K. Izawa

Angular position of nodes in the superconducting gap of quasi-2D heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn5.

The thermal conductivity of the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn5 has been studied in a magnetic field rotating within the 2D planes. A clear fourfold symmetry of the thermal conductivity which is characteristic of a superconducting gap with nodes along the ( +/- pi,+/- pi) directions is resolved. The thermal conductivity measurement also reveals a first-order transition at H(c2), indicating a Pauli limited superconducting state. These results indicate that the symmetry most likely belongs to d(x(2)-y(2)), implying that the anisotropic antiferromagnetic fluctuation is relevant to the superconductivity.

Multiple superconducting phases in new heavy fermion superconductor PrOs4Sb12

The superconducting gap structure of recently discovered heavy fermion superconductor PrOs4Sb12 was investigated by using thermal transport measurements in magnetic field rotated relative to the crystal axes. We demonstrate that a novel change in the symmetry of the superconducting gap function occurs deep inside the superconducting state, giving a clear indication of the presence of two distinct superconducting phases with twofold and fourfold symmetries. We infer that the gap functions in both phases have a point node singularity, in contrast to the familiar line node singularity observed in almost all unconventional superconductors.

Superconducting Gap Structure of Spin-Triplet Superconductor Sr2RuO4 Studied by Thermal Conductivity

To clarify the superconducting gap structure of the spin-triplet superconductor Sr2RuO4, the in-plane thermal conductivity has been measured as a function of relative orientations of the thermal flow, the crystal axes, and a magnetic field rotating within the 2D RuO2 planes. The in-plane variation of the thermal conductivity is incompatible with any model with line nodes vertical to the 2D planes and indicates the existence of horizontal nodes. These results place strong constraints on models that attempt to explain the mechanism of the triplet superconductivity.

Gap function with point nodes in borocarbide superconductor YNi2B2C

To determine the superconducting gap function of YNi2B2C, the c-axis thermal conductivity kappa(zz) was measured in H rotated in various directions. The angular variation of kappa(zz) in H rotated within the ab plane shows a peculiar fourfold oscillation with narrow cusps. The amplitude of this fourfold oscillation becomes very small when H is rotated conically around the c axis with a tilt angle of 45 degrees. These results provide the first compelling evidence that the gap function has point nodes located along the a and b axes. This unprecedented gap structure challenges the current view on the pairing mechanism.

Superconducting Gap Structure ofκ−(BEDT−TTF)2Cu(NCS)2Probed by Thermal Conductivity Tensor

The thermal conductivity of organic superconductor kappa-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu(NCS)2 (Tc = 10.4 K) has been studied in a magnetic field rotating within the 2D superconducting planes with high alignment precision. At low temperatures ( T < or = 0.5 K), a clear fourfold symmetry in the angular variation, which is characteristic of a d-wave superconducting gap with nodes along the directions rotated 45 degrees relative to the b and c axes of the crystal, was resolved. The determined nodal structure is inconsistent with recent theoretical predictions of superconductivity induced by the antiferromagnetic spin fluctuation.

Line nodes in the superconducting gap function of noncentrosymmetric CePt3Si

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.

High-field state of the flux-line lattice in the unconventional superconductor CeCoIn5

Ultrasound velocity measurements of the unconventional superconductor CeCoIn_5 with extremely large Pauli paramagnetic susceptibility reveal an unusual structural transformation of the flux line lattice (FLL) in the vicinity of the upper critical field. The transition field coincides with that at which heat capacity measurements reveal a second order phase transition. The lowering of the sound velocity at the transition is consistent with the collapse of the FLL tilt modulus and a crossover to quasi two-dimensional FLL pinning. These results provide a strong evidence that the high field state is the Fulde-Ferrel-Larkin-Ovchinikov phase, in which the order parameter is spatially modulated and has planar nodes aligned perpendicular to the vortices.

Non-Fermi Liquid Behavior in the Magnetotransport of CeMIn5 (M: Co and Rh): Striking Similarity between Quasi Two-Dimensional 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 two-dimensional (2D) heavy fermion superconductors Ce M In 5 ( 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 novelty of these materials is best highlighted when compared with La M In 5 , a system with similar electronic structures, which shows a nearly temperature independent Hall coefficient and a magnetoresisitance which is well described by the classical Kohlers rule. In sharp contrast, in Ce M In 5 , the amplitude of the Hall coefficient increases dramatically with decreasing temperature, reaching at low temperatures a value significantly larger than 1/ n e , where n is the carrier number. Furthermore, the magnetoresistance is characterized by T - and H -dependence which clearly violate Kohlers rule. We found that the cota...

Normal-state Hall Angle and Magnetoresistance in Quasi-2D Heavy Fermion CeCoIn5 near a Quantum Critical Point

The normal-state Hall effect and magnetoresisitance (MR) have been measured in the quasi two dimensional (2D) heavy fermion superconductor CeCoIn 5 . In the non-Fermi liquid region where the reistivity ρ x x exhibits an almost perfect T -linear dependence, the Hall angle varies as cot θ H ∝ T 2 and MR displays a strong violation of Kohlers rule. We demonstrate a novel relation between the MR and the Hall conductivity, Δρ x x /ρ x x ∝(σ x y ρ x x ) 2 . These results bear a striking resemblance to the normal-state properties of high- T c cuprates, indicating universal transport properties in the presence of quasi-2D antiferromagnetic fluctuations near a quantum critical point.The normal-state Hall effect and magnetoresisitance (MR) have been measured in the quasi-2D heavy fermion superconductor CeCoIn_5. In the non-Fermi liquid region where the reistivity rho_xx exhibits an almost perfect T-linear dependence, the Hall angle varies as cot theta_H propto T^2 and the MR displays a strong violation of Kohlers rule. We demonstrate a novel relation between the MR and the Hall conductivity, Delta rho_xx/rho_xx propto (sigma_xy rho_xx)^2. These results bear a striking resemblance to the normal-state properties of high-T_c cuprates, indicating universal transport properties in the presence of quasi-2D antiferromagnetic fluctuations near a quantum critical point.

Thermal transport in the hidden-order state of URu2Si2.

We present a study of thermal conductivity in the normal state of the heavy-fermion superconductor URu2Si2. Ordering at 18 K 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 the phononic and electronic mean free path.