Charge-density-wave-driven electronic nematicity in a kagome superconductor

The kagome lattice1, which is the most prominent structural motif in quantum physics, benefits from inherent non-trivial geometry so that it can host diverse quantum phases, ranging from spin-liquid phases, to topological matter, to intertwined orders2-8 and, most rarely, to unconventional superconductivity6,9. Recently, charge sensitive probes have indicated that the kagome superconductors AV3Sb5 (A = K, Rb, Cs)9-11 exhibit unconventional chiral charge order12-19, which is analogous to the long-sought-after quantum order in the Haldane model20 or Varma model21. However, direct evidence for the time-reversal symmetry breaking of the charge order remains elusive. Here we use muon spin relaxation to probe the kagome charge order and superconductivity in KV3Sb5. We observe a noticeable enhancement of the internal field width sensed by the muon ensemble, which takes place just below the charge ordering temperature and persists into the superconducting state. Notably, the muon spin relaxation rate below the charge ordering temperature is substantially enhanced by applying an external magnetic field. We further show the multigap nature of superconductivity in KV3Sb5 and that the [Formula: see text] ratio (where Tc is the superconducting transition temperature and λab is the magnetic penetration depth in the kagome plane) is comparable to those of unconventional high-temperature superconductors. Our results point to time-reversal symmetry-breaking charge order intertwining with unconventional superconductivity in the correlated kagome lattice. 

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Time-reversal symmetry-breaking charge order in a kagome superconductor

Recently discovered kagome superconductors AV3Sb5 (A=K, Rb, Cs) provide a fresh opportunity to realize and study correlation-driven electronic phenomena on a kagome lattice. The observation of a 2a0 by 2a0 charge density wave (CDW) in the normal state of all members of AV3Sb5 kagome family has generated an enormous amount of interest, in an effort to uncover the nature of this CDW state, and identify any "hidden" broken symmetries. We use spectroscopic-imaging scanning tunneling microscopy to reveal a pronounced intensity anisotropy between different 2a0 CDW directions in KV3Sb5. In particular, by examining the strength of ordering wave vectors as a function of energy in Fourier transforms of differential conductance maps, we find that one of the CDW directions is distinctly different compared to the other two. This observation points towards an intrinsic rotation symmetry broken electronic ground state, where the symmetry is reduced from C6 to C2. Furthermore, in contrast to previous reports, we find that the CDW phase is insensitive to magnetic field direction, regardless of the presence or absence of atomic defects. Our experiments, combined with earlier observations of a stripe 4a0 charge ordering in CsV3Sb5, establish correlation-driven rotation symmetry breaking as a unifying feature of AV3Sb5 kagome superconductors.

Rotation symmetry breaking in the normal state of a kagome superconductor KV3Sb5

The newly discovered family of kagome metals $A$V${}_{3}$Sb${}_{5}$ ($A$=K,Cs,Rb) has recently gained wide attention. Here, the authors study these materials using a general continuum model and utilize renormalization group and mean field theory methods to identify mechanisms that can lead to the experimentally observed charge density wave ordering. The authors find that the charge density wave is the primary density wave instability in certain cases but could also be induced by a leading orbital current or spin density wave order.

Electronic instabilities of kagome metals: Saddle points and Landau theory

A new class of kagome compounds exhibits several intriguing properties, including a novel charge-density-wave state. Quantum oscillation experiments reveal the origin of this state.

Fermi Surface Mapping and the Nature of Charge-Density-Wave Order in the Kagome Superconductor CsV 3 Sb 5

We argue that the topological charge density wave phase in the quasi-2D Kagome superconductor AV3Sb5 is a chiral flux phase. Considering the symmetry of the Kagome lattice, we show that the chiral flux phase has the lowest energy among those states which exhibit 2 × 2 charge orders observed experimentally. This state breaks the time-reversal symmetry and displays anomalous Hall effect. The explicit pattern of the density of state in real space is calculated. These results are supported by recent experiments and suggest that these materials are new platforms to investigate the interplay between topology, superconductivity and electron–electron correlations.

Chiral flux phase in the Kagome superconductor AV3Sb5

Motivated by recent experiments on ${\mathrm{AV}}_{3}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{5}$ (A = K, Rb, Cs), the chiral flux phase has been proposed to explain time-reversal symmetry breaking. To fully understand the physics behind the chiral flux phase, we construct a low-energy effective theory based on the van Hove points around the Fermi surface. The possible symmetry-breaking states and their classifications of the low-energy effective theory are completely studied, especially the flux phases on the kagome lattice. In addition, we discuss the relations between the low-energy symmetry breaking orders, the chiral flux, and charge bond orders. We find all possible 183 flux phases on the kagome lattice within a 2*2 unit cell by brute-force approach and classify them by point-group symmetry. Among the 183 phases, we find 3 classes in a 1*1 unit cell, 8 classes in a 1*2 unit cell, and 18 classes in a 2*2 unit cell, respectively. These results provide a full picture of the time-reversal symmetry breaking in kagome lattices.

Low-energy effective theory and symmetry classification of flux phases on the kagome lattice

We argue that the topological charge density wave phase in the quasi-2D Kagome superconductor AV$_3$Sb$_5$ is a chiral flux phase. Considering the symmetry of the Kagome lattice, we show that the chiral flux phase has the lowest energy among those states which exhibit $2\times2$ charge orders observed experimentally. This state breaks the time-reversal symmetry and displays anomalous Hall effect. The explicit pattern of the density of this state in real space is calculated. These results are supported by recent experiments and suggest that these materials are a new platform to investigate the interplay between topology, superconductivity and electron-electron correlations.

Chiral flux phase in the Kagome superconductor AV$_3$Sb$_5$

The superconducting gap structures in the transition-metal-based kagome metal AV$_3$Sb$_5$ (A=K,Rb,Cs), the first family of quasi-two-dimensional kagome superconductors, remain elusive as there is strong experimental evidence for both nodal and nodaless gap structures. Here we show that the dichotomy can be resolved because of the coexistence of time-reversal symmetry breaking with a conventional fully gapped superconductivity. The symmetry protects the edge states which arise on the domains of the lattice symmetry breaking order to remain gapless in proximity to a conventional pairing. We demonstrate this result in a four-band tight-binding model using the V $d_{X^2-Y^2}$-like and the in-plane Sb $p_z$-like Wannier functions that can faithfully capture the main feature of the materials near the Fermi level.

Gapless excitations inside the fully gapped kagome superconductors AV$_3$Sb$_5$.

Motivated by recent experiments on AV$_3$Sb$_5$ (A=K,Rb,Cs), the chiral flux phase has been proposed to explain time-reversal symmetry breaking. To fully understand the physics behind the chiral flux phase, we construct a low-energy effective theory based on the van-Hove points around the Fermi surface. The possible symmetry-breaking states and their classifications of the low-energy effective theory are completely studied, especially the flux phases on Kagome lattice. In addition, we discuss the relations between the low-energy symmetry breaking orders, the chiral flux and charge bond orders. We find all possible 183 flux phases on Kagome lattice within 2*2 unit cell by brute-force approach and classify them by point group symmetry. These results provide a full picture of the time-reversal symmetry breaking in Kagome lattices.

Xilin Feng

Papers

Chiral flux phase in the Kagome superconductor AV3Sb5

Low-energy effective theory and symmetry classification of flux phases on the kagome lattice

Chiral flux phase in the Kagome superconductor AV$_3$Sb$_5$

Gapless excitations inside the fully gapped kagome superconductors AV$_3$Sb$_5$.

Low-energy effective theory and symmetry classification of flux phases on Kagome lattice