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Superconductivity had been one of the most enigmatic phenomena in condensed matter physics, puzzling the best theorists for 45 years, since the original discovery by Kamerlingh-Onnes in 1911 till the final solution by Bardeen, Cooper, and Schrieffer (BCS) in 1957. The original BCS proposal assumed the highest-symmetry form for the superconducting order parameter Δ, namely, a constant, and a uniform pairing interaction due to attractive mediation of ionic vibration. While it was rather soon realized that generalizations onto k-dependent order parameters and anisotropic pairing interaction was straightforward, only thirty years later, upon the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in cuprates, high-order angular dependence of Δ and repulsive interaction, mediated by spin fluctuations or Coulomb repulsion brought such “unconventional” into the spotlight. In 2008 yet another such system was discovered, and eventually the idea of repulsion-mediated unconventional superconductivity was generally accepted. Apart from the two specific systems mentioned above, a large number of various specific implementations of this idea have been proposed, and it is becoming increasingly clear that it is worth studying mathematically how unconventional superconductivity emerges, and with what properties, for a simple, but sufficiently general theoretical model. In our project, we study systematically unconventional superconductivity in an isotropic two-dimensional model system of electrons, subjected to repulsive interactions of a simple, but physically motivated form: a delta function peaked at a particular momentum (from 0 to twice the Fermi momentum), or Gaussian of varying widths. 

Field-induced superconductivity is a rare phenomenon where an applied magnetic field enhances or induces superconductivity. Here, we use applied stress as a control switch between a field-tunable superconducting state and a robust non–field-tunable state. This marks the first demonstration of a strain-tunable superconducting spin valve with infinite magnetoresistance. We combine tunable uniaxial stress and applied magnetic field on the ferromagnetic superconductor Eu(Fe_0.88Co_0.12)₂As₂to shift the field-induced zero-resistance temperature between 4 K and a record-high value of 10 K. We use x-ray diffraction and spectroscopy measurements under stress and field to reveal that strain tuning of the nematic order and field tuning of the ferromagnetism act as independent control parameters of the superconductivity. Combining comprehensive measurements with DFT calculations, we propose that field-induced superconductivity arises from a novel mechanism, namely, the uniquely dominant effect of the Eu dipolar field when the exchange field splitting is nearly zero. 

Reported Li–B–C compounds and calculated phase diagram establishing conditions required for LiBC delithiation. 

Gold is one of the most inert metals, forming very few compounds, and only a few of them are currently known to be superconducting. Here we have found yet another chemical compound of gold (and silver) that is superconducting. 

The excitonic insulator is an electronically driven phase of matter that emerges upon the spontaneous formation and Bose condensation of excitons. Detecting this exotic order in candidate materials is a subject of paramount importance, as the size of the excitonic gap in the band structure establishes the potential of this collective state for superfluid energy transport. However, the identification of this phase in real solids is hindered by the coexistence of a structural order parameter with the same symmetry as the excitonic order. Only a few materials are currently believed to host a dominant excitonic phase, Ta 2 NiSe 5 being the most promising. Here, we test this scenario by using an ultrashort laser pulse to quench the broken-symmetry phase of this transition metal chalcogenide. Tracking the dynamics of the material’s electronic and crystal structure after light excitation reveals spectroscopic fingerprints that are compatible only with a primary order parameter of phononic nature. We rationalize our findings through state-of-the-art calculations, confirming that the structural order accounts for most of the gap opening. Our results suggest that the spontaneous symmetry breaking in Ta 2 NiSe 5 is mostly of structural character, hampering the possibility to realize quasi-dissipationless energy transport. 

Abstract The deviation of the electron density around the nuclei from spherical symmetry determines the electric field gradient (EFG), which can be measured by various types of spectroscopy. Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR) is particularly sensitive to the EFG. The EFGs, and by implication NQR frequencies, vary dramatically across materials. Consequently, searching for NQR spectral lines in previously uninvestigated materials represents a major challenge. Calculated EFGs can significantly aid at the search’s inception. To facilitate this task, we have applied high-throughput density functional theory calculations to predict EFGs for 15187 materials in the JARVIS-DFT database. This database, which will include EFG as a standard entry, is continuously increasing. Given the large scope of the database, it is impractical to verify each calculation. However, we assess accuracy by singling out cases for which reliable experimental information is readily available and compare them to the calculations. We further present a statistical analysis of the results. The database and tools associated with our work are made publicly available by JARVIS-DFT ( https://www.ctcms.nist.gov/~knc6/JVASP.html ) and NIST-JARVIS API ( http://jarvis.nist.gov/ ).