Zero-field superconducting diode effect in small-twist-angle trilayer graphene

A superconducting diode effect is observed at zero magnetic field in twisted trilayer graphene. This suggests that time-reversal symmetry is intrinsically broken and leads to pairing between electrons with non-zero centre-of-mass momentum. The critical current of a superconductor can be different for opposite directions of current flow when both time-reversal and inversion symmetry are broken. Such non-reciprocal behaviour creates a superconducting diode and has recently been experimentally demonstrated by breaking these symmetries with an applied magnetic field or by the construction of a magnetic tunnel junction. Here we report an intrinsic superconducting diode effect that is present at zero external magnetic field in mirror-symmetric twisted trilayer graphene. Such non-reciprocal behaviour, with sign that can be reversed through training with an out-of-plane magnetic field, provides direct evidence of the microscopic coexistence between superconductivity and time-reversal symmetry breaking. In addition to the magnetic-field trainability, we show that the zero-field diode effect can be controlled by varying the carrier density or twist angle. A natural interpretation for the origin of the intrinsic diode effect is an imbalance in the valley occupation of the underlying Fermi surface, which probably leads to finite-momentum Cooper pairing and nematicity in the superconducting phase.

Automated summary

A superconducting diode effect is observed in twisted trilayer graphene at zero magnetic field, indicating the coexistence of superconductivity and time-reversal symmetry breaking. This non-reciprocal behavior can be controlled by adjusting carrier density, twist angle, or applying a magnetic field.