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arXiv · 2106.13087

Low-dimensional antiferromagnetic fluctuations in the heavy-fermion paramagnetic ladder UTe$_2$

W. Knafo·G. Knebel·P. Steffens·K. Kaneko·A. Rosuel·J. -P. Brison·J. Flouquet·D. Aoki·G. Lapertot·S. Raymond
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Abstract

Inelastic-neutron-scattering measurements were performed on a single crystal of the heavy-fermion paramagnet UTe$_2$ above its superconducting temperature. We confirm the presence of antiferromagnetic fluctuations with the incommensurate wavevector $\mathbf{k}_1=(0,0.57,0)$. A quasielastic signal is found, whose momentum-transfer dependence is compatible with fluctuations of magnetic moments $\mu\parallel\mathbf{a}$, with a sine-wave modulation of wavevector $\mathbf{k}_1$ and in-phase moments on the nearest U atoms. Low dimensionality of the magnetic fluctuations, consequence of the ladder structure, is indicated by weak correlations along the direction $\mathbf{c}$. These fluctuations saturate below the temperature $T_1^*\simeq15$~K, in possible relation with anomalies observed in thermodynamic, electrical-transport and nuclear-magnetic-resonance measurements. The absence or weakness of ferromagnetic fluctuations, in our data collected at temperatures down to 2.1 K and energy transfers from 0.6 to 7.5 meV, is emphasized. These results constitute constraints for models of magnetically-mediated superconductivity in UTe$_2$.

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W. Knafo, G. Knebel, P. Steffens, K. Kaneko, A. Rosuel, J. -P. Brison, J. Flouquet, D. Aoki, G. Lapertot, S. Raymond. 2021-06-24. Low-dimensional antiferromagnetic fluctuations in the heavy-fermion paramagnetic ladder UTe$_2$. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.104.l100409

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