Quantum fluctuations-driven Melting Transitions in Two-dimensional Superconductors
Abstract
Quantum fluctuations are pivotal in driving quantum phase transitions, exemplified by the quantum melting of Wigner crystals into Fermi liquids in electron systems. However, their impact on superconducting systems near zero temperature, particularly in the superconductor-insulator/metal transition, remains poorly understood. In this study, through electric transport measurements on the two-dimensional (2D) superconductor (SnS)1.17NbS2, we demonstrate that quantum fluctuations induce vortex displacement from their mean position, leading to the quantum melting of vortex solid near zero temperature. Quantitative analysis reveals the magnetic field-induced anomalous metal originates from this quantum melting transition, with energy dissipation governed by quantum fluctuations-driven vortex displacements. Remarkably, further extending this analysis to various 2D superconductors yields the same results, and many properties of anomalous metal can be qualitatively understood within the framework of quantum melting. The connection between the quantum melting of vortex solids and dissipative anomalous metal opens a novel pathway towards understanding quantum phase transitions through vortex dynamics, providing new insights on both fields.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2502.14635,
title = {Quantum fluctuations-driven Melting Transitions in Two-dimensional Superconductors},
author = {Dong Qiu and Yuting Zou and Chao Yang and Dongxing Zheng and Chenhui Zhang and Deju Zhang and Yuhang Wu and Gaofeng Rao and Peng Li and Yuqiao Zhou and Xian Jian and Haoran Wei and Zhigang Cheng and Xixiang Zhang and Yanning Zhang and Haiwen Liu and Jingbo Qi and Yanrong Li and Jie Xiong},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2502.14635},
year = {2025}
}