, Syracuse University, Alabama A\&M University, Indiana University of PA, University of Denver, IUP, University of Nebraska, University of Science and Technology of China, Seoul National University, Soochow University China, US Army Research Laboratory, Drexel University, University of Stuttgart, Youngstown State University, University of Surrey, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Department of Mathematics, West Virginia University, University of Delaware, Physics Department, The Pennsylvania State University, 104 Davey Lab, University Park, PA, 16802, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, McMaster University, University of Toronto, The University of Texas at Austin, Army Research Lab, Adelphi MD, University of Connecticut, Notre Dame, University of Maryland, Department of Physics and Center for 2-Dimensional and Layered Materials, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rutgers University

  • Eva Andrei

    National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Pennsylvania State Univ, Department of Physics, Temple University, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Science, Department of Physics, Boise State University, National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, York Univ, Erciyes Univ, Chinese Academy of Sciences Hefei, Pennsylvania State Univ and USTC, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, MIT, Harvard, Penn State University, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania State University, Penn State, Department of Physics, Penn State University, University Park, USA, National Institute for Material Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Japan, Carnegie Mellon University, IPICYT, Mexico, Shinshu University, Japan, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tsinghua University, China, American Physical Society, Appalachian State University, West Chester Univ, Lehigh University, Drew University, University of Balearics Islands, Roanoke College, NIST, Tulane Univ, Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Zhejiang Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the Pennsylvania State University, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, International Center for Quantum Materials, Peking University, Villanova University, West Virginia University, Institut Lumiere Matiere, PSU, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Towson Univ, CINVESTAV-Queretaro, Prince George Community College, Howard University, Towson University, The Pennsylvania State University, Hokkaido Univ, Cinvestav-Unidad Queretaro, Queretaro-76230, Mexico, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Osaka University, Penn State Univ, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, ILM Universit\'{e} Lyon 1, Moravian College, Bloomsburg Univ, Universit\"at Bielefeld, Syracuse University, Alabama A\&M University, Indiana University of PA, University of Denver, IUP, University of Nebraska, University of Science and Technology of China, Seoul National University, Soochow University China, US Army Research Laboratory, Drexel University, University of Stuttgart, Youngstown State University, University of Surrey, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Department of Mathematics, West Virginia University, University of Delaware, Physics Department, The Pennsylvania State University, 104 Davey Lab, University Park, PA, 16802, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, McMaster University, University of Toronto, The University of Texas at Austin, Army Research Lab, Adelphi MD, University of Connecticut, Notre Dame, University of Maryland, Department of Physics and Center for 2-Dimensional and Layered Materials, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rutgers University

  • Eva Andrei

    National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Pennsylvania State Univ, Department of Physics, Temple University, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Science, Department of Physics, Boise State University, National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, York Univ, Erciyes Univ, Chinese Academy of Sciences Hefei, Pennsylvania State Univ and USTC, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, MIT, Harvard, Penn State University, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania State University, Penn State, Department of Physics, Penn State University, University Park, USA, National Institute for Material Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Japan, Carnegie Mellon University, IPICYT, Mexico, Shinshu University, Japan, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tsinghua University, China, American Physical Society, Appalachian State University, West Chester Univ, Lehigh University, Drew University, University of Balearics Islands, Roanoke College, NIST, Tulane Univ, Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Zhejiang Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the Pennsylvania State University, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, International Center for Quantum Materials, Peking University, Villanova University, West Virginia University, Institut Lumiere Matiere, PSU, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Towson Univ, CINVESTAV-Queretaro, Prince George Community College, Howard University, Towson University, The Pennsylvania State University, Hokkaido Univ, Cinvestav-Unidad Queretaro, Queretaro-76230, Mexico, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Osaka University, Penn State Univ, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, ILM Universit\'{e} Lyon 1, Moravian College, Bloomsburg Univ, Universit\"at Bielefeld, Syracuse University, Alabama A\&M University, Indiana University of PA, University of Denver, IUP, University of Nebraska, University of Science and Technology of China, Seoul National University, Soochow University China, US Army Research Laboratory, Drexel University, University of Stuttgart, Youngstown State University, University of Surrey, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Department of Mathematics, West Virginia University, University of Delaware, Physics Department, The Pennsylvania State University, 104 Davey Lab, University Park, PA, 16802, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, McMaster University, University of Toronto, The University of Texas at Austin, Army Research Lab, Adelphi MD, University of Connecticut, Notre Dame, University of Maryland, Department of Physics and Center for 2-Dimensional and Layered Materials, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rutgers University

  • Eva Andrei

    National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Pennsylvania State Univ, Department of Physics, Temple University, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Science, Department of Physics, Boise State University, National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, York Univ, Erciyes Univ, Chinese Academy of Sciences Hefei, Pennsylvania State Univ and USTC, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, MIT, Harvard, Penn State University, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania State University, Penn State, Department of Physics, Penn State University, University Park, USA, National Institute for Material Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Japan, Carnegie Mellon University, IPICYT, Mexico, Shinshu University, Japan, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tsinghua University, China, American Physical Society, Appalachian State University, West Chester Univ, Lehigh University, Drew University, University of Balearics Islands, Roanoke College, NIST, Tulane Univ, Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Zhejiang Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the Pennsylvania State University, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, International Center for Quantum Materials, Peking University, Villanova University, West Virginia University, Institut Lumiere Matiere, PSU, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Towson Univ, CINVESTAV-Queretaro, Prince George Community College, Howard University, Towson University, The Pennsylvania State University, Hokkaido Univ, Cinvestav-Unidad Queretaro, Queretaro-76230, Mexico, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Osaka University, Penn State Univ, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, ILM Universit\'{e} Lyon 1, Moravian College, Bloomsburg Univ, Universit\"at Bielefeld, Syracuse University, Alabama A\&M University, Indiana University of PA, University of Denver, IUP, University of Nebraska, University of Science and Technology of China, Seoul National University, Soochow University China, US Army Research Laboratory, Drexel University, University of Stuttgart, Youngstown State University, University of Surrey, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Department of Mathematics, West Virginia University, University of Delaware, Physics Department, The Pennsylvania State University, 104 Davey Lab, University Park, PA, 16802, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, McMaster University, University of Toronto, The University of Texas at Austin, Army Research Lab, Adelphi MD, University of Connecticut, Notre Dame, University of Maryland, Department of Physics and Center for 2-Dimensional and Layered Materials, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rutgers University

  • Eva Andrei

    National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Pennsylvania State Univ, Department of Physics, Temple University, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Science, Department of Physics, Boise State University, National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, York Univ, Erciyes Univ, Chinese Academy of Sciences Hefei, Pennsylvania State Univ and USTC, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, MIT, Harvard, Penn State University, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania State University, Penn State, Department of Physics, Penn State University, University Park, USA, National Institute for Material Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Japan, Carnegie Mellon University, IPICYT, Mexico, Shinshu University, Japan, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tsinghua University, China, American Physical Society, Appalachian State University, West Chester Univ, Lehigh University, Drew University, University of Balearics Islands, Roanoke College, NIST, Tulane Univ, Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ, Zhejiang Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the Pennsylvania State University, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, International Center for Quantum Materials, Peking University, Villanova University, West Virginia University, Institut Lumiere Matiere, PSU, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Towson Univ, CINVESTAV-Queretaro, Prince George Community College, Howard University, Towson University, The Pennsylvania State University, Hokkaido Univ, Cinvestav-Unidad Queretaro, Queretaro-76230, Mexico, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Osaka University, Penn State Univ, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Anthropology, The Pennsylvania State University, ILM Universit\'{e} Lyon 1, Moravian College, Bloomsburg Univ, Universit\"at Bielefeld, Syracuse University, Alabama A\&M University, Indiana University of PA, University of Denver, IUP, University of Nebraska, University of Science and Technology of China, Seoul National University, Soochow University China, US Army Research Laboratory, Drexel University, University of Stuttgart, Youngstown State University, University of Surrey, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Department of Mathematics, West Virginia University, University of Delaware, Physics Department, The Pennsylvania State University, 104 Davey Lab, University Park, PA, 16802, USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, McMaster University, University of Toronto, The University of Texas at Austin, Army Research Lab, Adelphi MD, University of Connecticut, Notre Dame, University of Maryland, Department of Physics and Center for 2-Dimensional and Layered Materials, The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rutgers University

  • Ying Liu

    Pennsylvania State Univ