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Trigonal warping enables linear optical spectroscopy in single-valley superconductors

Benjamin A. Levitan* and Étienne Lantagne-Hurtubise

  • *Contact author: benjamin.levitan@usherbrooke.ca
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Phys. Rev. B 114, L080507 – Published 24 August, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/1bmy-6yp4

Abstract

In superconductors with multiple pairing channels, Bardasis-Schrieffer modes and clapping modes arise as fluctuations in channels whose angular momenta differ from that of the pair condensate. Crystal symmetries often impose selection rules that keep these modes optically dark. We show that if pairing occurs around a single Fermi surface, trigonal warping renders both of these modes, as well as the quasiparticle excitation gap, visible in the longitudinal and Hall optical responses. Our results suggest that rhombohedral graphene multilayers, which are believed to host the required ingredients, might offer an ideal setting for the study of exotic superconducting collective modes.

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Phys. Rev. B 114, L080507– Published 24 August, 2026
  • Received 19 August 2025
  • Revised 24 June 2026
  • Accepted 30 June 2026
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