Commensurate-to-incommensurate transition of charge-density-wave order and a possible quantum critical point in pressurized kagome metal CsV$_3$Sb$_5$

Abstract

Clarifying the interplay between charge density waves (CDWs) and superconductivity is important in the kagome metal CsV$_3$Sb$_5$, and pressure ($P$) can play a crucial role. Here, we present $^{121/123}$Sb nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) measurements under hydrostatic pressures up to 2.43 GPa in CsV$_3$Sb$_5$ single crystals. We demonstrate that the CDW gradually changes from a commensurate modulation with a star-of-David (SoD) pattern to an incommensurate one with a superimposed SoD and Tri-hexagonal (TrH) pattern stacking along the $c$-axis. Moreover, the linewidth $\delta\nu$ of $^{121/123}$Sb-NQR spectra increases with cooling down to $T_{\rm CDW}$, indicating the appearance of a short-range CDW order due to CDW fluctuations pinned by quenched disorders. The $\delta\nu$ shows a Curie-Weiss temperature dependence and tends to diverge at $P_{\rm c} \sim$ 1.9 GPa, suggesting that a CDW quantum critical point (QCP) exists at $P_{\rm c}$ where $T_{\rm c}$ shows the maximum. For $P > P_{\rm c}$, spin fluctuations are enhanced when the CDW is suppressed. Our results suggest that the maximal $T_{\rm c}$ at $P_{\rm c} \sim$ 1.9 GPa is related to the CDW QCP and the presence of spin fluctuations prevent the $T_{\rm c}$ from a rapid decrease otherwise after the CDW is completely suppressed.