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N. A. Frederick

Publications and source records attributed to N. A. Frederick.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Penetration depth, multiband superconductivity, and absence of muon-induced perturbation in superconducting PrOs$_{4}$Sb$_{12}$

Transverse-field muon spin rotation ($μ$SR) experiments in the heavy-fermion superconductor PrOs$_{4}$Sb$_{12}$ ($T_{c}=1.85$ K) suggest that the superconducting penetration depth $λ(T)$ is temperature-independent at low temperatures, consistent with a gapped quasiparticle excitation spectrum. In contrast, radiofrequency (rf) inductive measurements yield a stronger temperature dependence of $λ(T)$, indicative of point nodes in the gap. This discrepancy appears to be related to the multiband structure of PrOs$_{4}$Sb$_{12}$. Muon Knight shift measurements in PrOs$_{4}$Sb$_{12}$ suggest that the perturbing effect of the muon charge on the neighboring Pr$^{3+}$ crystalline electric field is negligibly small, and therefore is unlikely to cause the difference between the $μ$SR and rf results.

cond-mat.supr-con

Multiband superconductivity and penetration depth in PrOs4Sb12

The effective superconducting penetration depth measured in the vortex state of PrOs4Sb12 using transverse-field muon spin rotation (TF-muSR) exhibits an activated temperature dependence at low temperatures, consistent with a nonzero gap for quasiparticle excitations. In contrast, Meissner-state radiofrequency (rf) inductive measurements of the penetration depth yield a T^2 temperature dependence, suggestive of point nodes in the gap. A scenario based on the recent discovery of extreme two-band superconductivity in PrOs4Sb12 is proposed to resolve this difference. In this picture a large difference between large- and small-gap coherence lengths renders the field distribution in the vortex state controlled mainly by supercurrents from a fully-gapped large-gap band. In zero field all bands contribute, yielding a stronger temperature dependence to the rf inductive measurements.

cond-mat.supr-con

Muon spin relaxation and hyperfine-enhanced 141Pr nuclear spin dynamic in Pr(Os,Ru)4Sb12 and (Pr,La)Os4Sb12

Zero- and longitudinal-field muon spin relaxation (MuSR) experiments have been carried out in the alloy series Pr(Os1-xRux)4Sb12 and Pr1-yLayOs4Sb12 to elucidate the anomalous dynamic muon spin relaxation observed in these materials. The damping rate associated with this relaxation varies with temperature, applied magnetic field, and dopant concentrations x and y in a manner consistent with the ``hyperfine enhancement'' of 141Pr nuclear spins first discussed by Bleaney in 1973. This mechanism arises from Van Vleck-like admixture of magnetic Pr3+ crystalline-electric-field-split excited states into the nonmagnetic singlet ground state by the nuclear hyperfine coupling, thereby increasing the strengths of spin-spin interactions between 141Pr and muon spins and within the 141Pr spin system. We find qualitative agreement with this scenario, and conclude that electronic spin fluctuations are not directly involved in the dynamic muon spin relaxation.

cond-mat.str-el

Multiple ordered phases in the filled skutterudite compound PrOs$_{4}$As$_{12}$

Magnetization, specific heat, and electrical resistivity measurements were made on single crystals of the filled skutterudite compound PrOs$_{4}$As$_{12}$. Specific heat measurements indicate an electronic specific heat coefficient $γ$ $\sim 50-200$ mJ/mol K$^{2}$ at temperatures 10 K $\leq T \leq 18$ K, and $\sim 1$ J/mol K$^{2}$ for $T \leq 1.6$ K. Magnetization, specific heat, and electrical resistivity measurements reveal the presence of two, or possibly three, ordered phases at temperatures below $\sim 2.3$ K and in fields below $\sim 3$ T. The low temperature phase displays antiferromagnetic characteristics, while the nature of the ordering in the other phase(s) has yet to be determined.

cond-mat.str-el

Double superconducting transition and low-temperature specific heat study of Pr(Os$_{1-x}$Ru$_x$)$_4$Sb$_{12}$

The double superconducting transition in PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$, first observed in specific heat $C(T)$ measurements of single crystal samples, is the subject of an in-depth study. The double superconducting transitions of a batch of single crystals were measured before and after they were annealed for 5 days at $500^{\circ}$C, with no observed change. $C(T)$ measurements near $T_c$ for PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ in several magnetic fields are also presented, detailing the evolution of the double transition up to 1 T. Samples of Pr(Os$_{1-x}$Ru$_x$)$_4$Sb$_{12}$ with $0.01 \leq x \leq 0.04$ also appear to display a double superconducting transition in specific heat. In addition, samples with the smallest Ru concentration measured ($x=0.01$) may even display a different type of superconductivity than pure PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ ($x=0$).

cond-mat.supr-con

Ferromagnetism and possible heavy fermion behavior in single crystals of NdOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$

Single crystals of the filled-skutterudite compound NdOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ have been investigated by means of electrical resistivity, magnetization, and specific heat measurements. The NdOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ crystals have the LaFe$_4$P$_{12}$-type cubic structure with a lattice parameter of 9.3 Å. Possible heavy-fermion behavior is inferred from specific heat measurements, which reveal a large electronic specific heat coefficient $γ\approx 520$ mJ/mol-K$^2$, corresponding to an effective mass $m^* \sim$ 98 $m_e$. Features related to a ferromagnetic transition at {$\sim$ 0.9 K} can be observed in electrical resistivity, magnetization and specific heat. Conventional Arrott-plot analysis indicates that NdOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ conforms to mean-field ferromagnetism.

cond-mat.str-el

Penetration depth, symmetry breaking, and gap nodes in superconducting PrOs4Sb12

Transverse-field muon spin relaxation rates in single crystals of the heavy-fermion superconductor PrOs4Sb12 (Tc = 1.85 K) are nearly constant in the vortex state for temperatures below ~0.5Tc. This suggests that the superconducting penetration depth lambda(T) is temperature-independent at low temperatures, consistent with a gapped quasiparticle excitation spectrum. In contrast, radiofrequency measurements yield a stronger temperature dependence of lambda(T), indicative of point nodes in the gap. A similar discrepancy exists in superconducting Sr2RuO4 which, like PrOs4Sb12, breaks time-reversal symmetry (TRS) below Tc, but not in a number of non-TRS-breaking superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con

Heavy Fermion Behavior, Crystalline Electric Field Effects, and Weak Ferromagnetism in SmOs_{4}Sb_{12}

The filled skutterudite compound SmOs_{4}Sb_{12} was prepared in single crystal form and characterized. The SmOs_{4}Sb_{12} crystals have the LaFe_{4}P_{12}-type structure with lattice parameter a = 9.3085 Angstroms. Specific heat measurements indicate a large electronic specific heat coefficient of ~880 mJ/mol K^{2}, from which an enhanced effective mass m^{*} ~ 170 m_{e} is estimated. The specific heat data also suggest crystalline electric field (CEF) splitting of the Sm^{3+} J = 5/2 multiplet into a Gamma_{7} doublet ground state and a Gamma_{8} quartet excited state separated by 37 K. Electrical resistivity rho(T) measurements reveal a decrease in rho(T) below ~50 K that is consistent with CEF splitting of ~33 K between a Gamma_(7) doublet ground state and Gamma_{8} quartet excited state. Specific heat and magnetic susceptibility measurements display a possible weak ferromagnetic transition at ~2.6 K, which could be an intrinsic property of SmOs_4Sb_{12} or possibly due to an unknown impurity phase.

cond-mat.str-el

Evolution of crystalline electric field effects, superconductivity, and heavy fermion behavior in the specific heat of Pr(Os$_{1-x}$Ru$_x$)$_4$Sb$_{12}$

Specific heat $C(T)$ measurements were made on single crystals of the superconducting filled skutterudite series Pr(Os$_{1-x}$Ru$_x$)$_4$Sb$_{12}$ down to 0.6 K. Crystalline electric field fits in the normal state produced parameters which were in agreement with previous measurements. Bulk superconductivity was observed for all values of the Ru concentration $x$ with transition temperatures consistent with previous experiments, confirming a minimum in $T_{c}$ at $x=0.6$. The $C(T)$ data below $T_{c}$ appear to be more consistent with power law behavior for $x=0$ (PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$), and with exponential behavior for $0.05 \leq x \leq 0.2$. An enhanced electronic specific heat coefficient $γ$ was observed for $x \leq 0.4$, further supporting $x \simeq 0.6$ as a critical concentration where the physical properties abruptly change. Significant enhancement of $ΔC/T_{c}$ above the weak coupling value was only observed for $x=0$ and $x=0.05$.

cond-mat.supr-con

Pronounced enhancement of the lower critical field and critical current deep in the superconducting state of PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$

We have observed an unexpected enhancement of the lower critical field $H_{c1}(T)$ and the critical current $I_{c}(T)$ deep in the superconducting state below $T \approx 0.6$ K ($T/T_{c} \approx 0.3$) in the filled skutterudite heavy fermion superconductor PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$. From a comparison of the behavior of $H_{c1}(T)$ with that of the heavy fermion superconductors U$_{1-x}$Th$_x$Be$_{13}$ and UPt$_3$, we speculate that the enhancement of $H_{c1}(T)$ and $I_{c}(T)$ in PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ reflects a transition into another superconducting phase that occurs below $T/T_{c} \approx 0.3$. An examination of the literature reveals unexplained anomalies in other physical properties of PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ near $T/T_{c} \approx 0.3$ that correlate with the features we have observed in $H_{c1}(T)$ and $I_{c}(T)$.

cond-mat.supr-con

The Crystal Field Potential of PrOs4Sb12: Consequences for Superconductivity

The results of inelastic neutron scattering provide a solution for the crystal field level scheme in PrOs4Sb12 in which the ground state in the cubic crystal field potential of Th symmetry is a Gamma_1 singlet. The conduction electron mass enhancement is consistent with inelastic exchange scattering, and we propose that inelastic quadrupolar, or aspherical Coulomb, scattering is responsible for enhancing the superconducting transition temperature. PrOs4Sb12 appears to be the first compound in which aspherical Coulomb scattering is strong enough to overcome magnetic pair-breaking and increase Tc.

cond-mat.str-el

Microwave Spectroscopy of PrOs_4Sb_12: Josephson-Coupled Two-Band Superconductivity and Itinerant f Electrons

We report microwave surface impedance measurements made on a single crystal of PrOs_4Sb_12 across the frequency range 0.5 to 21 GHz. The penetration depth data provide clear thermodynamic evidence for superconductivity arising in two bands coupled by Josephson pair-tunneling, indicating two order parameters with the same symmetry. Detailed conductivity spectra obtained using high-resolution bolometry confirm this picture and extend it, revealing the itinerant nature of the Pr f electrons through the observation of quasiparticles with heavily renormalized mass.

cond-mat.supr-con

Superconductivity and crystalline electric field effects in the filled skutterudite series Pr(Os$_{1-x}$Ru$_x$)$_4$Sb$_{12}$

X-ray powder diffraction, magnetic susceptibility $χ(T)$, and electrical resistivity $ρ(T)$ measurements were made on single crystals of the filled skutterudite series Pr(Os$_{1-x}$Ru$_x$)$_4$Sb$_{12}$. One end of the series ($x = 0$) is a heavy fermion superconductor with a superconducting critical temperature $T_{c} = 1.85$ K, while the other end ($x = 1$) is a conventional superconductor with $T_{c} \approx 1$ K. The lattice constant $a$ decreases approximately linearly with increasing Ru concentration $x$. As Ru (Os) is substituted for Os (Ru), $T_{c}$ decreases nearly linearly with substituent concentration and exhibits a minimum with a value of $T_{c} = 0.75$ K at $x = 0.6$, suggesting that the two types of superconductivity compete with one another. Crystalline electric field (CEF) effects in $χ_\mathrm{dc}(T)$ and $ρ(T)$ due to the splitting of the Pr$^{3+}$ nine-fold degenerate Hund's rule $J = 4$ multiplet are observed throughout the series, with the splitting between the ground state and the first excited state increasing monotonically as $x$ increases. The fits to the $χ_\mathrm{dc}(T)$ and $ρ(T)$ data are consistent with a $Γ_{3}$ doublet ground state for all values of x, although reasonable fits can be obtained for a $Γ_{1}$ ground state for $x$ values near the end member compounds ($x = 0$ or $x = 1$).

cond-mat.supr-con

Crystalline electric field effects in the electrical resistivity of PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$

The temperature $T$ and magnetic field $H$ dependencies of the electrical resistivity $ρ$ of the recently discovered heavy fermion superconductor \PrOsSb{} have features that are associated with the splitting of the Pr$^{3+}$ Hund's rule multiplet by the crystalline electric field (CEF). These features are apparently due to magnetic exchange and aspherical Coulomb scattering from the thermally populated CEF-split Pr$^{3+}$ energy levels. The $ρ(T)$ data in zero magnetic field can be described well by calculations based on CEF theory for various ratios of magnetic exchange and aspherical Coulomb scattering, and yield CEF parameters that are qualitatively consistent with those previously derived from magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, and inelastic neutron scattering measurements. Calculated $ρ(H)$ isotherms for a $Γ_{3}$ ground state qualitatively account for the `dome-shaped' feature in the measured $ρ(H)$ isotherms.

cond-mat.str-el

Electrical resistivity and magnetization measurements on the heavy fermion superconductor PrOs4Sb12

The filled skutterudite compound PrOs4Sb12, the first example of a Pr-based heavy fermion superconductor, displays superconductivity with $T_c\sim 1.85$ K and has an effective mass $m^* \sim$ {50 $m_e$}, where $m_e$ is the free electron mass. For magnetic fields above 4.5 T, sharp features in the normal state electrical resistivity, magnetization, specific heat, and thermal expansion data suggest the occurrence of a phase transition at high fields. This high field ordered phase in the normal state may originate from a combination of crystalline electric field enhanced Zeeman splitting and quadrupolar ordering. We present an investigation of the electrical resistivity and magnetization of PrOs4Sb12 as a function of temperature between {350 mK} and {3.5 K} and magnetic field up to {18 T}. The data reveal a detailed phase boundary of the high field ordered phase as well as the lower critical field $H_{c1}$ and the onset field of the peak effect in the superconducting state of PrOs4Sb12.

cond-mat.str-el

A new heavy fermion superconductor: the filled skutterudite compound PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$

The filled skutterudite compound \PrOsSb{} exhibits superconductivity below a critical temperature $T_\mathrm{c} = 1.85$ K that develops out of a nonmagnetic heavy Fermi liquid with an effective mass $m^{*} \approx 50 m_\mathrm{e}$, where $m_\mathrm{e}$ is the free electron mass. Analysis of magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, electrical resistivity and inelastic neutron scattering measurements within the context of a cubic crystalline electric field yields a Pr$^{3+}$ energy level scheme that consists of a $Γ_{3}$ nonmagnetic doublet ground state that carries an electric quadrupole moment, a low lying $Γ_{5}$ triplet excited state at $\sim 10$ K, and $Γ_{4}$ triplet and $Γ_{1}$ singlet excited states at much higher temperatures. The superconducting state appears to be unconventional and to consist of two distinct superconducting phases. An ordered phase of magnetic or quadrupolar origin occurs at high fields and low temperatures, suggesting that the superconductivity may occur in the vicinity of a magnetic or electric quadrupolar quantum critical point.

cond-mat.supr-con

Heavy fermion superconductivity in the filled skutterudite compound PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$

The filled skutterudite compound \PrOsSb{} has been found to exhibit superconductivity with a critical temperature $T_\mathrm{c} = 1.85$ K that develops out of a heavy Fermi liquid with an effective mass $m^{*} \approx 50 m_\mathrm{e}$. The current experimental situation regarding the heavy fermion state, the superconducting state, and a high field, low temperature phase that is apparently associated with magnetic or quadrupolar order in \PrOsSb{} is briefly reviewed herein.

cond-mat.supr-con

Superconductivity and the high field ordered phase in the heavy fermion compound PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$

Superconductivity is observed in the filled skutterudite compound \PrOsSb{} below a critical temperature temperature $T_\mathrm{c} = 1.85$ K and appears to develop out of a nonmagnetic heavy Fermi liquid with an effective mass $m^{*} \approx 50 m_\mathrm{e}$, where $m_\mathrm{e}$ is the free electron mass. Features associated with a cubic crystalline electric field are present in magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, electrical resistivity, and inelastic neutron scattering measurements, yielding a Pr$^{3+}$ energy level scheme consisting of a $Γ_{3}$ nonmagnetic doublet ground state, a low lying $Γ_{5}$ triplet excitied state at $\sim 10$ K, and much higher temperature $Γ_{4}$ triplet and $Γ_{1}$ singlet excited states. Measurements also indicate that the superconducting state is unconventional and consists of two distinct superconducting phases. At high fields and low temperatures, an ordered phase of magnetic or quadrupolar origin is observed, suggesting that the superconductivity may occur in the vicinity of a magnetic or quadrupolar quantum critical point.

cond-mat.supr-con