Quantum coherence across bosonic superconductor-anomalous metal-insulator transitions

Abstract: After decades of explorations, suffering from low critical temperature and subtle nature, whether a metallic ground state exists in a two-dimensional system beyond Anderson localization is still a mystery. Supremely, phase coherence could be the key that unlocks its intriguing nature. This work reveals how quantum phase coherence evolves across bosonic superconductor-metal-insulator transitions via magneto-conductance quantum oscillations in high-Tc superconducting films. A robust intervening anomalous metallic state characterized by both resistance and oscillation amplitude saturations in the low temperature regime is detected. By contrast, with decreasing temperature the oscillation amplitude monotonically grows on the superconducting side, but decreases at low temperatures on the insulating side. It suggests that the saturation of phase coherence plays a prominent role in the formation of this anomalous metallic state.