Current-induced re-entrant superconductivity and extreme nonreciprocal superconducting diode effect in valley-polarized systems, by Yu-Chen Zhuang, Qing-Feng Sun
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SciPost Physics Home Authoring Refereeing Submit a manuscript About Current-induced re-entrant superconductivity and extreme nonreciprocal superconducting diode effect in valley-polarized systems Yu-Chen Zhuang, Qing-Feng Sun SciPost Phys. 20, 021 (2026) · published 26 January 2026 doi: 10.21468/SciPostPhys.20.1.021 pdf BiBTeX RIS Submissions/Reports Abstract The superconducting diode effect (SDE) refers to the nonreciprocity of superconducting critical currents. Generally, the SDE has a positive and a negative critical currents $j_{c±}$ corresponding to two opposite directions with unequal amplitudes. It is demonstrated that an extreme nonreciprocity where two critical currents can become both positive (or negative) has been observed in twisted graphene systems. In this work, we theoretically propose a possible mechanism to realize an extreme nonreciprocal SDE. Based on a simple microscopic model, we demonstrate that depairing currents required to dissolve Cooper pairs can be remodulated under the interplay between valley polarizations and applied currents. Near the disappearance of the superconductivity, the remodulation is shown to induce extreme nonreciprocity and also the current-induced re-entrant superconductivity where the system has two different critical current intervals. Our study may provide new horizons for understanding the coexistence of superconductivity and spontaneous valley polarizations, and pave a way for designing SDE with 100% efficiency. × TY - JOURPB - SciPost FoundationDO - 10.21468/SciPostPhys.20.1.021TI - Current-induced re-entrant superconductivity and extreme nonreciprocal superconducting diode effect in valley-polarized systemsPY - 2026/01/26UR - https://scipost.org/SciPostPhys.20.1.021JF - SciPost PhysicsJA - SciPost Phys.VL - 20IS - 1SP - 021A1 - Zhuang, Yu-ChenAU - Sun, Qing-FengAB - The superconducting diode effect (SDE) refers to the nonreciprocity of superconducting critical currents. Generally, the SDE has a positive and a negative critical currents $j_{c±}$ corresponding to two opposite directions with unequal amplitudes. It is demonstrated that an extreme nonreciprocity where two critical currents can become both positive (or negative) has been observed in twisted graphene systems. In this work, we theoretically propose a possible mechanism to realize an extreme nonreciprocal SDE. Based on a simple microscopic model, we demonstrate that depairing currents required to dissolve Cooper pairs can be remodulated under the interplay between valley polarizations and applied currents. Near the disappearance of the superconductivity, the remodulation is shown to induce extreme nonreciprocity and also the current-induced re-entrant superconductivity where the system has two different critical current intervals. Our study may provide new horizons for understanding the coexistence of superconductivity and spontaneous valley polarizations, and pave a way for designing SDE with 100% efficiency.ER - × @Article{10.21468/SciPostPhys.20.1.021, title={{Current-induced re-entrant superconductivity and extreme nonreciprocal superconducting diode effect in valley-polarized systems}}, author={Yu-Chen Zhuang and Qing-Feng Sun}, journal={SciPost Phys.}, volume={20}, pages={021}, year={2026}, publisher={SciPost}, doi={10.21468/SciPostPhys.20.1.021}, url={https://scipost.org/10.21468/SciPostPhys.20.1.021},} Ontology / Topics See full Ontology or Topics database. Graphene Spontaneous symmetry breaking Superconductivity/superconductors Authors / Affiliations: mappings to Contributors and Organizations See all Organizations. 1 Yu-Chen Zhuang, 1 2 Qing-Feng Sun 1 北京大学 / Peking University [PKU] 2 合肥国家实验室 / Hefei National Laboratory Funders for the research work leading to this publication China Postdoctoral Science Foundation National Key Research and Development Program of China (through Organization: Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China [MOST]) National Natural Science Foundation of China [NSFC] 北京大学 / Peking University [PKU]