Pressure tuning of light-induced superconductivity in K3C60

Journal article

Optical excitation at terahertz frequencies has emerged as an effective means to dynamically manipulate complex materials. In the molecular solid K 3 C 60 , short mid-infrared pulses transform the high-temperature metal into a non-equilibrium state with the optical properties of a superconductor. Here we tune this effect with hydrostatic pressure and find that the superconducting-like features gradually disappear at around 0.3 GPa. Reduction with pressure underscores the similarity with the equilibrium superconducting phase of K 3 C 60 , in which a larger electronic bandwidth induced by pressure is also detrimental for pairing. Crucially, our observation excludes alternative interpretations based on a high-mobility metallic phase. The pressure dependence also suggests that transient, incipient superconductivity occurs far above the 150 K hypothesized previously, and rather extends all the way to room temperature.

Authors: Cantaluppi, A; Buzzi, M; Jotzu, G; Nicoletti, D; Mitrano, M

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Journal: Nature Physics
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 837–841
• Publication date: 2018-05-07
• Acceptance date: 2018-04-06
• DOI: 10.1038/s41567-018-0134-8
• EISSN: 1745-2481
• ISSN: 1745-2473