Unusual competition of superconductivity and charge-density-wave state in a compressed topological kagome metal

Understanding the competition between superconductivity and other ordered states (such as antiferromagnetic or charge-density-wave (CDW) state) is a central issue in condensed matter physics. The recently discovered layered kagome metal AV(3)Sb(5) (A=K, Rb, and Cs) provides us a new playground to study the interplay of superconductivity and CDW state by involving nontrivial topology of band structures. Here, we conduct high-pressure electrical transport and magnetic susceptibility measurements to study CsV3Sb5 with the highest T-c of 2.7K in AV(3)Sb(5) family. While the CDW transition is monotonically suppressed by pressure, superconductivity is enhanced with increasing pressure up to P1 approximate to 0.7GPa, then an unexpected suppression on superconductivity happens until pressure around 1.1GPa, after that, T-c is enhanced with increasing pressure again. The CDW is completely suppressed at a critical pressure P2 approximate to 2GPa together with a maximum T-c of about 8K. In contrast to a common dome-like behavior, the pressure-dependent T-c shows an unexpected double-peak behavior. The unusual suppression of T-c at P1 is concomitant with the rapidly damping of quantum oscillations, sudden enhancement of the residual resistivity and rapid decrease of magnetoresistance. Our discoveries indicate an unusual competition between superconductivity and CDW state in pressurized kagome lattice.

Automated summary

The competition between superconductivity and CDW state in the pressurized kagome lattice of CsV3Sb5 displays complex effects, with unexpected double-peak behavior observed under high pressure conditions.