This paper investigates the charge order in the kagome metal CsV₃Sb₅, clarifying controversies surrounding nematicity and flux order. Highly symmetric samples were fabricated, and transport properties were measured. No anisotropy was found in unperturbed samples, but anisotropy appeared with magnetic fields or strain. Symmetry analysis suggests a magnetic field induces flux order alongside bond order. The results provide a unifying picture for the charge order and emphasize the importance of microscopic materials control in identifying broken symmetries.

Chunyu Guo, Glenn Wagner, Carsten Putzke, Dong Chen, Kaize Wang, Ling Zhang, Martin Gutierrez-Amigo, Ion Errea, Maia G. Vergniory, Claudia Felser, Mark H. Fischer, Titus Neupert, Philip J. W. Moll