Correlation between non-centrosymmetry and superconductivity in quasi-one-dimensional compounds A2Cr3As3 (A=K, Rb)

TL;DR

This study reveals a positive correlation between non-centrosymmetry and superconductivity in A2Cr3As3 compounds, highlighting the role of structural parameters like bond angles in influencing superconducting properties.

Contribution

First to demonstrate the link between non-centrosymmetry extent and superconductivity in A2Cr3As3, emphasizing the importance of bond angles and structural asymmetry.

Findings

Larger bond angles correlate with higher superconductivity.

Non-centrosymmetry extent influences superconducting transition temperature.

Structural parameters like chain distances also affect superconductivity.

Abstract

Non-centrosymmetric superconductors, whose crystal structure is absent of inversion symmetry, have recently received special attentions due to the expectation of unconventional pairings and exotic physics associated with such pairings. The newly discovered superconductors A2Cr3As3 (A=K, Rb), featured by the quasi-one dimensional structure with conducting CrAs chains, belongs to such kind of superconductor. In this study, we are the first to report the finding that the superconductivity of A2Cr3As3 (A=K, Rb) has a positive correlation with the extent of non-centrosymmetry. Our in-situ high pressure ac susceptibility and synchrotron x-ray diffraction measurements reveal that the larger bond angle of As-Cr-As in the CrAs chains can be taken as a key factor controlling superconductivity. While the smaller bond angle and the distance between the CrAs chains also affect the superconductivity due to their structural connections with the angle. We find that the larger value of the difference between the larger and samller angles, which is associated with the extent of the non-centrosymmetry of the lattice structure, is in favor of superconductivity. These results are expected to shed a new light on the underlying mechanism of the superconductivity in these Q1D superconductors and also to provide new perspective in understanding other non-centrosymmetric superconductors.