Field-reentrant superconductivity close to a metamagnetic transition in the heavy-fermion superconductor UTe${}_2$

Abstract

We present a study of the upper critical field of the newly discovered heavy fermion superconductor UTe${}_2$ by magnetoresistivity measurements in pulsed magnetic fields up to 60~T and static magnetic fields up to 35~T. We show that superconductivity survives up to the metamagnetic transition at $H_{\mathrm{m}}\approx 35$~T at low temperature. Above $H_{\mathrm{m}}$ superconductivity is suppressed. At higher temperature superconductivity is enhanced under magnetic field leading to reentrance of superconductivity or an almost temperature independent increase of $H_{c2}$. By studying the angular dependence of the upper critical field close to the $b$ axis (hard magnetization axis) we show that the maximum of the reentrant superconductivity temperature is depinned from the metamagnetic field. A key ingredient for the field-reinforcement of superconductivity on approaching $H_{\mathrm{m}}$ appears to be an immediate interplay with magnetic fluctuations and a possible Fermi-surface reconstruction.

5 pages + Supplemental Material, accepted for publication in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn