Distinct vortex-glass phases in Yb${}_3$Rh${}_4$Sn${}_{13}$ at high and low magnetic fields

Abstract

The vortex lattice (VL) in the mixed state of the stannide superconductor Yb${}_3$Rh${}_4$Sn${}_{13}$ has been studied using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The field dependencies of the normalized longitudinal and transverse correlation lengths of the VL, $\hat{I}{¾}_L/a_0$ and $\hat{I}{¾}_T/a_0$, reveal two distinct anomalies that are associated with vortex-glass phases below $\hat{I}{¼}_0{H}_l$~$\approx$~700~G and above $\hat{I}{¼}_0{H}_h$~$\sim$~1.7~T ($a_0$ is the intervortex distance). At high fields, around 1.7~T, the longitudinal correlation decreases abruptly with increasing fields indicating a weakening (but not a complete destruction) of the VL due to a phase transition into a glassy phase, below $\hat{I}{¼}_0{H}_{c_2}$(1.8 K)~$\approx$~2.5~T. $\hat{I}{¾}_L/a_0$ and $\hat{I}{¾}_T/a_0$, gradually decrease for decreasing fields of strengths less than 1~T and tend towards zero. The shear elastic modulus $c_{66}$ and the tilting elastic modulus $c_{44}$ vanish at a critical field $\hat{I}{¼}_0{H}_l$~$\approx$~700~G, providing evidence for a disorder-induced transition into a vortex-glass. A 'ring' of scattered intensity is observed for fields lower than 700~G, $i.e.$, $\hat{I}{¼}_0{H}_{c_1}$~=~135~G~$<$~$\hat{I}{¼}_{0}H$~$<$~700~G. This low-field phenomenon is of different nature than the one observed at high fields, where $\hat{I}{¾}_L/a_0$ but not $\hat{I}{¾}_T/a_0$, decreases abruptly to an intermediate value.