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Title: Why does KTaO3 interface superconductivity depend on crystal orientation?
Plain: Electron gases at the surface of KTaO3 superconduct at about $2\,\mathrm{K}$ on one crystal face and at much lower temperature, or not at all, on another, which no simple theory explains.
Precise: Two-dimensional electron gases at EuO/KTaO3 and LaAlO3/KTaO3 interfaces superconduct with $T_c \sim 2\,\mathrm{K}$ for (111) and $\sim 1\,\mathrm{K}$ for (110) orientation (2021), while (001) interfaces show much lower or no $T_c$. Identify the pairing interaction and the origin of the orientation dependence, for example coupling to soft transverse-optic phonons that symmetry allows only for some orientations.
Settled by: Systematic $T_{c}$ versus carrier density and orientation, compared with a microscopic calculation of electron coupling to the soft polar mode for each orientation.
Kind: phenomenon
Answer type: mechanism
References: (empty)
Literature status: open
Status note: (empty)
Posed since: 2021