Stretching CsV3Sb5 Crystal Reveals Two Hidden Superconducting States

Researchers at Okayama University stretched a CsV3Sb5 kagome-metal crystal by less than 1% and separated two distinct superconducting states. The transition temperature rose from 3.0 K to 3.6 K while the charge density wave remained largely unchanged.

• Tensile strain of +0.90% raised the superconducting transition from 3.0 K to 3.6 K
• Two transitions appeared: a nodal state at 3.6 K and a nodeless state at 3.0 K
• The nodal component's contribution grew from ~10% to ~26% at maximum strain
• The charge density wave at 94 K stayed essentially unchanged