J. Müller — Page 4

arXiv2001

High-resolution ac-calorimetry studies of the quasi-2D organic superconductor $κ$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$Cu(NCS)$_2$

We report high-resolution specific heat measurements on the quasi-2D organic superconductor $κ$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$Cu(NCS)$_2$, performed by using a most sensitive ac-modulation technique. The main observations are (i) a discontinuity at \tc\ much in excess of what is expected for a weak-coupling BCS superconductor and (ii) a quasiparticle contribution to the specific heat with an exponentially weak temperature dependence at $T \ll T_c$. The latter finding is incompatible with an order parameter that vanishes at certain parts of the Fermi surface. The data for $T \leq T_c$ can be well described by a strong-coupling extension of the BCS theory - the $α$-model - similar to what has been recently found for the $κ$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$Cu[N(CN)$_2$]Br salt [Elsinger {\em et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 84}, 6098 (2000)].

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2001

Evidence for structural and electronic instabilities at intermediate temperatures in $κ$-(BEDT-TTF)$_{2}$X for X=Cu[N(CN)$_{2}$]Cl, Cu[N(CN)$_{2}$]Br and Cu(NCS)$_{2}$: Implications for the phase diagram of these quasi-2D organic superconductors

We present high-resolution measurements of the coefficient of thermal expansion $α(T)=\partial \ln l(T)/\partial T$ of the quasi-twodimensional (quasi-2D) salts $κ$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$X with X = Cu(NCS)$_2$, Cu[N(CN)$_2$]Br and Cu[N(CN)$_2$]Cl. At intermediate temperatures (B), distinct anomalies reminiscent of second-order phase transitions have been found at $T^\ast = 38$ K and 45 K for the superconducting X = Cu(NCS)$_2$ and Cu[N(CN)$_2$]Br salts, respectively. Most interestingly, we find that the signs of the uniaxial pressure coefficients of $T^\ast$ are strictly anticorrelated with those of $T_c$. We propose that $T^\ast$ marks the transition to a spin-density-wave (SDW) state forming on minor, quasi-1D parts of the Fermi surface. Our results are compatible with two competing order parameters that form on disjunct portions of the Fermi surface. At elevated temperatures (C), all compounds show $α(T)$ anomalies that can be identified with a kinetic, glass-like transition where, below a characteristic temperature $T_g$, disorder in the orientational degrees of freedom of the terminal ethylene groups becomes frozen in. We argue that the degree of disorder increases on going from the X = Cu(NCS)$_2$ to Cu[N(CN)$_2$]Br and the Cu[N(CN)$_2$]Cl salt. Our results provide a natural explanation for the unusual time- and cooling-rate dependencies of the ground-state properties in the hydrogenated and deuterated Cu[N(CN)$_2$]Br salts reported in the literature.

cond-mat.supr-con↗