Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

K. Behnia

Publications and source records attributed to K. Behnia.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2007

Skutterudite Results Shed Light on Heavy Fermion Physics

Only few selected examples among the great diversity of anomalous rare earth skutterudite are reviewed. Focus is first given on PrFe4P12 in comparison with URu2Si2. For PrFe4P12, great progress has been made on determining the nature of the order parameter (OP). A non magnetic order parameter with a multipolar component emerges here while for URu2Si2 the nature of the so-called hidden order remains mysterious. The two systems have several similarities in their temperature--pressure (T, P) and magnetic field--temperature (H, T) phase diagrams, in their spin dynamics, in their nesting character and in their high sensitivity to impurities. Advances on one side must stimulate new views on the other. Besides general considerations on the choice of the OP, a simple basic problem is the treatment of the Kondo coupling in a system with low charge carrier number for the cases of uncompensated and compensated semi-metal. An interesting problem is also the possible decoupling between exciton modes and itinerant carriers.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2007

Nernst effect in the phase-fluctuating superconductor InO$_x$

We present a study of the Nernst effect in amorphous 2D superconductor InO$_x$, whose low carrier density implies low phase rigidity and strong superconducting phase fluctuations. Instead of presenting the abrupt jump expected at a BCS transition, the Nernst signal evolves continuously through the superconducting transition as previously observed in underdoped cuprates. This contrasts with the case of Nb$_{0.15}$Si$_{0.85}$, where the Nernst signal due to vortices below T$_{c}$ and by Gaussian fluctuations above are clearly distinct. The behavior of the ghost critical field in InO$_x$ points to a correlation length which does not diverge at $T_c$, a temperature below which the amplitude fluctuations freeze, but phase fluctuations survive.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2007

Flux Line Lattice Melting and the Formation of a Coherent Quasiparticle Bloch State in the Ultraclean URu$_2$Si$_2$ Superconductor

We find that in ultraclean heavy-fermion superconductor URu$_2$Si$_2$ ($T_{c0}=1.45$ K) a distinct flux line lattice melting transition with outstanding characters occurs well below the mean-field upper critical fields. We show that a very small number of carriers with heavy mass in this system results in exceptionally large thermal fluctuations even at subkelvin temperatures, which are witnessed by a sizable region of the flux line liquid phase. The uniqueness is further highlighted by an enhancement of the quasiparticle mean free path below the melting transition, implying a possible formation of a quasiparticle Bloch state in the periodic flux line lattice.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2007

Thermoelectric response near a quantum critical point: the case of CeCoIn5

We present a study of thermoelectric coefficients in CeCoIn_5 down to 0.1 K and up to 16 T in order to probe the thermoelectric signatures of quantum criticality. In the vicinity of the field-induced quantum critical point, the Nernst coefficient nu exhibits a dramatic enhancement without saturation down to lowest measured temperature. The dimensionless ratio of Seebeck coefficient to electronic specific heat shows a minimum at a temperature close to threshold of the quasiparticle formation. Close to T_c(H), in the vortex-liquid state, the Nernst coefficient behaves anomalously in puzzling contrast with other superconductors and standard vortex dynamics.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2007

Exotic Superconducting Properties in the Electron-Hole Compensated Heavy Fermion `Semimetal' URu2Si2

We show that the charge and thermal transport measurements on ultraclean crystals of URu2Si2 reveal a number of unprecedented superconducting properties. The uniqueness is best highlighted by the peculiar field dependence of thermal conductivity including the first order transition at Hc2 with a reduction of entropy flow. This is a consequence of multi-band superconductivity with compensated electronic structure in the hidden order state of this system. We provide strong evidence for a new type of unconventional superconductivity with two distinct gaps having different nodal topology.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2007

Evidence for a quantum phase transition in electron-doped Pr$_{2-x}$Ce$_{x}$CuO$_{4-δ}$ from Thermopower measurements

The evidence for a quantum phase transition under the superconducting dome in the high-$T_c$ cuprates has been controversial. We report low temperature normal state thermopower(S) measurements in electron-doped Pr$_{2-x}$Ce$_{x}$CuO$_{4-δ}$ as a function of doping (x from 0.11 to 0.19). We find that at 2K both S and S/T increase dramatically from x=0.11 to 0.16 and then saturate in the overdoped region. This behavior has a remarkable similarity to previous Hall effect results in Pr$_{2-x}$Ce$_{x}$CuO$_{4-δ}$ . Our results are further evidence for an antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic quantum phase transition in electron-doped cuprates near x=0.16.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2007

A length scale for the superconducting Nernst signal above T$_{c}$ in Nb$_{0.15}$Si$_{0.85}$

We present a study of the Nernst effect in amorphous superconducting thin films of Nb$_{0.15}$Si$_{0.85}$. The field dependence of the Nernst coefficient above T$_{c}$ displays two distinct regimes separated by a field scale set by the Ginzburg-Landau correlation length. A single function $F(ξ)$, with the correlation length as its unique argument set either by the zero-field correlation length (in the low magnetic field limit) or by the magnetic length (in the opposite limit), describes the Nernst coefficient. We conclude that the Nernst signal observed on a wide temperature ($30 \times T_c$) and field ($4 \times B_{c2}$) range is exclusively generated by short-lived Cooper pairs.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2006

Non-Fermi liquid behavior in the magnetotransport of CeMIn5 (M: Co and Rh): Striking similarity between quasi 2D heavy fermion and high-Tc cuprates

We present a systematic study of the dc-resistivity, Hall effect, and magnetoresistance in the normal state of quasi 2D heavy fermion superconductors CeMIn5 (M: Rh and Co) under pressure. Here the electronic system evolves with pressure from an antiferromagnetic (AF) metal, through a highly unconventional non-Fermi liquid, and finally into a Fermi-liquid state. The amplitude of the Hall coefficient increases dramatically with decreasing T, reaching at low temperatures a value significantly larger than 1/ne. Furthermore, the magnetoresistance is characterized by T- and H-dependence which clearly violate Kohler's rule. We found that the Hall angle cotΘvaries as T^2, and the magnetoresistance is well scaled by the Hall angle as Δρ_{xx}/ρ_{xx}\propto \tan^2Θ. These non-Fermi liquid properties in the electron transport are remarkably pronounced when the AF fluctuations are enhanced in the vicinity of the QCP. We lay particular emphasis on the striking resemblance of these anomalous magnetotransport with those of the high-Tc cuprates. We argue that features commonly observed in quasi 2D heavy fermion and cuprates very likely capture universal features of strongly correlated electron systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2006

Observation of the Nernst signal generated by fluctuating Cooper pairs

Long-range order is destroyed in a superconductor warmed above its critical temperature (Tc). However, amplitude fluctuations of the superconducting order parameter survive and lead to a number of well established phenomena such as paraconductivity : an excess of charge conductivity due to the presence of short-lived Cooper pairs in the normal state. According to an untested theory, these pairs generate a transverse thermoelectric (Nernst) signal. In amorphous superconducting films, the lifetime of Cooper pairs exceeds the elastic lifetime of quasi-particles in a wide temperature range above Tc; consequently, the Cooper pairs Nernst signal dominate the response of the normal electrons well above Tc. In two dimensions, the magnitude of the expected signal depends only on universal constants and the superconducting coherence length, so the theory can be unambiguously tested. Here, we report on the observation of a Nernst signal in such a superconductor traced deep into the normal state. Since the amplitude of this signal is in excellent agreement with the theoretical prediction, the result provides the first unambiguous case for a Nernst effect produced by short-lived Cooper pairs.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2006

Drastic change in transport of entropy with quadrupolar ordering in PrFe$_{4}$P$_{12}$

The antiferroquadrupolar ordering of PrFe$_{4}$P$_{12}$ is explored by probing thermal and thermoelectric transport. The lattice thermal conductivity drastically increases with the ordering, as a consequence of a large drop in carrier concentration and a strong electron-phonon coupling. The low level of carrier density in the ordered state is confirmed by the anomalously large values of the Seebeck and Nernst coefficients. The results are reminiscent of URu$_{2}$Si$_{2}$ and suggest that both belong to the same class of aborted metal-insulator transitions. The magnitude of the Nernst coefficient, larger than in any other metal, indicates a new route for Ettingshaussen cooling at Kelvin temperatures.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2006

Evolution of Hall coefficient in two-dimensional heavy fermion CeCoIn$_5$

We report on the pressure dependence of the Hall coefficient $R_H$ in quasi-2D heavy fermion CeCoIn$_5$. At ambient pressure, below a temperature associated with the emergence of non-Fermi liquid properties, $R_H$ is anomalously enhanced. We found that the restoration of the Fermi liquid state with applied pressure leads to a gradual suppression of this dramatic enhancement. Moreover, the enhancement in $R_H$ was found to be confined to an intermediate temperature window, where inelastic electron-electron scattering is dominant. Our results strongly support the presence of cold and hot spots on the Fermi surface probably due to anisotropic scattering by antiferromagnetic fluctuations, which may also prove relevant for the debate on the anomalous normal-state properties of high-$T_c$ cuprates.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2006

Magnetic field-induced quantum superconductor-insulator transition in $Nb_{0.15}Si_{0.85}$

A study of magnetic-field tuned superconductor-insulator transitions in amorphous $Nb_{0.15}Si_{0.85}$ thin films shows that quantum superconductor-insulator transitions are characterized by an unambiguous signature -- a kink in the temperature profile of the critical magnetic field. Using this criterion, we show that the nature of the magnetic-field tuned superconductor-insulator transition depends on the orientation of the field with respect to the film. For perpendicular magnetic field, the transition is controlled by quantum fluctuations with indications for the existence of a Bose insulator; while for parallel magnetic field, the transition is classical, driven by the breaking of Cooper pairs at the temperature dependent critical field $H_{c2}$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2005

Anomalous quasiparticle transport in the superconducting state of CeCoIn5

We report on a study of thermal Hall conductivity k_xy in the superconducting state of CeCoIn_5. The scaling relation and the density of states of the delocalized quasiparticles, both obtained from k_xy, are consistent with d-wave superconducting symmetry. The onset of superconductivity is accompanied by a steep increase in the thermal Hall angle, pointing to a striking enhancement in the quasiparticle mean free path. This enhancement is drastically suppressed in a very weak magnetic field. These results highlight that CeCoIn_5 is unique among superconductors. A small Fermi energy, a large superconducting gap, a short coherence length, and a long mean free path all indicate that CeCoIn_5 is clearly in the superclean regime (E_F/Delta<<l/xi), in which peculiar vortex state is expected.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2005

Evidence for a new magnetic field scale in CeCoIn5

The Nernst coefficient of CeCoIn5 displays a distinct anomaly at H_K ~ 23 T. This feature is reminiscent of what is observed at 7.8 T in CeRu2Si2, a well-established case of metamagnetic transition. New frequencies are observed in de Haas-van Alphen oscillations when the field exceeds 23 T, which may indicate a modification of the Fermi surface at this field.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2005

Thermal transport in the hidden-order state of URu$_{2}$Si$_{2}$

We present a study of thermal conductivity in the normal state of the heavy-fermion superconductor URu$_{2}$Si$_{2}$. Ordering at 18K leads to a steep increase in thermal conductivity and (in contrast with all other cases of magnetic ordering in heavy-fermion compounds) to an enhancement of the Lorenz number. By linking this observation to several other previously reported features, we conclude that most of the carriers disappear in the ordered state and this leads to a drastic increase in both phononic and electronic mean-free-path.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2005

Line nodes in the superconducting gap function of noncentrosymmetric CePt_3Si

The superconducting gap structure of recently discovered heavy fermion CePt_3Si without spatial inversion symmetry was investigated by thermal transport measurements down to 40 mK. In zero field a residual T-linear term was clearly resolved as T-> 0, with a magnitude in good agreement with the value expected for a residual normal fluid with a nodal gap structure, together with a T^2-dependence at high temperatures. With an applied magnetic fields, the thermal conductivity grows rapidly, in dramatic contrast to fully gapped superconductors, and exhibits one-parameter scaling with T/sqrt{H}. These results place an important constraint on the order parameter symmetry, that is CePt_3Si is most likely to have line nodes.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2003

Giant Nernst effect in a Kondo lattice close to a quantum critical point

We present a study of Nernst and Seebeck coefficients of the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn$_{5}$. Below 18 K, concomitant with a field-dependent Seebeck coefficient, a large sub-linear Nernst signal emerges with a magnitude drastically exceeding what is expected for a multi-band Fermi-liquid metal. In the mixed state, in contrast with all other superconductors studied before, this signal overwhelms the one associated with the motion of superconducting vortices. The results point to a hitherto unknown source of transverse thermoelectricity in strongly interacting electrons.

cond-mat.str-el↗