${}^{139}$La nuclear quadrupole resonance studies of pressurized La${}_4$Ni${}_3$O${}_{10}$

Abstract

Density-wave (DW) orders are considered as competing orders to unconventional superconductivity and are commonly seen in a variety of superconductors including but not limited to the recently discovered Ruddlesden-Popper-phase nickelates. By utilizing ${}^{139}$La nuclear quadrupole resonance, we systematically investigate into the nature of DW orders and their evolution under pressure in La${}_4$Ni${}_3$O${}_{10}$. Spin and charge DW orders are found to be intertwined in this material, which is in stark contrast to those in La${}_3$Ni${}_2$O${}_7$. Short-range DW orders are observed near 150 K, well above the development of long-range DW orders at around 139 K. Upon applying a hydrostatic pressure of 2.3 GPa, the transition temperatures of the short-range and long-range orders decrease at rates of 1 K/GPa and 10 K/GPa, respectively. Our results thus affirm that both spin density wave and charge density wave as competing orders with the superconducting state in La${}_4$Ni${}_3$O${}_{10}$, and provide new insights into the interplay between DW orders and unconventional superconductivity.

8+4 pages, 4+3 figures