Evidence of intertwined pair density and charge density wave orders in UTe2

Abstract

The strongly correlated spin-triplet superconductor UTe2 hosts an unusual landscape of magnetic-field-sensitive charge density wave (CDW) phases, positioning it as a compelling system for studying intertwined electronic orders. A central challenge is determining whether the observed charge modulations arise from a triplet pair density wave (PDW) order and, if so, how the anisotropic magnetic field response of triplet superconductivity is manifested in the CDW response. Here, using a scanning tunneling microscope equipped with a vector magnetic field, we systematically investigate the evolution and interrelation of distinct CDW orders. Complementing the previously identified incommensurate CDW peaks (qi=1,2,3), we resolve an additional set of nondispersive modulations (pi=1,2,3 and h1,2) with distinct temperature and magnetic field dependencies. The pi CDW peaks vanish near Tc, while the qi peaks survive well above Tc but are progressively suppressed by magnetic field in an anisotropic manner. The critical fields of the qi peaks mirror the directional hierarchy of Hc2, which suggests a PDW is present above the bulk Tc. This is consistent with a Landau free-energy picture where PDWs with wavevectors pi form above the bulk Tc, leading to composite CDW orders with wavevector qi. Below Tc, the coupling of PDWs and uniform superconductivity leads to the pi CDWs. Together, these findings establish UTe2 as a rare platform where both the parent PDW and descendant orders are directly resolved, enabling access to both the fundamental and emergent manifestations of PDW physics.

Accepted for publication in PNAS

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