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Charge density wave (CDW) and their interplay with correlated and topological quantum states are forefront of condensed matter research. The 4$H_{b}$-TaS$_2$ is a CDW ordered quantum heterostructure that is formed by alternative stacking of Mott insulating 1T-TaS$_2$ and Ising superconducting 1H-TaS$_2$. While the $\sqrt{13}\times\sqrt{13}$ and 3$\times$3 CDWs have been respectively observed in the bulk 1T-TaS$_2$ and 2H-TaS$_2$, the CDWs and their pivotal role for unconventional superconductivity in the 4$H_{b}$-TaS$_2$ remain unsolved. In this letter, we reveal the 2-dimensional (2D) $\sqrt{13}\times\sqrt{13}$ chiral CDW in the 1T-layers and intra-unit cell coupled 2D 2$\times$2 CDW in the 1H and 1H' layers of 4$H_{b}$-TaS$_2$. Our results establish 4$H_{b}$-TaS$_2$ a novel 2.5D quantum heterostructure, where 2D quantum states emerge from 3D crystalline structure.

The finite momentum superconducting pairing states (FMPs), where Cooper pairs carry non-zero momentum, are believed to give rise to exotic physical phenomena including the pseudogap phase of cuprate high-Tc superconductors and Majorana fermions in topological superconductivity. FMPs can emerge in intertwined electronic liquids with strong spin-spin interactions or be induced by lifting the spin degeneracy under magnetic field as originally proposed by Fulde-Ferrell and Larkin-Ovchinnikov. In quantum materials with strong Ising-type spin-orbit coupling, such as the 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), the spin degree of freedom is frozen enabling novel orbital driven FMPs via magnetoelectric effect. While evidence of orbital driven FMPs has been revealed in bilayer TMDs, its realization in 3D bulk materials remains an unresolved challenge. Here we report experimental signatures of FMP in a locally noncentrosymmetric bulk superconductor 4Hb-TaS2. Using hard X-ray diffraction and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we reveal unusual 2D chiral charge density wave (CDW) and weak interlayer hopping in 4Hb-TaS2. Below the superconducting transition temperature, the upper critical field, Hc2, linearly increases via decreasing temperature, and well exceeds the Pauli limit, thus establishing the dominant orbital pair-breaking mechanism. Remarkably, we discover a field-induced superconductivity-to-superconductivity transition that breaks continuous rotational symmetry of the s-wave uniform pairing in the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory down to the six-fold rotation symmetry. Combining with a Ginzburg-Landau free energy analysis that incorporates magnetoelectric effect, our observations provide strong evidence of orbital driven FMP in the 3D quantum heterostructure 4Hb-TaS2.

Temperature- and fluence-dependent carrier dynamics of the magnetic Kagome metal Fe$_3$Sn$_2$ were studied using the ultrafast optical pump-probe technique. Two carrier relaxation processes ($\tau_1$ and $\tau_2$) and a laser induced coherent optical phonon were observed. By using the two-temperature model for metals, we ascribe the shorter relaxation $\tau_1$ (~1 ps) to hot electrons transferring their energy to the crystal lattice via electron-phonon scattering. $\tau_2$ (~25 ps), on the other hand, cannot be explained as a conventional process and is attributed to the unconventional (localized) carriers in the material. The observed coherent oscillation is assigned to be a totally symmetric A$_{1g}$ optical phonon dominated by Sn displacements out of the Kagome planes, and possesses a prominently large amplitude, on the order of 10$^{-3}$, comparable to the maximum of the reflectivity change ($\Delta$R/R). This amplitude is equivalent to charge-density-wave (CDW) systems, although no signs of such an instability were hitherto reported in Fe$_3$Sn$_2$. Our results set an unexpected connection between Fe$_3$Sn$_2$ and kagome metals with CDW instabilities, and suggest a unique interplay between phonon and electron dynamics in this compound., Comment: 12 pages, 14 figures

Kagome metals possess peculiar optical spectra consisting of contributions from free charge carriers in a Drude-type response, localized carriers seen as a strongly temperature-dependent localization peak, and, in some cases, phonons displaying strong anomalies. The rare-earth kagome metal series, $R$Mn$_6$Sn$_6$, provides a marvelous playground to study the electronic properties of kagome metals in the presence of variable magnetic order. Here, we report temperature-dependent reflectivity studies on two members of the $R$Mn$_6$Sn$_6$ family, GdMn$_6$Sn$_6$ (in-plane ferrimagnet) and TbMn$_6$Sn$_6$ (out-of-plane ferrimagnet), in a broad energy range (50 - 18000 cm$^{-1}$, equivalent to 6.2 meV - 2.23 eV) down to 10 K. At high temperatures, a phonon mode at approximately 160 cm$^{-1}$ is observed, which becomes screened out in TbMn$_6$Sn$_6$ below $\sim$ 150 K as the localization peak linearly passes through the mode. In GdMn$_6$Sn$_6$, the disappearance of the phonon is accompanied by the onset of saturation of the peak position, suggesting an unusual interplay between the two features., Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures

In two-dimensional (2D) ferromagnets, anisotropy is essential for the magnetic ordering as dictated by the Mermin-Wagner theorem. But when competing anisotropies are present, the phase transition becomes nontrivial. Here, utilizing highly sensitive susceptometry of scanning superconducting quantum interference device microscopy, we probe the spin correlations of ABC-stacked CrBr3 under zero magnetic field. We identify a plateau feature in susceptibility above the critical temperature (Tc) in thick samples. It signifies a crossover regime induced by the competition between easy-plane intralayer exchange anisotropy versus uniaxial interlayer anisotropy. The evolution of the critical behavior from the bulk to 2D shows that the competition between the anisotropies is magnified in the reduced dimension. It leads to a strongly frustrated ferromagnetic transition in the bilayer with fluctuation on the order of Tc, which is distinct from both the monolayer and the bulk. Our observation potentially offers a 2D localized spin system on honeycomb lattice to explore magnetic frustration.

The intricate interplay between novel lattice geometry and spontaneous symmetry-breaking states is at the forefront of contemporary research on quantum materials. Recently, the observation of unconventional charge and pairing density waves in a kagome metal CsV3Sb5 brings out a new showcase for intertwined orders. While electronic instabilities in CsV3Sb5 are widely believed to originate from the V 3d-electrons residing on the 2-dimensional kagome sublattice, the pivotal role of Sb 5p-electrons for 3-dimensional orders is yet to be understood. Here, using resonant tender x-ray scattering and high-pressure X-ray scattering, we report a rare realization of conjoined charge density waves (CDW) in CsV3Sb5. At ambient pressure, we discover a resonant enhancement at Sb L1-edge (2s-5p) at the 2$\times$2$\times$2 CDW wavevectors. The resonance, however, is absent at the 2$\times$2 CDW wavevectors. Applying hydrostatic pressure, we find the CDW transition temperatures to separate, where the 2$\times$2$\times$2 CDW emerges 4 K above the 2$\times$2 CDW at 1GPa. Our results establish the coexistence of the 2$\times$2 CDW and the 5p-electron assisted 2$\times$2$\times$2 CDW in CsV3Sb5. The evolution of the conjoined CDWs under pressure suggests the joint importance of electronic and phononic fluctuations for the double dome superconductivity.

Unconventional superconductors often feature competing orders, small superfluid density, and nodal electronic pairing. While unusual superconductivity has been proposed in the kagome metals AV3Sb5, key spectroscopic evidence has remained elusive. Here we utilize pressure-tuned (up to 1.85 GPa) and ultra-low temperature (down to 18 mK) muon spin spectroscopy to uncover the unconventional nature of superconductivity in RbV3Sb5. At ambient pressure, we detect an enhancement of the width of the internal magnetic field distribution sensed by the muon ensemble, indicative of time-reversal symmetry breaking charge order. Remarkably, the superconducting state displays nodal energy gap and a reduced superfluid density, which can be attributed to the competition with the novel charge order. Upon applying pressure, the charge-order transitions are suppressed, the superfluid density increases, and the superconducting state progressively evolves from nodal to nodeless. Once charge order is eliminated, we find a superconducting pairing state that is not only fully gapped, but also spontaneously breaks time-reversal symmetry. Our results point to unprecedented tunable nodal kagome superconductivity competing with time-reversal symmetry-breaking charge order and offer unique insights into the nature of the pairing state., Comment: 22 pages, 10 figures

We report the observation of two-fold rotation symmetry in charge density wave (CDW) state in the newly discovered Kagome superconductor CsV$_3$Sb$_5$. Below its CDW transition temperature ($T_{CDW}$), the polarization rotation of the reflected laser beam promptly emerges and increases close to about 1 mrad, and the rotation angle shows two-fold rotation symmetry. With femtosecond laser pulse pumping, the rotation angle can be easily suppressed and then recovers in several picoseconds accompanied with coherent oscillations. Significantly, the oscillations in the signal also experience a 180 degree periodic change. Our investigation provides clear optical evidence for the formation of nematic order with two-fold rotation symmetry just below $T_{CDW}$. The results imply a immediate development of nematicity and possible time-reversal symmetry breaking in CDW state of CsV$_3$Sb$_5$., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures

Elucidating the symmetry of intertwined orders in exotic superconductors is at the quantum frontier. Recent surface sensitive studies of the topological kagome superconductor CsV$_3$Sb$_5$ discovered a cascade 4a$_0$ superlattice below the charge density wave (CDW) ordering temperature, which can be related to the pair density modulations in the superconducting state. If the 4a$_0$ phase is a bulk and intrinsic property of the kagome lattice, this would form a striking analogy to the stripe order and pair density wave discovered in the cuprate high-temperature superconductors, and the cascade ordering found in twisted bilayer graphene. High-resolution X-ray diffraction has recently been established as an ultra-sensitive probe for bulk translational symmetry-breaking orders, even for short-range orders at the diffusive limit. Here, combining high-resolution X-ray diffraction, scanning tunneling microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy, we demonstrate that the 4a$_0$ superstructure emerges uniquely on the surface and hence exclude the 4a$_0$ phase as the origin of any bulk transport or spectroscopic anomaly. Crucially, we show that our detected 2$\times$2$\times$2 CDW order breaks the bulk rotational symmetry to C2, which can be the driver for the bulk nematic orders and nematic surface superlattices including the 4a$_0$ phase. Our high-resolution data impose decisive spatial symmetry constraints on emergent electronic orders in the kagome superconductor CsV$_3$Sb$_5$.

The interplay between charge-density-wave (CDW) order and superconductivity (SC) in the Kagome metal RbV3Sb5 is studied by tracking the evolutions of their transition temperatures, T* and Tc, as a function of pressure (P) via measurements of resistivity and magnetic susceptibility under various hydrostatic pressures up to ~ 5 GPa. It is found that the CDW order at T* experiences a subtle modification at Pc1 ~ 1.5 GPa before it is completely suppressed around Pc2 ~ 2.4 GPa. Accordingly, the superconducting transition Tc(P) exhibits a shallow M-shaped double superconducting dome with two extrema of Tconset ~ 4.4 K and 3.9 K around Pc1 and Pc2, respectively, leading to a fourfold enhancement of Tc with respect to that at ambient pressure. The constructed T-P phase diagram of RbV3Sb5 resembles that of CsV3Sb5, and shares similar features as many other unconventional superconducting systems with intertwined competing electronic orders. The strong competition between CDW and SC is also evidenced by the broad superconducting transition width in the coexistent region. Our results shed more light on the intriguing physics involving intertwined electronic orders in this novel topological kagome metal family., Comment: 19 pages, 5 figures

The kagome lattice, the most prominent structural motif in quantum physics, benefits from inherent nontrivial geometry to host diverse quantum phases, ranging from spin-liquid phases, topological matter to intertwined orders, and most rarely unconventional superconductivity. Recently, charge sensitive probes have suggested that the kagome superconductors AV_3Sb_5 (A = K, Rb, Cs) (A = K, Rb, Cs) exhibit unconventional chiral charge order, which is analogous to the long-sought-after quantum order in the Haldane model or Varma model. However, direct evidence for the time-reversal symmetry-breaking of the charge order remains elusive. Here we utilize muon spin relaxation to probe the kagome charge order and superconductivity in KV_3Sb_5. We observe a striking 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. Remarkably, 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 KV_3Sb_5 and that the T_c/lambda_{ab}^{-2} ratio 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., Comment: 22 pages, 11 figures

Kagom${\'e}$ lattice is a fertile platform for topological and intertwined electronic excitations. Recently, experimental evidence of an unconventional charge density wave (CDW) is observed in a Z2 kagom${\'e}$ metal AV$_{3}$Sb$_{5}$ (A= K, Cs, Rb). This observation triggers wide interests on the interplay between frustrated crystal structure and Fermi surface instabilities. Here we analyze the lattice effect and its impact on CDW in AV$_{3}$Sb$_{5}$. Based on published experimental data, we show that the CDW induced structural distortions is consistent with the theoretically predicted inverse star-of-David pattern, which preserves the $D_{6h}$ symmetry in the kagom${\'e}$ plane but breaks the sixfold rotational symmetry of the crystal due to the phase shift between kagom${\'e}$ layers. The coupling between the lattice and electronic degrees of freedom yields a weak first order structural transition without continuous change of lattice dynamics. Our result emphasizes the fundamental role of lattice geometry in proper understanding of unconventional electronic orders in AV$_{3}$Sb$_{5}$.

Recently, kagome lattice metal AV$_3$Sb$_5$ (A = K, Rb, Cs) family has received wide attention due to its presence of superconductivity, charge density wave (CDW) and peculiar properties from topological nontrivial electronic structure. With time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy, we show that the excited quasiparticle relaxation dynamics can be explained by formation of energy gap below the phase transition being similar to a usual second-order CDW condensate, by contrast, the structure change is predominantly first order phase transition. Furthermore, no CDW amplitude mode is identified in the ordered phase. The results suggest that the CDW order is very different from the traditional CDW condensate. We also find that weak pump pulse can non-thermally melt the CDW order and drive the sample into its high temperature phase, revealing the fact that the difference in lattice potential between those phases is small., Comment: 3 figures, 6 pages

Recently superconductivity and topological charge-density wave (CDW) were discovered in the Kagome metals $A$V$_3$Sb$_5$ ($A$ = Cs, Rb, and K), which have an ideal Kagome lattice of vanadium. Here we report resistance measurements on thin flakes of CsV$_3$Sb$_5$ to investigate the evolution of superconductivity and CDW with sample thickness. The CDW transition temperature ${\it T}_{\rm CDW}$ decreases from 94 K in bulk to a minimum of 82 K at thickness of 60 nm, then increases to 120 K as the thickness is reduced further to 4.8 nm (about five monolayers). Since the CDW order in CsV$_3$Sb$_5$ is quite three-dimensional (3D) in the bulk sample, the non-monotonic evolution of ${\it T}_{\rm CDW}$ with reducing sample thickness can be explained by a 3D to 2D crossover around 60 nm. Strikingly, the superconducting transition temperature ${\it T}_{\rm c}$ shows an exactly opposite evolution, increasing from 3.64 K in the bulk to a maximum of 4.28 K at thickness of 60 nm, then decreasing to 0.76 K at 4.8 nm. Such exactly opposite evolutions provide strong evidence for competing superconductivity and CDW, which helps us to understand these exotic phases in $A$V$_3$Sb$_5$ Kagome metals., Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures

We present high-pressure electrical transport measurements on the newly discovered V-based superconductors $A$V$_3$Sb$_5$ ($A$ = Rb and K), which have an ideal Kagome lattice of vanadium. Two superconducting domes under pressure are observed in both compounds, as previously observed in their sister compound CsV$_3$Sb$_5$. For RbV$_3$Sb$_5$, the $T_c$ increases from 0.93 K at ambient pressure to the maximum of 4.15 K at 0.38 GPa in the first dome. The second superconducting dome has the highest $T_c$ of 1.57 K at 28.8 GPa. KV$_3$Sb$_5$ displays a similar double-dome phase diagram, however, its two maximum $T_c$s are lower, and the $T_c$ drops faster in the second dome than RbV$_3$Sb$_5$. An integrated temperature-pressure phase diagram of $A$V$_3$Sb$_5$ ($A$ = Cs, Rb and K) is constructed, showing that the ionic radius of the intercalated alkali-metal atoms has a significant effect. Our work demonstrates that double-dome superconductivity under pressure is a common feature of these V-based Kagome metals., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures

The combination of non-trivial band topology and symmetry breaking phases gives rise to novel quantum states and phenomena such as topological superconductivity, quantum anomalous Hall effect and axion electrodynamics. Evidence of intertwined charge density wave (CDW) and superconducting order parameters has recently been observed in a novel kagome material AV3Sb5 (A=K,Rb,Cs) that features a Z2 topological invariant in the electronic structure. However, the origin of the CDW and its intricate interplay with topological state has yet to be determined. Here, using hard x-ray scattering, we demonstrate a three-dimensional (3D) CDW with 2*2*2 superstructure in (Rb,Cs)V3Sb5. Unexpectedly, we find that the CDW fails to induce acoustic phonon anomalies at the CDW wavevector but yields a novel Raman mode which quickly damps into a broad continuum below the CDW transition temperature. Our observations exclude strong electron-phonon coupling driven CDW in AV3Sb5 and point to an unconventional and electronic-driven mechanism that couples the CDW and the topological band structure.

CsV3Sb5 is a newly discovered Z2 topological kagome metal showing the coexistence of a charge density wave (CDW)-like order at T* = 94 K and superconductivity (SC) at Tc = 2.5 K at ambient pressure. Here we study the interplay between CDW and SC in CsV3Sb5 via measurements of resistivity and magnetic susceptibility under hydrostatic pressures. We find that the CDW transition decreases with pressure and experience a subtle modification at Pc1 = 0.6-0.9 GPa before it vanishes completely at Pc2 = 2 GPa. Correspondingly, Tc(P) displays an unusual M-shaped double dome character with two maxima around Pc1 and Pc2, respectively, leading to a tripled enhancement of Tc to about 8 K at 2 GPa. The obtained temperature-pressure phase diagram resembles those of many unconventional superconductors, illustrating an intimated competition between CDW-like order and SC. The competition is found to be particularly strong for the intermediate pressure range Pc1 <= P <= Pc2 as evidenced by the broad superconducting transition and reduced superconducting volume fraction. This work not only demonstrates the potential to raise the Tc of the V-based kagome superconductors, but also offers more insights into the rich physics related to the electronic correlations in this novel family of topological kagome metals.

Recently superconductivity was discovered in the Kagome metal AV3Sb5 (A = K, Rb, and Cs), which has an ideal Kagome lattice of vanadium. These V-based superconductors also host charge density wave (CDW) and topological nontrivial band structure. Here we report the ultralow-temperature thermal conductivity and high pressure resistance measurements on CsV3Sb5 with Tc = 2.5 K, the highest among AV3Sb5. A finite residual linear term of thermal conductivity at zero magnetic field and its rapid increase in fields suggest nodal superconductivity. By applying pressure, the Tc of CsV3Sb5 increases first, then decreases to lower than 0.3 K at 11.4 GPa, showing a clear first superconducting dome peaked around 0.8 GPa. Above 11.4 GPa, superconductivity re-emerges, suggesting a second superconducting dome. Both nodal superconductivity and superconducting domes point to unconventional superconductivity in this V-based superconductor. While our finding of nodal superconductivity puts a strong constrain on the pairing state of the first dome, which should be related to the CDW instability, the superconductivity of the second dome may present another exotic pairing state in this ideal Kagome lattice of vanadium., Comment: 4 figures

Topological states in quantum materials are defined by non-trivial topological invariants, such as the Chern number, which are properties of their bulk wave functions. A remarkable consequence of topological wave functions is the emergence of edge modes, a phenomenon known as bulk-edge correspondence, that gives rise to quantized or chiral physical properties. While edge modes are widely presented as signatures of non-trivial topology, how bulk wave functions can manifest explicitly topological properties remains unresolved. Here, using high-resolution inelastic x-ray spectroscopy (IXS) combined with first principles calculations, we report experimental signatures of chiral wave functions in the bulk phonon spectrum of BaPtGe, which we show to host a previously undiscovered twofold degenerate quadruple Weyl node. The chirality of the degenerate phononic wave function yields a non-trivial phonon dynamical structure factor, S(Q,$\omega$), along high-symmetry directions, that is in excellent agreement with numerical and model calculations. Our results establish IXS as a powerful tool to uncover topological wave functions, providing a key missing ingredient in the study of topological quantum matter., Comment: Data and movies that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request

Temperature- and frequency-dependent infrared spectroscopy identifies two contributions to the electronic properties of the magnetic kagome metal Fe$_3$Sn$_2$: two-dimensional Dirac fermions and strongly correlated flat bands. The interband transitions within the linearly dispersing Dirac bands appear as a two-step feature along with a very narrow Drude component due to intraband contribution. Low-lying absorption features indicate flat bands with multiple van Hove singularities. Localized charge carriers are seen as a Drude-peak shifted to finite frequencies. The spectral weight is redistributed when the spins are reoriented at low temperatures; a sharp mode appears suggesting the opening of a gap due to the spin reorientation as the sign of additional Weyl nodes in the system.

While condensed matter systems host both Fermionic and Bosonic quasi-particles, reliably predicting and empirically verifying topological states is only mature for Fermionic electronic structures, leaving topological Bosonic excitations sporadically explored. This is unfortunate, as Bosonic systems such a phonons offer the opportunity to assess spinless band structures where nodal lines can be realized without invoking special additional symetries to protect against spin-orbit coupling. Here we combine first-principles calculations and meV-resolution inelastic x-ray scattering to demonstrate the first realization of parity-time reversal ($\mathcal{PT}$) symmetry protected helical nodal lines in the phonon spectrum of MoB$_{2}$. This structure is unique to phononic systems as the spin-orbit coupling present in electronic systems tends to lift the degeneracy away from high-symmetry locations. Our study establishes a protocol to accurately identify topological Bosonic excitations, opening a new route to explore exotic topological states in crystalline materials.

Magnetic topological phases of quantum matter are an emerging frontier in physics and material science. Along these lines, several kagome magnets have appeared as the most promising platforms. However, the magnetic nature of these materials in the presence of topological state remains an unsolved issue. Here, we explore magnetic correlations in the kagome magnet Co_3Sn_2S_2. Using muon spin-rotation, we present evidence for competing magnetic orders in the kagome lattice of this compound. Our results show that while the sample exhibits an out-of-plane ferromagnetic ground state, an in-plane antiferromagnetic state appears at temperatures above 90 K, eventually attaining a volume fraction of 80% around 170 K, before reaching a non-magnetic state. Strikingly, the reduction of the anomalous Hall conductivity above 90 K linearly follows the disappearance of the volume fraction of the ferromagnetic state. We further show that the competition of these magnetic phases is tunable through applying either an external magnetic field or hydrostatic pressure. Our results taken together suggest the thermal and quantum tuning of Berry curvature field via external tuning of magnetic order. Our study shows that Co_3Sn_2S_2 is a rare example where the magnetic competition drives the thermodynamic evolution of the Berry curvature field, thus tuning its topological state., Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, Supplementary Information is available upon request

Fundamental electronic principles underlying all transition metal compounds are the symmetry and filling of the $d$-electron orbitals and the influence of this filling on structural configurations and responses. Here we use a sensitive local structural technique, x-ray atomic pair distribution function analysis, to reveal the presence of fluctuating local-structural distortions at high temperature of one such compound, \cis . We show that this hitherto overlooked fluctuating symmetry lowering is electronic in origin and will significantly modify the energy-level spectrum and electronic and magnetic properties. The explanation is a local, fluctuating, orbital-degeneracy-lifted state. The natural extension of our result would be that this phenomenon is likely to be widespread amongst diverse classes of partially filled nominally degenerate d-electron systems, with potentially broad implications for our understanding of their properties., Comment: 10 pages 3 figures

In condensed matter systems, chiral topological nodes are robust band crossing points in momentum space that carry nonzero Chern numbers. The chirality is manifested by the presence of surface Fermi arcs connecting the projections of nodes with opposite Chern numbers. In addition to the well-known Weyl nodes, theorists have proposed several other types of chiral topological nodes in condensed matter systems, but the direct experimental evidence of their existence is still lacking. Here, using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we reveal two types of new chiral nodes, namely the spin-1 nodes and charge-2 Dirac nodes, at the band crossing points near the Fermi level in CoSi, the projections of which on the (001) surface are connected by topologically protected surface Fermi arcs. As these chiral nodes in CoSi are enforced at the Brillouin zone (BZ) center and corner by the crystalline symmetries, the surface Fermi arcs connecting their projections form a non-contractible path traversing the entire (001) surface BZ, in sharp contrast to pairs of Weyl nodes with small separation. Our work marks the first experimental observation of chiral topological nodes beyond the Weyl nodes both in the bulk and on the surface in condensed matter systems., Comment: This is the original version submitted to Nature on August 17, 2018. A revised version will appear in Nature

Using Andreev reflection (AR) as an experimental gauge of the superconducting proximity effect (PE), we assess the topological purity of the superconductivity that is induced by the c-axis PE between an s-wave superconductor and the topological insulators Bi$_{2}$X$_{3}$ (X=Se,Te). Point-contact AR spectroscopy is performed with Nb tips on Bi$_{2}$X$_{3}$ single crystals at 4.2 K. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy is also used, to locate the Fermi level $E_F$ relative to the Dirac point in the crystals. The AR data is analyzed with Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk theory, taking into account tip-induced spin-orbit coupling, Fermi-surface mismatch, and the co-presence of bulk band and topological surface states at $E_F$. Our results indicate that the superconductivity that can be proximity-induced into Bi$_{2}$X$_{3}$ is predominantly non-topological.

We report a high-pressure study on the heavily electron doped Lix(NH3)yFe2Se2 single crystal by using the cubic anvil cell apparatus. The superconducting transition temperature Tc = 44 K at ambient pressure is first suppressed to below 20 K upon increasing pressure to Pc = 2 GPa, above which the pressure dependence of Tc(P) reverses and Tc increases steadily to ca. 55 K at 11 GPa. These results thus evidenced a pressure-induced second high-Tc superconducting (SC-II) phase in Lix(NH3)yFe2Se2 with the highest Tcmax = 55K among the FeSe-based bulk materials. Hall data confirm that in the emergent SC-II phase the dominant electron-type carrier density undergoes a fourfold enhancement and tracks the same trend as Tc(P). Interesting, we find a nearly parallel scaling behavior between Tc and the inverse Hall coefficient for the SC-II phases of both Lix(NH3)yFe2Se2 and (Li,Fe)OHFeSe. The present work demonstrates that high pressure offers a distinctive means to further raising the maximum Tc of heavily electron doped FeSe-based materials by increasing the effective charge carrier concentration via a plausible Fermi surface reconstruction at Pc., Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures

The emergent phenomena such as superconductivity and topological phase transitions can be observed in strict two-dimensional crystalline matters. Artificial interfaces and one atomic thickness layers are typical 2D materials of this kind. Although having 2D characters, most bulky layered compounds, however, do not possess these striking properties. Here, we report the 2D superconductivity in bulky AuTe2Se4/3,where the reduction in dimensionality is achieved through inducing the elongated covalent Te-Te bonds. The atomic-resolution images reveal that the Au, Te and Se are atomically ordered in a cube, among which are Te-Te bonds of 3.18 A and 3.28 A. The superconductivity at 2.85 K is discovered, which is unraveled to be the quasi-2D nature owing to the BKT topological transition. The nesting of nearly parallel Fermi sheets could give rise to strong electron-phonon coupling. It is proposed to further depleting the thickness could result in more topologically-related phenomena., Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures,To be published in Nature Communications

By employing angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy combined with first-principles calculations, we performed a systematic investigation on the electronic structure of LaBi, which exhibits extremely large magnetoresistance (XMR), and is theoretically predicted to possess band anticrossing with nontrivial topological properties. Here, the observations of the Fermi-surface topology and band dispersions are similar to previous studies on LaSb [Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 127204 (2016)], a topologically trivial XMR semimetal, except the existence of a band inversion along the $\Gamma$-$X$ direction, with one massless and one gapped Dirac-like surface state at the $X$ and $\Gamma$ points, respectively. The odd number of massless Dirac cones suggests that LaBi is analogous to the time-reversal $Z_2$ nontrivial topological insulator. These findings open up a new series for exploring novel topological states and investigating their evolution from the perspective of topological phase transition within the family of rare-earth monopnictides., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures

By combining angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and quantum oscillation measurements, we performed a comprehensive investigation on the electronic structure of LaSb, which exhibits near-quadratic extremely large magnetoresistance (XMR) without any sign of saturation at magnetic fields as high as 40 T. We clearly resolve one spherical and one intersecting-ellipsoidal hole Fermi surfaces (FSs) at the Brillouin zone (BZ) center $\Gamma$ and one ellipsoidal electron FS at the BZ boundary $X$. The hole and electron carriers calculated from the enclosed FS volumes are perfectly compensated, and the carrier compensation is unaffected by temperature. We further reveal that LaSb is topologically trivial but share many similarities with the Weyl semimetal TaAs family in the bulk electronic structure. Based on these results, we have examined the mechanisms that have been proposed so far to explain the near-quadratic XMR in semimetals., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures

By using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy combined with first-principles calculations, we reveal that the topmost unit cell of ZrSnTe crystal hosts two-dimensional (2D) electronic bands of topological insulator (TI) state, though such a TI state is defined with a curved Fermi level instead of a global band gap. Furthermore, we find that by modifying the dangling bonds on the surface through hydrogenation, this 2D band structure can be manipulated so that the expected global energy gap is most likely to be realized. This facilitates the practical applications of 2D TI in heterostructural devices and those with surface decoration and coverage. Since ZrSnTe belongs to a large family of compounds having the similar crystal and band structures, our findings shed light on identifying more 2D TI candidates and superconductor-TI heterojunctions supporting topological superconductors., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures

Comprehensive studies of the electronic states of Ir 5d and Te 5p have been performed to elucidate the origin of the structural phase transition in IrTe2 by combining angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering. While no considerable changes are observed in the configuration of the Ir 5d electronic states across the transition, indicating that the Ir 5d orbitals are not involved in the transition, we reveal a van Hove singularity at the Fermi level (EF) related to the Te px+py orbitals, which is removed from EF at low temperatures. The wavevector connecting the adjacent saddle points is consistent with the in-plane projection of the superstructure modulation wavevector. These results can be qualitatively understood with the Rice-Scott "saddle-point" mechanism, while effects of the lattice distortions need to be additionally involved., Comment: 5 pages, 4 fitures

We present an NMR study of the effect of S substitution in the high Tc superconductor K(x)Fe(2-y)Se(2-z)S(z) in a temperature range up to 250 K. We present NMR Knight shift and nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T1 data, and compare our results to that of the non-substituted system K(x)Fe(2-y)Se(2)., Comment: Typos fixed, figure replaced

We report a comprehensive 77Se NMR study of the structural, magnetic, and superconducting properties of a single crystalline sample of the newly discovered FeSe-based high temperature superconductor K(x)Fe(2-y)Se(2) (Tc=33K) in a broad temperature range up to 290 K. We will compare our results with those reported for FeSe (Tc=9K) and FeAs-based high Tc systems., Comment: Final version

Superconductivity was discovered in a Ni0:05TaS2 single crystal. A Ni0:05TaS2 single crystal was successfully grown via the NaCl/KCl flux method. The obtained lattice constant c of Ni0:05TaS2 is 1.1999 nm, which is significantly smaller than that of 2H-TaS2 (1.208 nm). Electrical resistivity and magnetization measurements reveal that the superconductivity transition temperature of Ni0:05TaS2 is enhanced from 0.8 K (2H-TaS2) to 3.9 K. The charge-density-wave transition of the matrix compound 2H-TaS2 is suppressed in Ni0:05TaS2. The success of Ni0:05TaS2 single crystal growth via a NaCl/KCl flux demonstrates that NaCl/KCl flux method will be a feasible method for single crystal growth of the layered transition metal dichalcogenides., Comment: 13pages, 6 figures, Published in SSC

Single crystals FeSe_x have been grown in evacuated sealed quartz tube using a NaCl/KCl flux. The products include two crystal structures of tetragon and hexagon. The electronic transport and magnetic properties measurements of FeSe_x single crystal exhibits a superconducting transition at about 10K., Comment: 9 pages, 4 Figures