Sensitive measurements uncover dual superconducting states in atom-thin NbSe₂ and TaS₂

A new study reveals that two widely studied ultrathin superconducting materials are more sophisticated than they appear.

Although they seem to behave like simple superconductors with a single energy gap, they actually contain two strongly interacting superconducting states that work together and disguise themselves as one.

This finding resolves a long-standing mystery about how these materials behave, providing new insight into superconductivity that could help scientists design better superconducting materials for future technologies such as quantum computers, ultra-efficient electronics and advanced sensors. ...