Thermal conductivity evidence for a dx2-y2 pairing symmetry in the heavy-fermion CeIrIn5 superconductor

Spatial control of heavy-fermion superconductivity in CeIrIn5

Although crystals of strongly correlated metals exhibit a diverse set of electronic ground states, few approaches exist for spatially modulating their properties. In this study, we demonstrate disorder-free control, on the micrometer scale, over the superconducting state in samples of the heavy-fermion superconductor CeIrIn5. We pattern crystals by focused ion beam milling to tailor the boundary conditions for the elastic deformation upon thermal contraction during cooling. The resulting nonuniform strain fields induce complex patterns of superconductivity, owing to the strong dependence of the transition temperature on the strength and direction of strain. These results showcase a generic approach to manipulating electronic order on micrometer length scales in strongly correlated matter without compromising the cleanliness, stoichiometry, or mean free path.

Angle-resolved heat capacity of heavy fermion superconductors

Owing to a strong Coulomb repulsion, heavy electron superconductors mostly have anisotropic gap functions which have nodes for certain directions in the momentum space. Since the nodal structure is closely related to the pairing mechanism, its experimental determination is of primary importance. This article discusses the experimental methods of the gap determination by bulk heat capacity measurements in a rotating magnetic field. The basic idea is based on the fact that the quasiparticle density of states in the vortex state of nodal superconductors is field and direction dependent. We present our recent experimental results of the field-orientation dependence of the heat capacity in heavy fermion superconductors CeTIn5 (T  =  Co, Ir), UPt3, CeCu2Si2, and UBe13 and discuss their gap structures.

Tuning the Magnetic Quantum Criticality of Artificial Kondo Superlattices CeRhIn_{5}/YbRhIn_{5}

The effects of reduced dimensions and the interfaces on antiferromagnetic quantum criticality are studied in epitaxial Kondo superlattices, with alternating n layers of heavy-fermion antiferromagnet CeRhIn_{5} and seven layers of normal metal YbRhIn_{5}. As n is reduced, the Kondo coherence temperature is suppressed due to the reduction of effective Kondo screening. The Néel temperature is gradually suppressed as n decreases and the quasiparticle mass is strongly enhanced, implying dimensional control toward a quantum critical point. Magnetotransport measurements reveal that a quantum critical point is reached for the n=3 superlattice by applying small magnetic fields. Remarkably, the anisotropy of the quantum critical field is opposite to the expectations from the magnetic susceptibility in bulk CeRhIn_{5}, suggesting that the Rashba spin-orbit interaction arising from the inversion symmetry breaking at the interface plays a key role for tuning the quantum criticality in the two-dimensional Kondo lattice.

Possibility of valence-fluctuatsion-mediated superconductivity in Cd-doped CeIrIn(5) probed by In NQR

We report on a pressure-induced evolution of exotic superconductivity and spin correlations in CeIr(In(1-x)Cd(x))(5) by means of in-nuclear-quadrupole-resonance (NQR) studies. Measurements of an NQR spectrum and nuclear-spin-lattice-relaxation rate 1/T(1) have revealed that antiferromagnetism induced by Cd doping emerges locally around Cd dopants, but superconductivity is suddenly induced at T(c)=0.7 and 0.9 K at 2.34 and 2.75 GPa, respectively. The unique superconducting characteristics with a large fraction of the residual density of state at the Fermi level which increases with T(c) differ from those for anisotropic superconductivity mediated by antiferromagnetic correlations. By incorporating the pressure dependence of the NQR frequency pointing to the valence change of Ce, we suggest that unconventional superconductivity in the CeIr(In(1-x)Cd(x))(5) system may be mediated by valence fluctuations.

Superconducting gap structure of the 115s revisited

Density functional theory calculations of the electronic structure of Ce- and Pu-based heavy fermion superconductors in the so-called 115 family are performed. The gap equation is used to consider which superconducting order parameters are most favorable assuming a pairing interaction that is peaked at (π, π, qz)—the wavevector for the antiferromagnetic ordering found in close proximity. In addition to the commonly accepted dx2−y2 order parameter, there is evidence that an extended s-wave order parameter with nodes is also plausible. We discuss whether these results are consistent with current observations and possible measurements that could help distinguish between these scenarios.

Heat-capacity measurements of energy-gap nodes of the heavy-fermion superconductor CeIrIn5 deep inside the pressure-dependent dome structure of its superconducting phase diagram

We use heat-capacity measurements as a function of field rotation to identify the nodal gap structure of CeIrIn(5) at pressures to 2.05 GPa, deep inside its superconducting dome. A fourfold oscillation in the heat capacity at 0.3 K is observed for all pressures, but with its sign reversed between 1.50 and 0.90 GPa. On the basis of recent theoretical models for the field-angle-dependent specific heat, all data, including the sign reversal, imply a d(x(2)-y(2)) order parameter with nodes along [110], which constrains theoretical models of the pairing mechanism in CeIrIn(5).