Strong In-Plane Magnetic Field-Induced Reemergent Superconductivity in the van der Waals Heterointerface of NbSe₂ and CrCl₃

Abstract

The magnetic field is generally considered to be incompatible with superconductivity as it tends to spin-polarize electrons and breaks apart the opposite-spin singlet superconducting Cooper pairs. Here an experimental phenomenon is observed that an intriguing reemergent superconductivity evolves from a conventional superconductivity undergoing a hump-like intermediate phase with a finite electric resistance in the van der Waals heterointerface of layered NbSe2 and CrCl3 flakes. This phenomenon merely occurred when the applied magnetic field is parallel to the sample plane and perpendicular to the electric current direction as compared to the reference sample of NbSe2 thin flake. The strong anisotropy of reemergent superconducting phase is pointed to the nature of Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state driven by the strong interfacial spin-orbit coupling between NbSe2 and CrCl3 layers. The theoretical picture of FFLO state nodes induced by Josephson vortices collectively pinning is presented for well understanding the experimental observation of the reemergent superconductivity. This finding sheds light on an opportunity to search for the exotic FFLO state in the van der Waals heterostructures with strong interfacial spin-orbit coupling.

Discovery of Superconductivity in the Quasi-One-Dimensional SrBi2Se4 Single Crystals

“…Noticeably, this reentrant zero-resistivity state is also robust with respect to the different current values (see the Supporting Information). These intriguing phenomena have also been observed in previous MoGe thin strips, 46 the NbSe 2 /CrCl 3 heterostructure, 47 and W-based nanowires. 48 Table 3.…”

“…When the magnetic field increases, this instability is suppressed and the resistivity drops due to the increased number of vortices, which impedes their mutual motion, resulting in straight, untwisted vortices. In the NbSe 2 /CrCl 3 heterostructure, 47 the Fulde− Ferrell−Larkin−Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state driven by the strong interfacial spin−orbit coupling between NbSe 2 and CrCl 3 layers was suggested to be responsible for the reentrant zero-resistivity state, which merely occurred when the applied magnetic field is parallel to the sample plane and perpendicular to the current. In W-based superconducting nanowires, 48 the authors argued that the reentrant zero-resistivity state is due to arrested vortex motion by self-induced collective traps (i.e., constricting vortices into a narrow stripe).…”

Two-Dimensional Superconductivity at the Titanium Sesquioxide Heterointerface

“…In Figure D, we also show the upper critical field μ 0 H c 2 θ as a function of polar angle θ extracted from Figure S9A. The data are fitted with the two-dimensional Tinkham formula (red solid curve) and the three-dimensional anisotropic G-L model (green solid curve), given by and , respectively. − As expected a cusp-like peak is clearly resolved at θ = 90°, which is qualitatively distinct from the three-dimensional anisotropic G-L model but is well described by the two-dimensional Tinkham model, as frequently observed in interfacial superconductivity , and layered transition metal dichalcogenides. , …”

Spontaneous rotational symmetry breaking in KTaO$_3$ interface superconductors

“…S3 [18]), which is well described by the two-dimensional Tinkham model, as frequently observed in interface superconductivity [5,11,29] and layered transition metal dichalcogenides [28,30].…”