Low temperature specific heat of the heavy fermion superconductor PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$

R. Vollmer; A. Faißt; C. Pfleiderer; H. v. Löhneysen; E. D. Bauer; P. -C. Ho; M. B. Maple

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.90.057001

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Low temperature specific heat of the heavy fermion superconductor PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$

R. Vollmer·A. Faißt·C. Pfleiderer·H. v. Löhneysen·E. D. Bauer·P. -C. Ho·M. B. Maple

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Abstract

We report the magnetic field dependence of the low temperature specific heat of single crystals of the first Pr-based heavy fermion superconductor PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$. The low temperature specific heat and the magnetic phase diagram inferred from specific heat, resistivity and magnetisation provide compelling evidence of a doublet ground state and hence superconductivity mediated by quadrupolar fluctuations. This establishes PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ as a very strong contender of superconductive pairing that is neither electron-phonon nor magnetically mediated.

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R. Vollmer, A. Faißt, C. Pfleiderer, H. v. Löhneysen, E. D. Bauer, P. -C. Ho, M. B. Maple. 2002-07-09. Low temperature specific heat of the heavy fermion superconductor PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.90.057001

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