Possible quantum fluctuations in the vicinity of the quantum critical point of $\mathbf{(Sr, Ca)_3Ir_4Sn_{13}}$ revealed by high-energy X-ray diffraction study

TL;DR

This study investigates the suppression of structural phase transition in (Sr, Ca)3Ir4Sn13 under pressure, revealing potential quantum fluctuations near a critical point that may influence superconductivity, using high-energy X-ray diffraction.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of quantum fluctuations disrupting long-range order near a quantum critical point in (Sr, Ca)3Ir4Sn13, linking structural criticality to superconductivity.

Findings

Superlattice transition temperature T* decreases with pressure and vanishes at ~1.79 GPa.

Quantum fluctuations likely emerge near the critical pressure, disrupting long-range order.

The phase diagram shows intertwined order parameters similar to unconventional superconductors.

Abstract

We explore the evolution of the structural phase transition of $\rm{(Sr, Ca)_3Ir_4Sn_{13}}$, a model system to study the interplay between structural quantum criticality and superconductivity, by means of high-energy x-ray diffraction measurements at high pressures and low temperatures. Our results confirm a rapid suppression of the superlattice transition temperature $T^*$ against pressure, which extrapolates to zero at a critical pressure of $\approx 1.79(4)$ GPa. The temperature evolution of the superlattice Bragg peak in $\rm{Ca_3Ir_4Sn_{13}}$ reveals a drastic decrease of the intensity and an increase of the linewidth when $T \rightarrow 0$ K and $p \rightarrow p_c$. Such anomaly is likely associated to the emergence of quantum fluctuations that disrupt the formation of long-range superlattice modulation. The revisited temperature-pressure phase diagram of $\rm{(Sr, Ca)_3Ir_4Sn_{13}}$ thus highlights the intertwined nature of the distinct order parameters present in this system and demonstrates some similarities between this family and the unconventional superconductors.