Pronounced enhancement of the lower critical field and critical current deep in the superconducting state of PrOs${}_4$Sb${}_{12}$

Abstract

We have observed an unexpected enhancement of the lower critical field $H_{c1}(T)$ and the critical current $I_c(T)$ deep in the superconducting state below $T\approx 0.6$ K ($T/T_c\approx 0.3$) in the filled skutterudite heavy fermion superconductor PrOs${}_4$Sb${}_{12}$. From a comparison of the behavior of $H_{c1}(T)$ with that of the heavy fermion superconductors U${}_{1-x}$Th${}_x$Be${}_{13}$ and UPt${}_3$, we speculate that the enhancement of $H_{c1}(T)$ and $I_c(T)$ in PrOs${}_4$Sb${}_{12}$ reflects a transition into another superconducting phase that occurs below $T/T_c\approx 0.3$. An examination of the literature reveals unexplained anomalies in other physical properties of PrOs${}_4$Sb${}_{12}$ near $T/T_c\approx 0.3$ that correlate with the features we have observed in $H_{c1}(T)$ and $I_c(T)$.

arXiv comment4 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letters. v2: small corrections to references, updated figure 3

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• Multiband superconductivity in the correlated electron filled skutterudite system Pr(1-x)Ce(x)Pt4Ge12
• Microscopic theories for cubic and tetrahedral superconductors: application to PrOs_4Sb_{12}
• Comment on "Pronounced Enhancement of the Lower Critical Field and Critical Current Deep in the Superconducting State of PrOs4Sb12"
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