Spectroscopic evidence of symmetry breaking in the superconducting vortices of UTe2
Author: Yan, Shichao
Affiliation: Shanghai Tech University
Type: Invited Talk
Session: UTe2 and high-field vortex physics
Date and Time: 21.07.2026, 11:45 - 12:15
The recently discovered heavy-fermion superconductor, UTe2, is an excellent candidate for spin-triplet superconductors where electrons form spin-triplet Cooper pairs with spin S = 1 and odd parity. Unconventional superconductivity often hosts the unconventional vortices. Yet, the vortex core and lattice in UTe2 have not been directly visualized and characterized. In this talk, I will present our recent low-temperature STM results on the vortex core and lattice on the (0−11) surface termination of UTe2. We observe the robust zero-energy vortex core state which extends to ~30 nm along the crystallographic a axis. I will show the unique symmetry breaking feature in the superconducting vortices of UTe2. In addition, I will also discuss our recent STM data on the other cleavage surfaces of UTe2.