Dimensionality of vortex matter in superconducting infinite-layer nickelates

Abstract

Characterizing the dimensionality of the superconducting state in infinite-layer (IL) nickelates is essential for understanding its nature. Most studies have addressed this by examining the anisotropy of the upper critical fields. However, the dominance of Pauli paramagnetic effects over orbital effects complicates the interpretation of these experiments in terms of dimensionality. Here, we approach the question from a different perspective by mapping the vortex phase diagram. We show that superconducting Pr0.8Sr0.2NiO2 thin films with low disorder exhibit a vortex liquid-to-glass transition of a quasi-two-dimensional (2D) nature. In contrast, increasing disorder drives a crossover into a pure 2D state. This demonstrates that pure bidimensionality is an extrinsic property, resulting from the decoupling of NiO2 planes due to enhanced disorder. Our findings establish disorder as a key control parameter of superconductivity in IL nickelates and suggest that it resides within the NiO2 planes, providing two fundamental insights for understanding these materials.