Enhanced superconductivity in plastically deformed strontium titanate

ORAL

Abstract

The properties of quantum materials are commonly tuned using experimental variables such as pressure, magnetic field and doping. Here we explore a different approach: irreversible, plastic deformation of single crystals. We show that compressive plastic deformation of SrTiO3 (STO) induces low-dimensional superconductivity significantly above the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of undeformed samples. We furthermore present evidence for unusual normal-state transport behaviour that suggests superconducting correlations at temperatures two orders of magnitude above the bulk Tc. The superconductivity enhancement is correlated with the appearance of self-organized dislocation structures, revealed by diffuse neutron and X-ray scattering. These results suggest that Tc in STO is strongly influenced by the local strain around dislocations, consistent with a theory of superconductivity enhanced by soft polar fluctuations. More broadly, our results demonstrate the promise of plastic deformation and dislocation engineering as tools to manipulate electronic properties of quantum materials [1].

[1] S. Hameed, D. Pelc et al., arXiv:2005.00514 (2020)

*Work supported by the Department of Energy through the University of Minnesota Center for Quantum Materials, DE-SC0016371.

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Presenters

  • Damjan Pelc

    • School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota
    • University of Minnesota
    • University of Zagreb
    • Department of Physics, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science

Authors

  • Sajna Hameed

    • School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota
    • University of Minnesota
    • School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Minnesota

  • Damjan Pelc

    • School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota
    • University of Minnesota
    • University of Zagreb
    • Department of Physics, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science

  • Zachary Anderson

    • School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota
    • University of Minnesota

  • Avraham Klein

    • Ariel University
    • University of Minnesota

  • Richard Spieker

    • School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota
    • University of Minnesota

  • Marin Lukas

    • Univ of Zagreb

  • Yaohua Liu

    • Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Oak Ridge National Lab
    • Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Matthew Krogstad

    • Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory
    • Argonne National Laboratory
    • Materials Science Division, Argonne National Lab
    • Material Science, Argonne National Laboratory
    • Material Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory

  • Raymond Osborn

    • Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory
    • Argonne National Laboratory
    • Materials Science Division, Argonne National Lab
    • Materials Science, Argonne National Laboratory
    • Material Science, Argonne National Laboratory
    • Material Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory

  • Chris Leighton

    • University of Minnesota
    • Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota
    • Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota

  • Rafael Fernandes

    • University of Minnesota
    • School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota
    • Physics, University of Minnesota
    • School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, 55455 MN
    • School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

  • Martin Greven

    • School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota
    • University of Minnesota
    • School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Minnesota