Unique phase diagram with narrow superconducting dome in EuFe2_2(As1−x_{1-x}Px_x)2_2 due to Eu2+^{2+} local magnetic moments

The interplay between superconductivity and Eu$^{2+}$ magnetic moments in EuFe$_2$(As$_{1-x}$P$_x$)$_2$ is studied by electrical resistivity measurements under hydrostatic pressure on $x=0.13$ and $x=0.18$ single crystals. We can map hydrostatic pressure to chemical pressure $x$ and show, that superconductivity is confined to a very narrow range $0.18\leq x \leq 0.23$ in the phase diagram, beyond which ferromagnetic (FM) Eu ordering suppresses superconductivity. The change from antiferro- to FM Eu ordering at the latter concentration coincides with a Lifshitz transition and the complete depression of iron magnetic order.Comment: 4 page

Interplay of antiferromagnetism, ferromagnetism and superconductivity in EuFe_2(As_1-xP_x)_2 single crystals

We report a systematic study on the influence of antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic phases of Eu^2+ moments on the superconducting phase upon doping the As site by isovalent P, which acts as chemical pressure on EuFe_2As_2. Bulk superconductivity with transition temperatures of 22 K and 28 K are observed for x=0.16 and 0.20 samples respectively. The Eu ions order antiferromagnetically for x=0.22 whereupon the Eu ions order ferromagnetically. Density functional theory based calculations reproduce the observed experimental findings consistently. We discuss in detail the coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism in a tiny region of the phase space and comment on the competition of ferromagnetism and superconductivity in the title compound.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, 1 tabl

Optical investigations of the chemical pressurized EuFe2(As1-xPx)2: an s-wave superconductor with strong interband interaction

Superconducting EuFe2(As0.82P0.18)2 single crystals are investigated by infrared spectroscopy in a wide frequency range. Below Tc=28K a superconducting gap forms at 2\Delta_{0} = 9.5 meV = 3.8 k_B T_c causing the reflectivity to sharply rise to unity at low frequency. In the range of the gap the optical conductivity can be perfectly described by BCS theory with an $s$-wave gap and no nodes. From our analysis of the temperature dependent conductivity and spectral weight at T>T_c, we deduce an increased interband coupling between hole- and electron-sheets on the Fermi surface when $T$ approaches T_c

Anisotropy, disorder, and superconductivity in CeCu2Si2 under high pressure

Resistivity measurements were carried out up to 8 GPa on single crystal and polycrystalline samples of CeCu2Si2 from differing sources in the homogeneity range. The anisotropic response to current direction and small uniaxial stresses was explored, taking advantage of the quasi-hydrostatic environment of the Bridgman anvil cell. It was found that both the superconducting transition temperature Tc and the normal state properties are very sensitive to uniaxial stress, which leads to a shift of the valence instability pressure Pv and a small but significant change in Tc for different orientations with respect to the tetragonal c-axis. Coexistence of superconductivity and residual resistivity close to the Ioffe-Regel limit around 5 GPa provides a compelling argument for the existence of a valence-fluctuation mediated pairing interaction at high pressure in CeCu2Si2.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure

Super-heavy fermion material as metallic refrigerant for adiabatic demagnetization cooling

Low-temperature refrigeration is of crucial importance in fundamental research of condensed matter physics, as the investigations of fascinating quantum phenomena, such as superconductivity, superfluidity and quantum criticality, often require refrigeration down to very low temperatures. Currently, cryogenic refrigerators with $^3$He gas are widely used for cooling below 1 Kelvin. However, usage of the gas is being increasingly difficult due to the current world-wide shortage. Therefore, it is important to consider alternative methods of refrigeration. Here, we show that a new type of refrigerant, super-heavy electron metal, YbCo$_2$Zn$_{20}$, can be used for adiabatic demagnetization refrigeration, which does not require 3He gas. A number of advantages includes much better metallic thermal conductivity compared to the conventional insulating refrigerants. We also demonstrate that the cooling performance is optimized in Yb$_{1-x}$Sc$_x$Co$_2$Zn$_{20}$ by partial Sc substitution with $x\sim$0.19. The substitution induces chemical pressure which drives the materials close to a zero-field quantum critical point. This leads to an additional enhancement of the magnetocaloric effect in low fields and low temperatures enabling final temperatures well below 100 mK. Such performance has up to now been restricted to insulators. Since nearly a century the same principle of using local magnetic moments has been applied for adiabatic demagnetization cooling. This study opens new possibilities of using itinerant magnetic moments for the cryogen-free refrigeration

Experimental Quantification of Entanglement Through Heat Capacity

A new experimental realization of heat capacity as an entanglement witness (EW) is reported. Entanglement properties of a low dimensional quantum spin system are investigated by heat capacity measurements performed down to very low temperatures (400mK), for various applied magnetic field values. The experimentally extracted results for the value of heat capacity at zero field matches perfectly with the theoretical estimates of entanglement from model Hamiltonians. The studied sample is a spin $\frac{1}{2}$ antiferromagnetic system which shows clear signature of quantum phase transition (QPT) at very low temperatures when the heat capacity is varied as a function of fields at a fixed temperature. The variation of entanglement as a function of field is then explored in the vicinity of the quantum phase transition to capture the sudden loss of entanglement.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, To be published in NJ

Magnetism and superconductivity in Eu0.2Sr0.8(Fe0.86Co0.14)2As2 probed by 75As NMR

We report bulk superconductivity (SC) in Eu$_{0.2}$Sr$_{0.8}$(Fe$_{0.86}$Co$_{0.14}$)$_{2}$As$_{2}$ single crystals by means of electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and specific heat measurements with $T$$_{\mathrm{c}}$ $\simeq$ 20 K with an antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering of Eu$^{2+}$ moments at $T$$_{\mathrm{N}}$ $\simeq$ 2.0 K in zero field. $^{75}$As NMR experiments have been performed in the two external field directions (H$\|ab$) and (H$\|c$). $^{75}$As-NMR spectra are analyzed in terms of first order quadrupolar interaction. Spin-lattice relaxation rates (1/$T_{1}$) follow a $T^{3}$ law in the temperature range 4.2-15 K. There is no signature of Hebel-Slichter coherence peak just below the SC transition indicating a non s-wave or s$_{\pm}$ type of superconductivity. The increase of 1/$T_{1}T$ with lowering the temperature in the range 160-18 K following $\frac{C}{T+\theta}$ law reflecting 2D AFM spin fluctuations

Magnetic and superconducting properties on S-type single-crystal CeCu2_2Si2_2 probed by 63^{63}Cu nuclear magnetic resonance and nuclear quadrupole resonance

We have performed $^{63}$Cu nuclear magnetic resonance/nuclear quadrupole resonance measurements to investigate the magnetic and superconducting (SC) properties on a "superconductivity dominant" ($S$-type) single crystal of CeCu$_2$Si$_2$. Although the development of antiferromagnetic (AFM) fluctuations down to 1~K indicated that the AFM criticality was close, Korringa behavior was observed below 0.8~K, and no magnetic anomaly was observed above $T_{\rm c} \sim$ 0.6 K. These behaviors were expected in $S$-type CeCu$_2$Si$_2$. The temperature dependence of the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate $1/T_1$ at zero field was almost identical to that in the previous polycrystalline samples down to 130~mK, but the temperature dependence deviated downward below 120~mK. In fact, $1/T_1$ in the SC state could be fitted with the two-gap $s_{\pm}$-wave rather than the two-gap $s_{++}$-wave model down to 90~mK. Under magnetic fields, the spin susceptibility in both directions clearly decreased below $T_{\rm c}$, indicative of the formation of spin singlet pairing. The residual part of the spin susceptibility was understood by the field-induced residual density of states evaluated from $1/T_1T$, which was ascribed to the effect of the vortex cores. No magnetic anomaly was observed above the upper critical field $H_{c2}$, but the development of AFM fluctuations was observed, indicating that superconductivity was realized in strong AFM fluctuations.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figure

Far-infrared optical conductivity of CeCu2Si2

Journal ref.: J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 25, 065602 (2013): We investigated the optical reflectivity of the heavy-fermion metal CeCu2Si2 in the energy range 3 meV - 30 eV for temperatures between 4K - 300K. The results for the charge dynamics indicate a behavior that is expected for the formation of a coherent heavy quasiparticle state: Upon cooling the spectra of the optical conductivity indicate a narrowing of the coherent response. Below temperatures of 30 K a considerable suppression of conductivity evolves below a peak structure at 13 meV. We assign this gap-like feature to strong electron correlations due to the 4f-conduction electron hybridization.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

Electron-phonon coupling in 122 Fe pnictides analyzed by femtosecond time-resolved photoemission

Based on results from femtosecond time-resolved photoemission, we compare three different methods for determination of the electron-phonon coupling constant {\lambda} in Eu and Ba-based 122 FeAs compounds. We find good agreement between all three methods, which reveal a small {\lambda} < 0.2. This makes simple electron-phonon mediated superconductivity unlikely in these compounds.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure