Prof Yulin Chen

Abstract:

Band renormalizations comprise crucial insights for understanding the intricate roles of electron-boson coupling and electron correlation in emergent phenomena such as superconductivity. In this Letter, by combining high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and theoretical calculations, we systematically investigate the electronic structure of the trilayer nickelate superconductor La_{4}Ni_{3}O_{10} at ambient pressure. We reveal a dichotomy in the electronic band renormalizations of La_{4}Ni_{3}O_{10} in comparison to cuprate superconductors. At a high energy scale of hundreds of meV, its band structure is strongly renormalized by an electron correlation effect enhanced by Hund's coupling. The resultant waterfall-like dispersions resemble the high-energy kinks in cuprate superconductors. However, at low-energy scales of tens of meV, the dispersive bands are nearly featureless and devoid of any resolvable electron-boson interactions, in drastic contrast to the low-energy kinks observed in cuprates and other correlated 3d transition-metal compounds. The dichotomic band renormalizations highlight the disparity between nickelate and cuprate superconductors and emphasize the importance of strong electron correlation in the superconductivity of Ruddlesden-Popper phase nickelates.

Abstract:

Fe-based superconductors represent a fascinating class of materials, extensively studied for their complex interplay of superconductivity, magnetism, spin density waves, and nematicity, along with the interactions among these orders. An intriguing yet unexplained phenomenon observed in Fe-based superconductors is the emergence of superconductivity below 25 K in the non-superconducting parent compound SrFe2As2 following exposure to water at its surface. In this study, we employed in situ angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and low-energy electron diffraction to meticulously examine the electronic structure evolution of SrFe2As2 upon in situ water dosing. Our findings indicate that water dosing markedly attenuates the spin density wave phase and surface Sr reconstruction while preserving the nematic order in SrFe2As2. Furthermore, we detected an enhancement in the spectral weight of bands near the Fermi level. Our observations highlight the critical role of the intricate interplay among various orders induced by water dosing, which effectively modifies the band structure and favors the emergence of superconductivity in SrFe2As2.

Abstract:

Superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities constitute the cornerstone of high-efficiency particle accelerators. While traditional bulk niobium cavities have dominated the field, copper substrates with niobium films deposited inside the cavity represent a transformative approach for cost reduction and thermal management. However, achieving conformal superconducting films on complex cavity geometries remains a fundamental challenge, especially on the adhesive behavior of the film. Here, we present a breakthrough high-power impulse magnetron re-sputtering/sputtering (HiPIMRS) system engineered for uniform Nb film depositions on 1.3 GHz copper cavity interiors. Through a re-sputtering process on the copper substrates prior to deposition, we achieve atomic-scale interfacial integrity and eliminate interfacial oxides or degradation. Energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy confirms an oxide-free Nb/Cu interface, and atomic force microscopy reveals ultra-smooth surfaces (Ra < 20 nm for 3 μm films). Crucially, electrical transport measurements show that the niobium film has a critical temperature of 8.5 K throughout the cavity interior. XRD demonstrates a (110)-oriented crystalline structure. This work establishes HiPIMRS as a viable pathway for next-generation SRF cavity production, with interfacial engineering protocols offering generational advancements in film conformity and superconducting performance.

Abstract:

The recently discovered heavy-fermion superconductor, UTe2, is an excellent candidate for spin-triplet superconductors in which electrons form spin-triplet Cooper pairs with spin S = 1 and odd parity. Unconventional superconductivity often hosts unconventional vortices. Yet, the vortex core and lattice in UTe2 have not been directly visualized and characterized. Here, by using ultralow-temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy, we study the superconducting vortices on the (0−11) surface termination of UTe2 with an out-of-plane external magnetic field. At the centre of the vortex core, we observe a robust zero-energy vortex-core state that exhibits a cigar-shaped spatial distribution and extends to ∼30 nm along the [100] direction (crystallographic a-axis) of UTe2. Along the direction perpendicular to [100], the superconducting gap is deeper and the coherence peak on one side of the vortex core is stronger than on the opposite side, and they are even enhanced in comparison with those under zero field. Due to the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility in UTe2, the asymmetric dI/dV spectra on the two sides of the vortex core result from the interplay between the magnetization-induced bound current and supercurrent around the vortex core. Our work reveals the important role of magnetization in the vortex behaviours of UTe2 and provides essential microscopic information for understanding its superconducting properties in a magnetic field.