Search for time-reversal symmetry breaking in layered chalcogenides

Layered van der Waals materials provide a versatile platform for exploring new topological and superconducting phenomena. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), especially those with broken time-reversal symmetry (TRS), are promising candidates for unconventional superconductivity. This proposal focuses on 4Hb-TaSeS, a heterostructure of superconducting 1H-TaSeS and 1T-TaSeS layers. The goal is to study the superconducting pairing mechanism and TRS breaking in 4Hb-TaSeS using the μSR technique, which probes local magnetic fields to reveal the superconducting order parameter symmetry and internal magnetic fields. The findings could uncover unconventional pairing or topological phases, contributing to novel superconducting device development and a deeper understanding of layered superconductors.