Field-induced quantum critical point and nodal superconductivity in the heavy-fermion superconductor Ce2PdIn8

Abstract

The interplay between magnetism and superconductivity has been a central issue in unconventional superconductors. While the dynamic magnetism could be the source of electron pairing, the static magnetism is generally believed to compete with superconductivity. In this sense, the observation of Q phase, the coupled spin-density wave order and superconductivity, in the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn5 is very puzzling. Whether this Q phase origins from the novel Fulde-Ferrel-Larkin-Ovchinnikov state is under hot debate. Here we report the resistivity and thermal conductivity study of a newly discovered heavy-fermion superconductor Ce2PdIn8 down to 50 mK. We find an unusual field-induced quantum critical point at the upper critical field Hc2 and unconventional nodal superconductivity in Ce2PdIn8. The jump of thermal conductivity k(H)/T near Hc2 suggests a first-order-like phase transition at low temperatures. These results mimic the features of the Q phase in CeCoIn5, implying that Ce2PdIn8 is another promising compound to investigate the exotic Q phase and FFLO state. The comparison between CeCoIn5 and Ce2PdIn8 may help to clarify the origin of the Q phase.

18 pages, 4 figures

References in corpus (9)

• Hidden Magnetism and Quantum Criticality in the Heavy Fermion Superconductor CeRhIn5
• The Challenge of Unconventional Superconductivity
• Sign reversal of field-angle resolved heat capacity oscillations in a heavy fermion superconductor CeCoIn${}_5$ and $d_{x^2-y^2}$ pairing symmetry
• Unpaired Electrons in the Heavy-Fermion Superconductor CeCoIn_{5}
• Field Evolution of Coexisting Superconducting and Magnetic Orders in CeCoIn${}_5$
• Evolution of Paramagnetic Quasiparticle Excitations Emerged in the High-Field Superconducting Phase of CeCoIn5
• Probing the nodal gap in the pressure-induced heavy fermion superconductor CeRhIn5
• Field-induced coupled superconductivity and spin density wave order in the Heavy Fermion compound CeCoIn5
• Field-induced quantum critical point in the pressure-induced superconductor CeRhIn5

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Anomalous superfluid density in quantum critical superconductors
• Single crystal study of the layered heavy fermion compounds Ce${}_2$PdIn${}_8$, Ce${}_3$PdIn${}_{11}$, Ce${}_2$PtIn${}_8$ and Ce${}_3$PtIn${}_{11}$
• Magnetic field driven complex phase diagram of antiferromagnetic heavy-fermion superconductor Ce${}_3$PtIn${}_{11}$
• Magnetic field driven quantum criticality in antiferromagnetic CePtIn4
• Competing magnetic orders in the superconducting state of Nd-doped CeRhIn${}_5$ under pressure