Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking in Re-Based Superconductors: Recent Developments
In the recent search for unconventional- and topological superconductivity, noncentrosymmetric superconductors (NCSCs) rank among the most promising candidate materials. Surprisingly, some of them—especially those containing rhenium—seem to exhibit also time-reversal symmetry (TRS) breaking in their...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2021.651163/full |
| _version_ | 1818915557413486592 |
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| author | Tian Shang Tian Shang Toni Shiroka Toni Shiroka |
| author_facet | Tian Shang Tian Shang Toni Shiroka Toni Shiroka |
| author_sort | Tian Shang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the recent search for unconventional- and topological superconductivity, noncentrosymmetric superconductors (NCSCs) rank among the most promising candidate materials. Surprisingly, some of them—especially those containing rhenium—seem to exhibit also time-reversal symmetry (TRS) breaking in their superconducting state, while TRS is preserved in many other isostructural NCSCs. To date, a satisfactory explanation for such discrepant behavior, albeit crucial for understanding the unconventional superconductivity of these materials, is still missing. Here we review the most recent developments regarding the Re-based class, where the muon-spin relaxation (μSR) technique plays a key role due to its high sensitivity to the weak internal fields associated with the TRS breaking phenomenon. We discuss different cases of Re-containing superconductors, comprising both centrosymmetric- and noncentrosymmetric crystal structures, ranging from pure rhenium, to ReT (T = 3d-5d early transition metals), to the dilute-Re case of ReBe22. μSR results suggest that the rhenium presence and its amount are two key factors for the appearance and the extent of TRS breaking in Re-based superconductors. Besides summarizing the existing findings, we also put forward future research ideas regarding the exciting field of materials showing TRS breaking. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T00:04:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ed6a4abd434744d6906b1953e2fe0b8b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-424X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T00:04:10Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-ed6a4abd434744d6906b1953e2fe0b8b2022-12-21T20:00:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physics2296-424X2021-05-01910.3389/fphy.2021.651163651163Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking in Re-Based Superconductors: Recent DevelopmentsTian Shang0Tian Shang1Toni Shiroka2Toni Shiroka3Key Laboratory of Polar Materials and Devices (MOE), School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaLaboratory for Multiscale Materials Experiments, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen, SwitzerlandLaboratory for Muon-Spin Spectroscopy, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen, SwitzerlandLaboratorium für Festkörperphysik, ETH Zürich, Zürich, SwitzerlandIn the recent search for unconventional- and topological superconductivity, noncentrosymmetric superconductors (NCSCs) rank among the most promising candidate materials. Surprisingly, some of them—especially those containing rhenium—seem to exhibit also time-reversal symmetry (TRS) breaking in their superconducting state, while TRS is preserved in many other isostructural NCSCs. To date, a satisfactory explanation for such discrepant behavior, albeit crucial for understanding the unconventional superconductivity of these materials, is still missing. Here we review the most recent developments regarding the Re-based class, where the muon-spin relaxation (μSR) technique plays a key role due to its high sensitivity to the weak internal fields associated with the TRS breaking phenomenon. We discuss different cases of Re-containing superconductors, comprising both centrosymmetric- and noncentrosymmetric crystal structures, ranging from pure rhenium, to ReT (T = 3d-5d early transition metals), to the dilute-Re case of ReBe22. μSR results suggest that the rhenium presence and its amount are two key factors for the appearance and the extent of TRS breaking in Re-based superconductors. Besides summarizing the existing findings, we also put forward future research ideas regarding the exciting field of materials showing TRS breaking.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2021.651163/fulltime-reversal symmetry breakingnoncentrosymmetric superconductorsunconventional superconductivitymuon-spin spectroscopyrhenium compounds |
| spellingShingle | Tian Shang Tian Shang Toni Shiroka Toni Shiroka Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking in Re-Based Superconductors: Recent Developments Frontiers in Physics time-reversal symmetry breaking noncentrosymmetric superconductors unconventional superconductivity muon-spin spectroscopy rhenium compounds |
| title | Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking in Re-Based Superconductors: Recent Developments |
| title_full | Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking in Re-Based Superconductors: Recent Developments |
| title_fullStr | Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking in Re-Based Superconductors: Recent Developments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking in Re-Based Superconductors: Recent Developments |
| title_short | Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking in Re-Based Superconductors: Recent Developments |
| title_sort | time reversal symmetry breaking in re based superconductors recent developments |
| topic | time-reversal symmetry breaking noncentrosymmetric superconductors unconventional superconductivity muon-spin spectroscopy rhenium compounds |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2021.651163/full |
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