arXiv subjects

J. L. Sarrao

Publications and source records attributed to J. L. Sarrao.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2007

Point-contact Andreev reflection spectroscopy of heavy-fermion-metal/superconductor junctions

Our previous point-contact Andreev reflection studies of the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn$_5$ using Au tips have shown two clear features: reduced Andreev signal and asymmetric background conductance [1]. To explore their physical origins, we have extended our measurements to point-contact junctions between single crystalline heavy-fermion metals and superconducting Nb tips. Differential conductance spectra are taken on junctions with three heavy-fermion metals, CeCoIn$_5$, CeRhIn$_5$, and YbAl$_3$, each with different electron mass. In contrast with Au/CeCoIn$_5$ junctions, Andreev signal is not reduced and no dependence on effective mass is observed. A possible explanation based on a two-fluid picture for heavy fermions is proposed. [1] W. K. Park et al., Phys. Rev. B 72 052509 (2005); W. K. Park et al., Proc. SPIE-Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 5932 59321Q (2005); W. K. Park et al., Physica C (in press) (cond-mat/0606535).

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

Microscopic evidence for field-induced magnetism in CeCoIn$_5$

We present NMR data in the normal and superconducting states of CeCoIn$_5$ for fields close to $H_{\rm c2}(0)=11.8$ T in the $ab$ plane. Recent experiments identified a first-order transition from the normal to superconducting state for $H> 10.5$ T, and a new thermodynamic phase below 290 mK within the superconducting state. We find that the Knight shifts of the In(1), In(2) and the Co are discontinuous across the first-order transition and the magnetic linewidths increase dramatically. The broadening differs for the three sites, unlike the expectation for an Abrikosov vortex lattice, and suggests the presence of static spin moments in the vortex cores. In the low-temperature and high-field phase the broad NMR lineshapes suggest ordered local moments, rather than a long wavelength quasiparticle spin density modulation expected for an FFLO phase.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

Time-Resolved Quasiparticle Dynamics in the Spin-Density-Wave State

Time-resolved photoinduced reflectivity is measured in the spin-density-wave (SDW) phase using itinerant antiferromagnets UMGa$_{5}$ (M=Ni, Pt). For UNiGa$_{5}$ [$T_{N}$=85 K, $Q$=($π$,$π$,$π$)], the relaxation time $τ$ shows a sharp increase at $T_{N}$ consistent with the opening of a SDW gap. For UPtGa$_{5}$ [$T_{N}$=26 K, $Q$=(0,0,$π$)], no change in $τ$ is observed at $T_{N}$ or at the lowest temperatures. We attribute this to the absence of the SDW gap at the Fermi level, due to a different modulation vector $Q$, which leads to a gapless quasiparticle spectrum. Our results challenge the conventional wisdom that a SDW phase necessarily implies a SDW gap at the Fermi level.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

FFLO State and Peak Effect Dynamics in CeCoIn_5: Magnetization Studies

Magnetization measurements were performed on CeCoIn_5 at temperature down to 30 mK with the magnetic field applied in three different orientations: parallel, near parallel ($\sim$ 10$^{0}$ rotated) and perpendicular to the ab-plane. For these three orientations we have observed crossover features in the torque/magnetization traces at fields just below $H_{c2}$, giving further evidence for the formation of a high field Fulde-Ferrel-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) superconducting state in CeCoIn_5 for $H \parallel ab$-plane and newly indicates that the FFLO state persists for out-of-plane field orientations. Furthermore, for the (near) parallel to $ab$-plane field configurations and $T\leq \mathrm{50 mK}$, we have found an anomalous peak effect(APE) just below the crossover field when the magnetic field is sweeping down from normal to superconducting state. The dynamics of this peak suggests the existence of a metastable phase occurring in the vicinity of the FFLO phase and raises questions about the order (first or second) of the transition from FFLO to the superconducting state. None of the above features were found in a Ce_{0.98}Gd_{0.02}CoIn_{5} crystal.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

Low temperature behavior of the heavy Fermion Ce3Co4Sn13

The compound Ce3Co4Sn13 is an extremely heavy cubic heavy fermion system with a low temperature electronic specific heat of order ~4 J/mol-K2. If the compound is nonmagnetic, it would be one of the heaviest nonmagnetic Ce-based heavy fermions reported to date and therefore would be expected to lie extremely close to a quantum critical point. However, a broad peak of unknown origin is observed at 0.8 K in the specific heat and magnetic susceptibility, suggesting the possibility of antiferromagnetic order. We present neutron diffraction data from polycrystalline samples which do not show any sign of magnetic scattering below 0.8 K. In addition, we present inelastic neutron scattering data from a single crystal sample which is consistent with the 1.2 K energy scale for Kondo spin fluctuations determined from specific heat measurements.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

Quasiparticle Relaxation Across a Spin Gap in the Itinerant Antiferromagnet UNiGa5

Ultrafast time-resolved photoinduced reflectivity is measured for the itinerant antiferromagnet UNiGa$_{5}$ ($T_{N} \approx$85 K) from room temperature to 10 K. The relaxation time $τ$ shows a sharp increase at $T_{N}$ consistent with the opening of a spin gap. In addition, the temperature dependence of $τ$ below $T_{N}$ is consistent with the opening of a spin gap leading to a quasiparticle recombination bottleneck as revealed by the Rothwarf-Taylor model. This contrasts with canonical heavy fermions such as CeCoIn$_{5}$ where the recombination bottleneck arises from the hybridization gap.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

Hidden Magnetism and Quantum Criticality in the Heavy Fermion Superconductor CeRhIn5

With understood exceptions, conventional superconductivity does not coexist with long-range magnetic order[1]. In contrast, unconventional superconductivity develops near a boundary separating magnetically ordered and magnetically disordered phases[2,3]. A maximum in the superconducting transition temperature Tc develops where this boundary extrapolates to T=0 K, suggesting that fluctuations associated with this magnetic quantum-critical point are essential for unconventional superconductivity[4,5]. Invariably though, unconventional superconductivity hides the magnetic boundary when T < Tc, preventing proof of a magnetic quantum-critical point[5]. Here we report specific heat measurements of the pressure-tuned unconventional superconductor CeRhIn5 in which we find a line of quantum-phase transitions induced inside the superconducting state by an applied magnetic field. This quantum-critical line separates a phase of coexisting antiferromagnetism and superconductivity from a purely unconventional superconducting phase and terminates at a quantum tetracritical point where the magnetic field completely suppresses superconductivity. The T->0 K magnetic field-pressure phase diagram of CeRhIn5 is well described with a theoretical model[6,7] developed to explain field-induced magnetism in the high-Tc cuprates but in which a clear delineation of quantum-phase boundaries has not been possible. These experiments establish a common relationship among hidden magnetism, quantum criticality and unconventional superconductivity in cuprate and heavy-electron systems, such as CeRhIn5.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

Anomalous Pressure Dependence of Kadowaki-Woods ratio and Crystal Field Effects in Mixed-valence YbInCu4

The mixed-valence (MV) compound YbInCu4 was investigated by electrical resistivity and ac specific heat at low temperatures and high pressures. At atmospheric pressure, its Kadowaki-Woods (KW) ratio, A/γ^2, is 16 times smaller than the universal value R_{KW}(=1.0 x 10^-5 μΩcm mol^2 K^2 mJ^-2), but sharply increases to 16.5R_{KW} at 27 kbar. The pressure-induced change in the KW ratio and deviation from R_{KW} are analyzed in terms of the change in f-orbital degeneracy N and carrier density n. This analysis is further supported by a dramatic change in residual resistivity ρ_0 near 25 kbar, where ρ_0 jumps by a factor of 7.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

Field-Induced Ferromagnetic Order and Colossal Magnetoresistance in La_{1.2}Sr_{1.8}Mn_2O_7: a ^{139}La NMR study

In order to gain insights into the origin of colossal magneto-resistance (CMR) in manganese oxides, we performed a ^{139}La NMR study in the double-layered compound La_{1.2}Sr_{1.8}Mn_2O_7. We find that above the Curie temperature T_C=126 K, applying a magnetic field induces a long-range ferromagnetic order that persists up to T=330 K. The critical field at which the induced magnetic moment is saturated coincides with the field at which the CMR effect reaches to a maximum. Our results therefore indicate that the CMR observed above T_C in this compound is due to the field-induced ferromagnetism that produces a metallic state via the double exchange interaction.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

Pressure Study of Quantum Criticality in CeCoIn5

We report resistivity measurements in the normal state of CeCoIn5 down to 40 mK and simultaneously in magnetic fields up to 9 T in the [001] crystallographic direction and under pressures up to 1.3 GPa. At ambient pressure the data are consistent with a field tuned quantum critical point coincident with the superconducting upper critical field H_{c2}, as observed previously. We find that with increasing pressure the quantum critical point moves inside the superconducting dome to lower fields. Thus, we can rule out that superconductivity is directly responsible for the non-Fermi liquid behavior in CeCoIn5. Instead, the data point toward an antiferromagnetic quantum critical point scenario.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Nano-magnetic droplets and implications to orbital ordering in La1-xSrxCoO3

Inelastic cold neutron scattering on LaCoO3 provided evidence for a distinct low energy excitation at 0.6 meV coincident with the thermally induced magnetic transition. Coexisting strong ferromagnetic (FM) and weaker antiferromagnetic (AFM) correlations that are dynamic follow the activation to the excited state, identified as the intermediate S=1 spin triplet. This is indicative of dynamical orbital ordering favoring the observed magnetic interactions. With hole doping as in La1-xSrxCoO3, the FM correlations between Co spins become static and isotropically distributed due to the formation of FM droplets. The correlation length and condensation temperature of these droplets increase rapidly with metallicity due to the double exchange mechanism.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Localized excitation in the hybridization gap in YbAl3

The intermediate valence compound YbAl3 exhibits a broad magnetic excitation with characteristic energy E1 ~ 50meV, of order of the Kondo energy (TK ~ 600-700K). In the low temperature (T < Tcoh ~ 40K) Fermi liquid state, however, a new magnetic excitation arises at E2 ~ 33meV, which lies in the hybridization gap that exists in this compound. We show, using inelastic neutron scattering on a single-crystal sample, that while the scattering at energies near E1 has the momentum (Q-) dependence expected for interband scattering across the indirect gap, the scattering near E2 is independent of Q. This suggests that it arises from a spatially-localized excitation in the hybridization gap.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Novel Coexistence of Superconductivity with Two Distinct Magnetic Orders

The heavy fermion Ce(Rh,Ir)In5 system exhibits properties that range from an incommensurate antiferromagnet on the Rh-rich end to an exotic superconductor on the Ir-rich end of the phase diagram. At intermediate composition where antiferromagnetism coexists with superconductivity, two types of magnetic order are observed: the incommensurate one of CeRhIn5 and a new, commensurate antiferromagnetism that orders separately. The coexistence of f-electron superconductivity with two distinct f-electron magnetic orders is unique among unconventional superconductors, adding a new variety to the usual coexistence found in magnetic superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2005

Superconductivity in Actinide Materials

Actinide materials play a special role in condensed matter physics, spanning behaviours of itinerant d-electron and localized 4f-electron materials. An intermediate state, found notably in Pu-based materials whose 5f electrons are neither fully localized nor itinerant, is particularly challenging to understand. Superconductivity appearing in some actinide materials provides clues to the nature of the 5f electrons. PuCoGa5, the first Pu-based superconductor, is superconducting at Tc=18.5 K. This relatively high Tc is unprecedented in any other actinide system but is typical of itinerant electron compounds in which superconductivity is mediated by phonons. Recent studies of PuCoGa5 show that its superconductivity is not phonon-mediated; rather, these experiments are consistent with superconductivity produced by antiferromagnetic fluctuations of nearly localized 5f electrons. Similarities of PuCoGa5 with the superconducting and normal states of isostructural 4f analogues CeMIn5 (M=Co, Rh, Ir) and high-Tc cuprates enable new perspectives on the 5f electrons of Pu.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Evolution of the heavy fermion state in Ce2IrIn8

We report muon spin rotation Knight shift and susceptibility studies for 1 T applied field along the crystalline c- and a-axes of the heavy fermion compound Ce2IrIn8. Below a characteristic temperature T* one observes a `Knight-shift anomaly' in which the Knight shift constant K no longer scales linearly with susceptibility chi. This anomaly is consistent with a scaling law in which chi is composed of a high-temperature component corresponding to non-interacting local moments and a low-temperature component chi_cf proportional to (1-T/T*)\ln(T*/T) which characterizes the heavy-electron state below T*. We find that T* is anisotropic, with T_a* = 59(3)K and T_c* = 24(1)K, and derive the magnitudes of chi_cf for H along the a- and c-axes.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Hidden one-dimensional electronic structure and non-Fermi liquid angle resolved photoemission line shapes of $η$-Mo$_4$O$_{11}$

We report angle resolved photoemission (ARPES) spectra of $η$-Mo$_4$O$_{11}$, a layered metal that undergoes two charge density wave (CDW) transitions at 109 K and 30 K. We have directly observed the ``hidden one-dimensional (hidden-1d)'' Fermi surface and an anisotropic gap opening associated with the 109 K transition, in agreement with the band theoretical description of the CDW transition. In addition, as in other hidden-1d materials such as NaMo$_6$O$_{17}$, the ARPES line shapes show certain anomalies, which we discuss in terms of non-Fermi liquid physics and possible roles of disorder.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Irreversible dynamics of the phase boundary in U(Ru0.9)Rh0.04)2Si2 and implications for ordering

We report measurements and analysis of the specific heat and magnetocaloric effect at the phase boundary into the single magnetic field-induced phase (phase II) of U(Ru{0.96}Rh{0.04})2Si2, which yield striking similarities to the valence transition of Yb{1-x}YxInCu4. To explain these similarities, we propose a bootstrap mechanism by which a structural distortion causes an electric quadrupolar order parameter within phase II to become coupled to the 5f-electron hybridization, giving rise to a valence change at the transition.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Anisotropic intermediate valence in Yb2M3Ga9 (M = Rh, Ir)

The intermediate valence compounds Yb2M3Ga9 (M = Rh, Ir) exhibit an anisotropic magnetic susceptibility. We report measurements of the temperature dependence of the 4f occupation number, nf(T), for Yb2M3Ga9 as well as the magnetic inelastic neutron scattering spectrum Smag at 12 and 300 K for Yb2Rh3Ga9. Both nf(T) and Smag were calculated for the Anderson impurity model with crystal field terms within an approach based on the non-crossing approximation. These results corroborate the importance of crystal field effects in these materials; they also suggest that Anderson lattice effects are important to the physics of Yb2M3Ga9.

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