Amplitude Higgs mode in the 2 H - NbSe 2 superconductor

Abstract

We report experimental evidence for the observation of the superconducting amplitude mode, the so-called ''Higgs" mode, in the charge density wave superconductor 2H-NbSe2 using Raman scattering. By comparing 2H-NbSe2 and its isostructural partner 2H-NbS2 which shows superconductivity but lacks the charge density wave order, we demonstrate that the superconducting mode in 2H-NbSe2 owes its spectral weight to the presence of the coexisting charge density wave order. In addition, temperature dependent measurements in 2H-NbSe2 show a full spectral weight transfer from the charge density wave mode to the superconducting mode upon entering the superconducting phase. Both observations are fully consistent with a superconducting amplitude mode or Higgs mode. © 2014 American Physical Society.