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J. Flouquet

Publications and source records attributed to J. Flouquet.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Connecting High-Field and High-Pressure Superconductivity in UTe2

The existence of multiple superconducting phases induced by either pressure or magnetic field is one of the most striking features of superconductivity of UTe$_2$, among the many unusual superconducting properties of this system. Here we report thermodynamic measurements of the superconducting phase diagram combining pressure and magnetic fields up to 30 T. We show that the ambient pressure, high-field, superconducting phase evolves continuously with pressure to join the high-pressure, zero-field superconducting phase. This proves that these two phases are one and the same, and must have the same order parameter.

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c axis electrical transport at the metamagnetic transition in the heavy-fermion superconductor UTe2 under pressure

The electrical resistivity of the unconventional superconductor UTe$_2$ shows very anisotropic behavior in the normal state depending on the current direction. In the present paper we show that the maximum in the resistivity $ρ_c$ for current applied along the $c$ axis at $T^{\rm max}_{ρ_c} \approx 14.75$~K follows the minimum in the thermal expansion $T_α^\star$ along $b$ axis. Under a magnetic field applied along the $b$ axis, $T^{\rm max}_{ρ_c}$ can be tracked up to the critical point of the first order metamagnetic transition, which is located near 6~K and 34.5~T. Surprisingly, at the metamagnetic field $H_m$ the resistivity $ρ_c$ shows a steplike decrease while the resistivities $ρ_a$ and $ρ_b$, for current along the $a$ and $b$ axis, respectively, show a steplike increase. Under hydrostatic pressure $T^{\rm max}_{ρ_c}$ and $H_m$ decrease significantly up to the critical pressure $p_c$ at which superconductivity is suppressed and a long range antiferromagnetic order appears. We show that the phase diagram at different pressures can be scaled by $T^{\rm max}_{ρ_c}$ in field and temperature suggesting that this temperature scale is governing the main interactions in the normal state.

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Unconventional Superconductivity in UTe2

The novel spin-triplet superconductor candidate UTe2 was discovered only recently at the end of 2018 and attracted enormous attention. We review key experimental and theoretical progress which has been achieved in different laboratories. UTe2 is a heavy-fermion paramagnet, but right after the discovery of superconductivity it has been expected to be close to a ferromagnetic instability showing many similarities to the U-based ferromagnetic superconductors, URhGe and UCoGe. The competition between different types of magnetic interactions and the duality between the local and itinerant character of the 5f Uranium electrons, as well as the shift of the U valence appear as key parameters in the rich phase diagrams discovered recently under extreme conditions like low temperature, high magnetic field, and pressure. We discuss macroscopic and microscopic experiments at low temperature to clarify the normal phase properties at ambient pressure. Special attention will be given to the occurrence of a metamagnetic transition at Hm = 35 T for a magnetic field applied along the hard magnetic axis b. Adding external pressure leads to strong changes in the magnetic and electronic properties with a direct feedback on superconductivity. Attention will be given on the possible evolution of the Fermi surface as a function of magnetic field and pressure. Superconductivity in UTe2 is extremely rich exhibiting various unconventional behaviors which will be highlighted. It shows an exceptionally huge superconducting upper critical field with a re-entrant behavior under magnetic field and the occurrence of multiple superconducting phases in the temperature field, pressure phase diagram. There is evidence for spin-triplet pairing. The different theoretical approaches will be described. Notably we discuss that UTe2 is a possible example for the realization of a fascinating topological superconductor.

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Feedback of superconductivity on the magnetic excitation spectrum of UTe$_{2}$

We investigate the spin dynamics in the superconducting phase of UTe$_{2}$ by triple-axis inelastic neutron scattering on a single crystal sample. At the wave-vector $\bf{k_1}$=(0, 0.57, 0), where the normal state antiferromagnetic correlations are peaked, a modification of the excitation spectrum is evidenced, on crossing the superconducting transition, with a reduction of the relaxation rate together with the development of an inelastic peak at $Ω$ $\approx$ 1 meV. The low dimensional nature and the the $a$-axis polarization of the fluctuations, that characterise the normal state, are essentially maintained below $T_{sc}$. The high ratio $Ω/k_{B}T_{sc}$ $\approx$ 7.2 contrasts with the most common behaviour in heavy fermion superconductors.

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

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 $μ\parallel\mathbf{a}$, 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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Anomalous Anisotropy of the Lower Critical Field and Meissner Effect in UTe2

We report on low temperature susceptibility and magnetization measurements made on single crystals of the recently discovered heavy-fermion superconductor UTe$_2$ and compare the results with the two ambient pressure ferromagnetic superconductors URhGe and UCoGe. Hysteresis curves in the superconducting phase show a familiar diamond shape superimposed on a large paramagnetic background. The Meissner state was measured by zero field cooling in small fields of a few Oe as well as ac susceptibility measurements in small fields and resulted in 100\% shielding, with a sharp transition. However the field cooling Meissner-Ochsenfeld effect (expulsion of flux) was negligible in fields greater than just a few Oe, but becomes nearly 30\% of the perfect diamagnetic signal when the field was reduced to 0.01~Oe. The critical current due to flux pinning was studied by ac susceptibility techniques. Over the range in fields and temperature of this study, no signature of a ferromagnetic transition could be discerned. The lower critical field $H_{\rm c1}$ has been measured along the three crystalographic axes, and surprisingly, the anisotropy of $H_{\rm c1}$ contradicts that of the upper critical field. We discuss this discrepancy and show that it may provide additional support for a magnetic field-dependent pairing mediated by ferromagnetic fluctuations in UTe$_2$.

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Multiple superconducting phases in a nearly ferromagnetic system

Multiple superconducting order parameters are extremely rare. Here we show that a very small pressure can induce this phenomenon in the recently discovered heavy fermion superconductor UTe2. This nearly ferromagnetic system shows several intriguing phenomena, including an extraordinary reinforcement of superconductivity in very strong magnetic fields. We find that pressure can tune the system to a more correlated state and probable magnetic order. The superconducting critical temperature is strongly enhanced, reaching almost 3K, a new record for Ce- and U-based heavy fermion superconductors. Most spectacularly under pressure we find a transition within the superconducting state, putting UTe2 among the very rare systems having multiple superconducting phases. UTe2 under pressure is a treasure trove of several of the most fascinating phenomena in unconventional superconductivity and may well be a keystone in their understanding.

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High-field moment polarization in the itinerant ferromagnet URhSi

We report a high-magnetic-field study of the itinerant ferromagnet URhSi. Magnetization and electrical resistivity were measured under magnetic fields $μ_0H$ up to 58~T applied along the directions $\mathbf{a}$, $\mathbf{b}$, and $\mathbf{c}$ of the orthorhombic structure and temperatures $T$ ranging from 1.5 to 50 K. For $\mathbf{H}\parallel\mathbf{b}$, pseudo-metamagnetism at $μ_0H_m\simeq30-40$~T is associated with a broad step in the magnetization and a maximum in the resistivity. The properties of URhSi are discussed and compared with those of the isostructural superconducting ferromagnets URhGe and UCoGe and of the superconducting paramagnet UTe$_2$.

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URu$_2$Si$_2$ under intense magnetic fields: from hidden order to spin-density wave

A review of recent state-of-the-art pulsed field experiments performed on URu$_2$Si$_2$ under a magnetic field applied along its easy magnetic axis $\mathbf{c}$ is given. Resistivity, magnetization, magnetic susceptibility, Shubnikov-de Haas, and neutron diffraction experiments are presented, permitting to emphasize the relationship between Fermi surface reconstructions, the destruction of the hidden-order and the appearance of a spin-density wave state in a high magnetic field.

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Three-dimensional critical phase diagram of the Ising antiferromagnet CeRh$_2$Si$_2$ under intense magnetic field and pressure

Using novel instrumentation to combine extreme conditions of intense pulsed magnetic field up to 60~T and high pressure up to 4~GPa, we have established the three-dimensional (3D) magnetic field - pressure - temperature phase diagram of a pure stoichiometric heavy-fermion antiferromagnet (CeRh$_2$Si$_2$). We find a temperature- and pressure-dependent decoupling of the critical and pseudo-metamagnetic fields, at the borderlines of antiferromagnetism and strongly-correlated paramagnetism. This 3D phase diagram is representative of a class of heavy-fermion Ising antiferromagnets, where long-range magnetic ordering is decoupled from a maximum in the magnetic susceptibility. The combination of extreme conditions enabled us to characterize different quantum phase transitions, where peculiar quantum critical properties are revealed. The interest to couple the effects of magnetic field and pressure on quantum-critical correlated-electron systems is stressed.

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Field-induced spin-density wave beyond hidden order in URu2Si2

URu2Si2 is one of the most enigmatic strongly-correlated-electron systems and offers a fertile testing ground for new concepts in condensed matter science. In spite of >30 years of intense research, no consensus on the order parameter of its low-temperature hidden-order phase exists. A strong magnetic field transforms the hidden order into magnetically-ordered phases, whose order parameter has also been defying experimental observation. Here, thanks to an instrumentation breakthrough in high-field neutron scattering, we identify the field-induced phases of URu2Si2 as a spin-density-wave state with wavevector k1 = (0.6 0 0). The transition to the spin-density wave represents a unique touchstone for understanding the hidden-order phase. An intimate relationship between this magnetic structure, the magnetic fluctuations, and the Fermi surface is emphasized, calling for dedicated band structure calculations.

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Thermoelectric power quantum oscillations in the ferromagnet UGe$_2$

We present thermoelectric power and resistivity measurements in the ferromagnet UGe$_2$ as a function of temperature and magnetic field. At low temperature, huge quantum oscillations are observed in the thermoelectric power as a function of the magnetic field applied along the $a$ axis. The frequencies of the extreme orbits are determined and an analysis of the cyclotron masses is performed following different theoretical approaches for quantum oscillations detected in the thermoelectric power. They are compared to those obtained by Shubnikov-de Haas experiments on the same crystal and previous de Haas-van Alphen experiments. The agreement of the different probes confirms thermoelectric power as an excellent probe to extract simultaneously both microscopic and macroscopic information on the Fermi-surface properties. Band-structure calculations of UGe$_2$ in the ferromagnetic state are compared to the experiment.

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Fermi surface instabilities in CeRh2Si2 at high magnetic field and pressure

We present thermoelectric power (TEP) studies under pressure and high magnetic field in the antiferromagnet CeRh2Si2 at low temperature. Under magnetic field, large quantum oscillations are observed in the TEP, S(H), in the antiferromagnetic phase. They suddenly disappear when entering in the polarized paramagnetic (PPM) state at Hc pointing out an important reconstruction of the Fermi surface (FS). Under pressure, S/T increases strongly of at low temperature near the critical pressure Pc, where the AF order is suppressed, implying the interplay of a FS change and low energy excitations driven by spin and valence fluctuations. The difference between the TEP signal in the PPM state above Hc and in the paramagnetic state (PM) above Pc can be explained by different FS. Band structure calculations at P = 0 stress that in the AF phase the 4f contribution at the Fermi level (EF) is weak while it is the main contribution in the PM domain. By analogy to previous work on CeRu2Si2, in the PPM phase of CeRh2Si2 the 4f contribution at EF will drop.

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Thermal conductivity through the quantum critical point in YbRh2Si2 at very low temperature

The thermal conductivity of YbRh2Si2 has been measured down to very low temperatures under field in the basal plane. An additional channel for heat transport appears below 30 mK, both in the antiferromagnetic and paramagnetic states, respectively below and above the critical field suppressing the magnetic order. This excludes antiferromagnetic magnons as the origin of this additional contribution to thermal conductivity. Moreover, this low temperature contribution prevails a definite conclusion on the validity or violation of the Wiedemann-Franz law at the field-induced quantum critical point. At high temperature in the paramagnetic state, the thermal conductivity is sensitive to ferromagnetic fluctuations, previously observed by NMR or neutron scattering and required for the occurrence of the sharp electronic spin resonance fracture.

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Quantum criticality and Lifshitz transition in the Ising system CeRu2Si2: Comparison with YbRh2Si2

New thermoelectric power (TEP) measurements on prototype heavy-fermion compounds close to magnetic quantum criticality are presented. The highly sensitive technique of TEP is an unique tool to reveal Fermi surface instabilities, referred here as Lifshitz transitions. The first focus is on the Ising CeRu2Si2 series. Doping CeRu2Si2 with Rh produces a decoupling between the first order metamagnetic transition and the pseudo-metamagnetism observed in the pure compound. Comparison is made with the case of YbRh2Si2 which is often considered as the archetype of local quantum criticality by contrast to CeRu2Si2, taken as an example of spin-density wave criticality. Up to now for ferromagnetic materials showing ferromagnetic wings, no simple case appears where the Fermi surface is preserved between the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases. An open issue is the consequence of Lifshitz transitions on superconductivity in these multiband systems.

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Fermi surface in the hidden-order state of URu$_2$Si$_2$ under intense pulsed magnetic fields up to 81~T

We present measurements of the resistivity $ρ_{x,x}$ of URu2Si2 high-quality single crystals in pulsed high magnetic fields up to 81~T at a temperature of 1.4~K and up to 60~T at temperatures down to 100~mK. For a field \textbf{H} applied along the magnetic easy-axis \textbf{c}, a strong sample-dependence of the low-temperature resistivity in the hidden-order phase is attributed to a high carrier mobility. The interplay between the magnetic and orbital properties is emphasized by the angle-dependence of the phase diagram, where magnetic transition fields and crossover fields related to the Fermi surface properties follow a 1/$\cosθ$-law, $θ$ being the angle between \textbf{H} and \textbf{c}. For $\mathbf{H}\parallel\mathbf{c}$, a crossover defined at a kink of $ρ_{x,x}$, as initially reported in [Shishido et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. \textbf{102}, 156403 (2009)], is found to be strongly sample-dependent: its characteristic field $μ_0H^*$ varies from $\simeq20$~T in our best sample with a residual resistivity ratio RRR of $225$ to $\simeq25$~T in a sample with a RRR of $90$. A second crossover is defined at the maximum of $ρ_{x,x}$ at the sample-independent characteristic field $μ_0H_{ρ,max}^{LT}\simeq30$~T. Fourier analyzes of SdH oscillations show that $H_{ρ,max}^{LT}$ coincides with a sudden modification of the Fermi surface, while $H^*$ lies in a regime where the Fermi surface is smoothly modified. For $\mathbf{H}\parallel\mathbf{a}$, i) no phase transition is observed at low temperature and the system remains in the hidden-order phase up to 81~T, ii) quantum oscillations surviving up to 7~K are related to a new and almost-spherical orbit - for the first time observed here - at the frequency $F_λ\simeq1400$~T and associated with a low effective mass $m^*_λ=(1\pm0.5)\cdot m_0$, and iii) no Fermi surface modification occurs up to 81~T.

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Magnetic Polarization and Fermi Surface Instability: Case of YbRh2Si2

We report thermoelectric and resitivity measurements of antiferromagnetic heavy fermion compound YRh2Si2 at low temperatures down and under high magnetic field. At low temperature, the thermoelectric power and the resistivity present several distinct anomalies as a function of field around H_0 ~ 9.5 T when the magnetic polarization reaches a critical value. The anomalies are accompanied with a change of sign from negative at low magnetic field to positive at high field (H>H_0) and are resulting from a Lifshitz-type topological transition of the Fermi surface. A logarithmic divergence of S/T at T \to 0 K just above H_0 (H=11.5 T) is quite comparable to the well known divergence of S/T in the temperature range above the antiferromagnetic order at H=0 T referred to as non Fermi liquid behavior. The transition will be compared to the well characterized Fermi surface change in CeRu2Si2 at its pseudo-metamagnetic transition.

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Metamagnetic Transition in UCoAl Probed by Thermoelectricity Measurements

We report field and temperature dependent measurements of the thermoelectric power (TEP) and the Nernst effect in the itinerant metamagnet UCoAl. The magnetic field is applied along the easy magnetization c-axis in the hexagonal crystal structure. The metamagnetic transition from the paramagnetic phase at zero field to the field induced ferromagnetic (FM) state is of first order at low temperatures and becomes a broad crossover above the critical temperature $T^{\star}_{M} \sim 11$ K. The field-dependence of the TEP reveals that the effective mass of the hole carriers changes significantly at the metamagnetic transition. The TEP experiment reflects the existence of different carrier types in good agreement with band structure calculations and previous Hall effect experiments. According to the temperature dependence of the TEP, no Fermi liquid behavior appears in the paramagnetic state down to 150 mK, but is achieved only in the field induced ferromagnetic state.

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