The observation of π-shifts in the Little-Parks effect in 4Hb-TaS2
Avior Almoalem, Irena Feldman, Ilay Mangel, Michael Shlafman, Yuval Yaish, Mark H. Fischer, Michael Moshe, Jonathan Ruhman, Amit Kanigel
Abstract
Abstract Finding evidence of non-trivial pairing states is one of the greatest experimental challenges in the field of unconventional superconductivity. Such evidence requires phase-sensitive probes susceptible to the internal structure of the order parameter. We report the measurement of the Little-Parks effect in the unconventional superconductor candidate 4Hb-TaS 2 . In half of our rings, which are fabricated from single-crystals, we find a π -shift in the transition-temperature oscillations. According to theory, such a π -shift is only possible if the order parameter is non-s-wave. In the absence of crystallographic defects, the shift provides evidence of a multi-component order parameter. Thus, this observation increases the likelihood of the two-component order parameter scenario in 4Hb-TaS 2 . Furthermore, we show that T c is enhanced as a function of the out-of-plane field when a constant in-plane field is applied, which we explain using a two-component order-parameter.