Release Subtitle:
Scientists discover structural distortions in the crystal lattice of the CuxBi2Se3 superconductor, advancing topological quantum state understanding

Release Summary Text:
Superconductors are famous for carrying electricity without resistance, but a new study shows they can also reshape the crystals in which they are housed. Scientists at Okayama University, Japan, have discovered that the topological superconductor CuxBi2Se3 can distort its crystal lattice when it reaches the superconducting state. Using synchrotron X-ray diffraction, the team detected structural changes linked to the unusual spin-triplet pairing in this material, revealing a new way superconductivity interacts with crystal structure.

Full text of release:
Superconductors (materials that conduct electricity without resistance) have fascinated physicists for more than a century. While conventional superconductors are well understood, a new class of materials known as topological superconductors has attracted intense interest in recent years. These superconductors have been reported to be capable of hosting Majorana quasiparticles, exotic states that could change the field of fault-tolerant quantum computing. Yet many of the fundamental properties of these novel bulk topological superconductors remain relatively unknown, leaving open questions about how their unusual electronic states interact with the underlying crystal lattice.

In a new study conducted by Professor Guo-qing Zheng, along with Kazuaki Matano, S. Takayanagi, K. Ito of Okayama University and Professor H. Nakao of High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), published in Physical Review Letters on August 22, 2025, the researchers report that the doped topological insulator CuxBi2Se3 undergoes tiny but spontaneous distortions in its crystal lattice as it enters the superconducting state. This marks the first clear evidence of a topological superconductor that is capable of coupling to the crystal lattice and distorting it during the superconducting transition, a phenomenon unknown to physicists until now.

Superconductivity is typically associated with electron pairing that leaves the host lattice untouched. But in CuxBi2Se3, a rare spin-triplet topological superconductor, Prof. Zheng and colleagues observed distortions of approximately 100 parts per million when the superconducting order parameter, known as the d vector, tilted away from the crystal’s high-symmetry axes. No such distortion was found in more symmetric states or in highly doped crystals where a chiral superconducting state dominates.

“Our work demonstrates that lattice distortion is not just a byproduct but a key diagnostic for identifying unconventional superconducting phases,” added Prof. Zheng. The study builds on earlier nuclear magnetic resonance experiments that showed broken spin-rotation symmetry in CuxBi2Se3, a signature of spin-triplet pairing. The researchers established a direct link between the superconducting symmetry and the material’s structural response by combining synchrotron X-ray diffraction with angle-resolved susceptibility measurements.

Beyond its fundamental significance, the discovery has practical implications. “A topological superconductor can be applied to fault-tolerant quantum computing. It is important to know the basic properties of the material when fabricating quantum bits from such superconductors,” Prof. Zheng said. Bulk topological superconductors remain scarce, and their properties are poorly understood. This has limited their use outside the laboratory. The researchers believe the new results could help change that: “Bulk topological superconductors have not been used in industry simply because the materials are rare and their properties are poorly known. Our work will advance industrial applications in making next-generation quantum computers.”

The findings also resonate with broader studies of multicomponent superconductors, including iron-based materials, Kagome lattices, and twisted bilayer graphene. All of these systems may host exotic states where the superconducting order parameter couples to lattice degrees of freedom. Still, the researchers caution that open questions remain. The strength of the coupling appears sensitive to defects introduced during crystal growth, suggesting that sample preparation and purity will play a central role in future experiments and potential applications.

This research provides condensed matter physicists with a new lens to probe topological quantum states by uncovering how superconductivity can distort a lattice, bringing the field one step closer to harnessing these exotic properties for quantum technologies.

Release URL:
Superconductivity Distorts the Crystal Lattice of Topological Quantum Materials

Reference:
Title of original paper: Spontaneous Lattice Distortion in the Spin-Triplet Superconductor CuxBi2Se3
Journal: Physical Review Letters
DOI: 10.1103/ddvn-8c9n

Contact information

Contact Person: Professor Guo-qing Zheng from Okayama University, Japan
Dr. Guo-qing Zheng is a condensed matter physicist specializing in superconductivity and strongly correlated electron systems. Using advanced nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques, he has carried out pioneering research on high-Tc cuprates, iron pnictides, heavy fermion compounds, cobalt oxides, and non-centrosymmetric materials. He has also developed unique experimental methods for probing matter under high pressures, low temperatures, and intense magnetic fields, including pulsed fields. In his current work, Dr. Zheng focuses on uncovering topological phenomena in non-centrosymmetric superconductors, aiming to reveal novel states of matter with potential applications in quantum computing and next-generation quantum technologies.