Evidence for an emergent anomalous metallic state in compressed titanium

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 120; no. 18; p. e2218856120
• Main Authors: Wang, Kui, Liu, Chang, Liu, Guangtao, Yu, Xiaohui, Zhou, Mi, Wang, Hongbo, Chen, Changfeng, Ma, Yanming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences 02.05.2023
• Subjects: Fermi liquids; Low temperature; Magnetic fields; Magnetoresistance; Magnetoresistivity; Physical Sciences; Physics; Superconductivity; Superconductors; Titanium; Transport properties; Two dimensional materials; superconductivity; high pressure; anomalous metallic state
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2218856120

The anomalous metallic state (AMS) emerging from a quantum superconductor-to-metal transition is a subject of great current interest since this exotic quantum state exhibits unconventional transport properties that challenge the core physics principles of Fermi liquid theory. As the AMS concept is historically derived from disordered two-dimensional (2D) systems, related studies have predominately concentrated on 2D materials. The AMS behaviors in three-dimensional (3D) systems have been rarely reported to date, which raises intriguing questions on the fundamental nature of pertinent physics. Here, we report experimental evidence for a 3D AMS in highly compressed titanium metal that exhibits superconductivity with a critical temperature ( T c ) reaching near-record 25.1 K among elemental superconductors, offering a favorable material template for exploring 3D AMS. At sufficiently strong magnetic fields, unusual transport behaviors set in over a wide pressure range, showcasing AMS hallmarks of a low-temperature saturation resistance below the Drude value and giant positive magnetoresistance. These findings reveal a 3D AMS in simple elemental systems and, more importantly, provide a fresh platform for probing the decades-long enigmatic underlying physics.