Smectic Pair Density Wave Order in EuRbFe4As4

Abstract

The pair density wave (PDW) is a novel superconducting state in which Cooper pairs carry center-of-mass momentum in equilibrium, leading to the breaking of translational symmetry. Experimental evidence for such a state exists in high magnetic field and in some materials that feature density wave orders that explicitly break translational symmetry. However, evidence for a zero-field PDW state that exists independent of other spatially ordered states has so far been elusive. Here, we show that such a state exists in the iron pnictide superconductor EuRbFe4As4 (Eu-1144), a material that features coexisting superconductivity (Tc ~ 37K) and magnetism (Tm ~ 15 K). We show from the Spectroscopic Imaging Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (SI-STM) measurements that the superconducting gap at low temperature has long-range, unidirectional spatial modulations with an incommensurate period of ~8 unit cells. Upon raising the temperature above Tm, the modulated superconductor disappears, but a uniform superconducting gap survives to Tc. When an external magnetic field is applied, gap modulations disappear inside the vortex halo. The SI-STM and bulk measurements show the absence of other density wave orders, showing that the PDW state is a primary, zero-field superconducting state in this compound. Both four-fold rotational symmetry and translation symmetry are recovered above Tm, indicating that the PDW is a smectic order.

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