Thermodynamic Evidence of Tetracritical Topology in the $H$-$T$ Phase Diagram of UTe${}_2$ for $H\parallel b$

Abstract

We report ultrasound velocity measurements on an ultraclean UTe${}_2$ single crystal with $T_c>2$~K for $H\parallel b$, performed up to 18~T and down to 0.33~K. The measurements provide the missing bulk thermodynamic evidence for an additional high-field phase boundary near ${\mu }_{0}H\sim 14$--15~T. A distinct, non-hysteretic anomaly in the longitudinal $C_{33}$ mode, together with a weaker response in $C_{44}$, no resolvable anomaly in $C_{55}$, and a coincident kink in transverse magnetostriction, reveals a symmetry-selective coupling to lattice strain. This mode selectivity places constraints on the symmetry of the field-induced superconducting component. The phase line remains nearly field-constant near 14~T and meets three other phase boundaries at a tetracritical point near 13.5~T and 1.25~K. The results complete the local tetracritical topology of the $H$--$T$ phase diagram and support field-induced multicomponent superconductivity in UTe${}_2$.

Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters