Spontaneous Lattice Distortion in the Spin-Triplet Superconductor
Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 086001 – Published 22 August, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/ddvn-8c9n
Abstract
The doped topological insulator has attracted considerable attention as a new platform for studying novel properties of spin-triplet and topological superconductivity. In this work, we performed synchrotron x-ray diffraction measurements on () to investigate the coupling between the superconducting order parameter and crystal lattice. In the crystals in which the vector order parameter ( vector) is tilted from the crystal high-symmetry directions as evidenced by nematic diamagnetic susceptibility, we find a sizable lattice distortion () associated with the onset of superconductivity. In contrast, in crystals with the vector aligned along the high-symmetry directions, we find no appreciable change in lattice constant. Together with a pronounced vestigial behavior of the distortion, the results are clear evidence for an odd-parity order parameter that couples with trigonal lattice. Furthermore, in the crystal with where diamagnetic susceptibility is isotropic in the plane, no lattice distortion accompanying the superconducting transition is found, which is in line with a chiral superconducting state in the highly doped region. Our work shows that lattice distortion can be a powerful diagnosing quantity for nematic superconductivity with two-component order parameter.