CM Theory Seminar | Nematic Enhancement of Superconductivity

The nematic phase, wherein electronic degrees of freedom drive a reduction in crystal rotational symmetry, is a common motif across a number of high temperature superconductors. The impact of nematicity and nematic uctuations on the high Tc superconducting phase is complicated, however, due to coexisence with long range magnetic order. I will discuss the evolution of physical properties, including elastoresistance, in the (Ba,Sr)Ni2As2 substitution series, a new electronic nematic system without magnetism or unconventional pairing. Our observation of a unidirectional charge density wave in the nematic phase of this series evokes comparisons to nematicity in cuprate superconductors, and a strong enhancement of the superconducting transition temperature appears to be driven by nematic fluctuations, establishing a promising route to higher superconducting critical temperatures.