Researchers have discovered that applying hydrostatic pressure can induce a giant peak in the critical current of the kagome superconductor RbV3Sb5. This material, known for its topological properties and charge density wave (CDW) state coexisting with superconductivity, exhibits an unusual response to pressure. At low temperatures, increasing pressure up to 2 GPa suppresses the CDW state and raises the critical temperature (Tc) from 0.9 K to 3.5 K. However, most notably, the critical current (Jc) skyrockets by a factor of 1000, reaching a value of 10^5 A/cm^2 at 0.5 K and 2 GPa. This behavior is atypical in conventional superconductors, where pressure generally has a more moderate effect on Jc.

The study focused on understanding the interaction between charge density order and superconductivity in RbV3Sb5. Electrical transport measurements under pressure were used to map the phase diagram. The results suggest that the suppression of the CDW by pressure releases charge carriers that contribute to superconductivity, significantly enhancing the material's ability to carry current without resistance. The magnitude of the Jc increase is comparable to that observed in some high-temperature superconductors, making it a finding of great interest for condensed matter physics.

This discovery not only deepens our understanding of kagome superconductors and the complex interrelation between different electronic orders but also opens new avenues for designing superconducting materials with enhanced properties. The ability to drastically modulate the critical current using an external variable like pressure could have implications for technological applications requiring high current density, such as superconducting magnets or energy storage devices. Future research is expected to explore the microscopic mechanisms behind this giant effect and search for other materials with similar responses.