Journal
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Volume 109, Issue 19, Pages 7224-7229Publisher
NATL ACAD SCIENCES
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1202434109
Keywords
incommensurate electronic state; transition metal dichalcogenides; diffraction line shapes; diamond anvil cell
Categories
Funding
- National Science Foundation (NSF) [DMR-0907025]
- Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences [NE-AC02-06CH11357]
- NSF of China
- Direct For Mathematical & Physical Scien
- Division Of Materials Research [0907025] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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Quantum criticality is a central concept in condensed matter physics, but the direct observation of quantum critical fluctuations has remained elusive. Here we present an X-ray diffraction study of the charge density wave (CDW) in 2H-NbSe2 at high pressure and low temperature, where we observe a broad regime of order parameter fluctuations that are controlled by proximity to a quantum critical point. X-rays can track the CDW despite the fact that the quantum critical regime is shrouded inside a superconducting phase; and in contrast to transport probes, allow direct measurement of the critical fluctuations of the charge order. Concurrent measurements of the crystal lattice point to a critical transition that is continuous in nature. Our results confirm the long-standing expectations of enhanced quantum fluctuations in low-dimensional systems, and may help to constrain theories of the quantum critical Fermi surface.
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