# Strain-driven nematicity of the odd-parity superconductivity in Sr$_x$Bi$_2$Se$_3$

## TL;DR

This study provides experimental evidence that uniaxial strain influences the nematic superconductivity in Sr$_x$Bi$_2$Se$_3$, revealing strain-dependent anisotropy in the upper critical field and nematic electronic behavior.

## Contribution

It demonstrates the strain-driven nematicity of odd-parity superconductivity in Sr$_x$Bi$_2$Se$_3$, linking uniaxial strain to superconducting anisotropy and nematic electronic states.

## Key findings

- Upper critical field $H_{c2}$ exhibits two-fold symmetry depending on strain direction.
- Strain modifies the maximum $H_{c2}$ orientation in superconducting state.
- Normal state magnetoresistance shows nematic two-fold symmetry, independent of current direction.

## Abstract

We present a novel experimental evidence for the odd-parity nematic superconductivity in high-quality single crystals of doped topological insulator Sr$_x$Bi$_2$Se$_3$. The X-ray diffraction shows that the grown single crystals are either weakly stretched or compressed uniaxially in the basal plane along one of the crystal axis. We show that in the superconducting state, the upper critical magnetic field $H_{c2}$ has a two-fold rotational symmetry and depends on the sign of the strain: in the stretched samples, the maximum of $H_{c2}$ is achieved when the in-plane magnetic field is transverse to the strain axis, while in the compressed samples this maximum is observed when the field is along the strain direction. This result is naturally explained within a framework of the odd-parity nematic superconductivity coupled to the strain. Magnetoresistance in the normal state is independent of the current direction and also has a two-fold rotational symmetry that demonstrates the nematicity of the electronic system in the normal state.