Youichi Yanase

Bio: Youichi Yanase is an academic researcher from Kyoto University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Superconductivity & Hubbard model. The author has an hindex of 34, co-authored 216 publications receiving 3820 citations. Previous affiliations of Youichi Yanase include Niigata University & National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Japan.

Superconductivity protected by spin-valley locking in ion-gated MoS2

Abstract: The electric-field-induced superconducting properties of MoS2 are investigated by means of magneto-transport measurements, uncovering evidence of spin–momentum locking. Symmetry-breaking has been known to play a key role in non-centrosymmetric superconductors with strong spin–orbit interactions (SOIs; refs 1,2,3,4,5,6). The studies, however, have been so far mainly focused on a particular type of SOI, known as the Rashba SOI (ref. 7), whereby the electron spin is locked to its momentum at a right-angle, thereby leading to an in-plane helical spin texture. Here we discuss electric-field-induced superconductivity in molybdenum disulphide (MoS2), which exhibits a fundamentally different type of intrinsic SOI, manifested by an out-of-plane Zeeman-type spin polarization of energy valleys8,9,10. We find an upper critical field of approximately 52 T at 1.5 K, which indicates an enhancement of the Pauli limit by a factor of four as compared to that in centrosymmetric conventional superconductors. Using realistic tight-binding calculations, we reveal that this unusual behaviour is due to an inter-valley pairing that is symmetrically protected by Zeeman-type spin–valley locking against external magnetic fields. Our study sheds light on the interplay of inversion asymmetry with SOIs in confined geometries, and its role in superconductivity.

Observation of superconducting diode effect.

Abstract: Nonlinear optical and electrical effects associated with a lack of spatial inversion symmetry allow direction-selective propagation and transport of quantum particles, such as photons1 and electrons2-9. The most common example of such nonreciprocal phenomena is a semiconductor diode with a p-n junction, with a low resistance in one direction and a high resistance in the other. Although the diode effect forms the basis of numerous electronic components, such as rectifiers, alternating-direct-current converters and photodetectors, it introduces an inevitable energy loss due to the finite resistance. Therefore, a worthwhile goal is to realize a superconducting diode that has zero resistance in only one direction. Here we demonstrate a magnetically controllable superconducting diode in an artificial superlattice [Nb/V/Ta]n without a centre of inversion. The nonreciprocal resistance versus current curve at the superconducting-to-normal transition was clearly observed by a direct-current measurement, and the difference of the critical current is considered to be related to the magnetochiral anisotropy caused by breaking of the spatial-inversion and time-reversal symmetries10-13. Owing to the nonreciprocal critical current, the [Nb/V/Ta]n superlattice exhibits zero resistance in only one direction. This superconducting diode effect enables phase-coherent and direction-selective charge transport, paving the way for the construction of non-dissipative electronic circuits.

Group-theoretical classification of multipole order: Emergent responses and candidate materials

Abstract: The multipole moment is an established concept of electrons in solids. Entanglement of spin, orbital, and sublattice degrees of freedom is described by the multipole moment, and spontaneous multipole order is a ubiquitous phenomenon in strongly correlated electron systems. In this paper, we present group-theoretical classification theory of multipole order in solids. Intriguing duality between the real-space and momentum-space properties is revealed for odd-parity multipole order which spontaneously breaks inversion symmetry. Electromagnetic responses in odd-parity multipole states are clarified on the basis of the classification theory. A direct relation between the multipole moment and the magnetoelectric effect, Edelstein effect, magnetopiezoelectric effect, and dichromatic electron transport is demonstrated. More than 110 odd-parity magnetic multipole materials are identified by the group-theoretical analysis. Combining the list of materials with the classification tables of multipole order, we predict emergent responses of the candidate materials.

Superconductivity and Magnetism in Non-centrosymmetric System: Application to CePt3Si

Abstract: Superconductivity and magnetism in the non-centrosymmetric heavy fermion compound CePt 3 Si and related materials are theoretically investigated. On the basis of the random phase approximation (RPA) analysis of the extended Hubbard model, we describe the helical spin fluctuation induced by the Rashba-type anti-symmetric spin–orbit coupling and identify two stable superconducting phases with either the dominant p -wave ( s + P -wave) symmetry or the d -wave ( p + D + f -wave) symmetry. The effect of the coexistent antiferromagnetic order is investigated in both states. The superconducting order parameter, quasiparticle density of state, NMR 1/ T 1 T , specific heat, anisotropy of H c2 , and possible multiple phase transitions are discussed in detail. A comparison with experimental results indicates that the s + P -wave superconducting state is likely realized in CePt 3 Si.

Pair-density wave states through spin-orbit coupling in multilayer superconductors

Abstract: Spin-singlet superconductors with quasi-two-dimensional multilayer structure are studied in high magnetic fields. Specifically, we concentrate on bi- and trilayer systems whose layers by symmetry are subject to Rashba-type spin-orbit coupling. The combination of magnetic field and spin-orbit coupling leads to a first-order phase transition between different states of layer-dependent superconducting order parameters upon raising the magnetic field. In this context, we distinguish the low-field Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer state where all layers have order parameters of the same sign and the high-field pair-density wave state where the layer-dependent order parameters change the sign at the center layer. We also show that progressive paramagnetic limiting effects yield additional features in the $H$-$T$ phase diagram. As possible realizations of such unusual superconducting phases we consider artificial superlattices of ${\mathrm{CeCoIn}}_{5}$ as well as some multilayer high-${T}_{\mathrm{c}}$ cuprates.

Layer-dependent ferromagnetism in a van der Waals crystal down to the monolayer limit

Abstract: Magneto-optical Kerr effect microscopy is used to show that monolayer chromium triiodide is an Ising ferromagnet with out-of-plane spin orientation. The question of what happens to the properties of a material when it is thinned down to atomic-scale thickness has for a long time been a largely hypothetical one. In the past decade, new experimental methods have made it possible to isolate and measure a range of two-dimensional structures, enabling many theoretical predictions to be tested. But it has been a particular challenge to observe intrinsic magnetic effects, which could shed light on the longstanding fundamental question of whether intrinsic long-range magnetic order can robustly exist in two dimensions. In this issue of Nature, two groups address this challenge and report ferromagnetism in atomically thin crystals. Xiang Zhang and colleagues measured atomic layers of Cr2Ge2Te6 and observed ferromagnetic ordering with a transition temperature that, unusually, can be controlled using small magnetic fields. Xiaodong Xu and colleagues measured atomic layers of CrI3 and observed ferromagnetic ordering that, remarkably, was suppressed in double layers of CrI3, but restored in triple layers. The two studies demonstrate a platform with which to test fundamental properties of purely two-dimensional magnets. Since the discovery of graphene1, the family of two-dimensional materials has grown, displaying a broad range of electronic properties. Recent additions include semiconductors with spin–valley coupling2, Ising superconductors3,4,5 that can be tuned into a quantum metal6, possible Mott insulators with tunable charge-density waves7, and topological semimetals with edge transport8,9. However, no two-dimensional crystal with intrinsic magnetism has yet been discovered10,11,12,13,14; such a crystal would be useful in many technologies from sensing to data storage15. Theoretically, magnetic order is prohibited in the two-dimensional isotropic Heisenberg model at finite temperatures by the Mermin–Wagner theorem16. Magnetic anisotropy removes this restriction, however, and enables, for instance, the occurrence of two-dimensional Ising ferromagnetism. Here we use magneto-optical Kerr effect microscopy to demonstrate that monolayer chromium triiodide (CrI3) is an Ising ferromagnet with out-of-plane spin orientation. Its Curie temperature of 45 kelvin is only slightly lower than that of the bulk crystal, 61 kelvin, which is consistent with a weak interlayer coupling. Moreover, our studies suggest a layer-dependent magnetic phase, highlighting thickness-dependent physical properties typical of van der Waals crystals17,18,19. Remarkably, bilayer CrI3 displays suppressed magnetization with a metamagnetic effect20, whereas in trilayer CrI3 the interlayer ferromagnetism observed in the bulk crystal is restored. This work creates opportunities for studying magnetism by harnessing the unusual features of atomically thin materials, such as electrical control for realizing magnetoelectronics12, and van der Waals engineering to produce interface phenomena15.