Superconducting Gap Structure of kappa-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu(NCS)2 Probed by Thermal Conductivity Tensor

The thermal conductivity of organic superconductor kappa-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu(NCS)2 (Tc =10.4 K) has been studied in a magnetic field rotating within the 2D superconducting planes with high alignment precision. At low temperatures (T < 0.5 K), a clear fourfold symmetry in the angular variation, which is characteristic of a d-wave superconducting gap with nodes along the directions rotated 45 degrees relative to the b and c axes of the crystal, was resolved. The determined nodal structure is inconsistent with recent theoretical predictions of superconductivity induced by the antiferromagnetic spin fluctuation.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. Let

Magnetic Field-Induced Superconductor-Insulator-Metal Transition in an Organic Conductor: An Infrared Magneto-Optical Imaging Spectroscopy

The magnetic field-induced superconductor-insulator-metal transition (SIMT) in partially deuterated $\kappa$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$Cu[N(CN)$_2$]Br, which is just on the Mott boundary, has been observed using the infrared magneto-optical imaging spectroscopy. The infrared reflectivity image on the sample surface revealed that the metallic (or superconducting) and insulating phases coexist and they have different magnetic field dependences. One of the magnetic field dependence is SIMT that appeared on part of the sample surface. The SIMT was concluded to originate from the balance of the inhomogenity in the sample itself and the disorder of the ethylene end groups resulting from fast cooling.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Dynamical mean field study of the Mott transition in the half-filled Hubbard model on a triangular lattice

We employ dynamical mean field theory (DMFT) with a Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) atomic solver to investigate the finite temperature Mott transition in the Hubbard model with the nearest neighbor hopping on a triangular lattice at half-filling. We estimate the value of the critical interaction to be $U_c=12.0 \pm 0.5$ in units of the hopping amplitude $t$ through the evolution of the magnetic moment, spectral function, internal energy and specific heat as the interaction $U$ and temperature $T$ are varied. This work also presents a comparison between DMFT and finite size determinant Quantum Monte Carlo (DQMC) and a discussion of the advantages and limitations of both methods.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

13^{13}C NMR observation of a nonmagnetic charge-ordered state in the organic conductor κ\kappa-(ET)2_{2}Hg(SCN)2_{2}Cl

We investigated the local magnetism of the organic conductor, $\kappa$-(ET)$_{2}$Hg(SCN)$_{2}$Cl, with a quasi-triangular lattice of weakly dimerized molecules through $^{13}$C NMR spectroscopy. The NMR spectra and nuclear relaxation show that charge disproportionation occurs, associated with the metal-insulator transition at 31 K. The relaxation rate indicates that the paramagnetic spins in the insulating phase undergo a transition into a spin-singlet ground state with the emergence of orphan spins, a possible valence-bond-glass state. The present results are in high contrast to the spin-cluster paramagnetism of the electric dipole-liquid candidate, $\kappa$--(ET)$_{2}$Hg(SCN)$_{2}$Br, having nearly identical material parameters. This fact indicates that these two systems are on the verge between distinct phases in both charge and spin degrees of freedom; a spin-singlet charge-ordered state versus a spin-active Mott insulating state, competing with each other on a triangular lattice of dimerized sites

Frustrated Spin System in theta-(BEDT-TTF)_2RbZn(SCN)_4

The origin of the spin gap behavior in the low-temperature dimerized phase of theta-(BEDT-TTF)_2RbZn(SCN)_4 has been theoretically studied based on the Hartree-Fock approximation for the on-site Coulomb interaction at absolute zero. Calculations show that, in the parameter region considered to be relevant to this compound, antiferromagnetic ordering is stabilized between dimers consisting of pairs of molecules coupled with the largest transfer integral. Based on this result an effective localized spin 1/2 model is constructed which indicates the existence of the frustration among spins. This frustration may result in the formation of spin gap.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 67 (1998) no.

Anisotropic charge dynamics in the quantum spin-liquid candidate κ\kappa-(BEDT-TTF)2_2Cu2_2(CN)3_3

We have in detail characterized the anisotropic charge response of the dimer Mott insulator $\kappa$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$\-Cu$_2$(CN)$_3$ by dc conductivity, Hall effect and dielectric spectroscopy. At room temperature the Hall coefficient is positive and close to the value expected from stoichiometry; the temperature behavior follows the dc resistivity $\rho(T)$. Within the planes the dc conductivity is well described by variable-range hopping in two dimensions; this model, however, fails for the out-of-plane direction. An unusually broad in-plane dielectric relaxation is detected below about 60 K; it slows down much faster than the dc conductivity following an Arrhenius law. At around 17 K we can identify a pronounced dielectric anomaly concomitantly with anomalous features in the mean relaxation time and spectral broadening. The out-of-plane relaxation, on the other hand, shows a much weaker dielectric anomaly; it closely follows the temperature behavior of the respective dc resistivity. At lower temperatures, the dielectric constant becomes smaller both within and perpendicular to the planes; also the relaxation levels off. The observed behavior bears features of relaxor-like ferroelectricity. Because heterogeneities impede its long-range development, only a weak tunneling-like dynamics persists at low temperatures. We suggest that the random potential and domain structure gradually emerge due to the coupling to the anion network.Comment: 14 pages, 13 figure

Multiple Superconducting Phases in New Heavy Fermion Superconductor PrOs4Sb12

The superconducting gap structure of recently discovered heavy fermion superconductor PrOs4Sb12 was investigated by using thermal transport measurements in magnetic field rotated relative to the crystal axes. We demonstrate that a novel change in the symmetry of the superconducting gap function occurs deep inside the superconducting state, giving a clear indication of the presence of two distinct superconducting phases with twofold and fourfold symmetries. We infer that the gap functions in both phases have a point node singularity, in contrast to the familiar line node singularity observed in almost all unconventional superconductors.Comment: 4 Pages, 4 Figure

Phase Diagram of β′\beta'-(BEDT-TTF)2_2ICl2_2 under High Pressure Based on the First-Principles Electronic Structure

We present a theoretical study on the superconductivity of $\beta'$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$ICl$_2$ at $T_{\rm c}=$14.2 K under a high hydrostatic pressure recently found, which is the highest among organic superconductors. In the present work, we study an effective model using the fluctuation-exchange (FLEX) approximation based on the results of first-principles calculation. In the obtained phase diagram, the superconductivity with $d_{xy}$-like symmetry is realized next to the antiferromagnetic phase, as a result of the one-dimensional to two-dimensional crossover driven by the pressure.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. accepted for publication in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. errors correcte

Dynamic Exponent of t-J and t-J-W Model

Drude weight of optical conductivity is calculated at zero temperature by exact diagonalization for the two-dimensional t-J model with the two-particle term, $W$. For the ordinary t-J model with $W$=0, the scaling of the Drude weight $D \propto \delta^2$ for small doping concentration $\delta$ is obtained, which indicates anomalous dynamic exponent $z$=4 of the Mott transition. When $W$ is switched on, the dynamic exponent recovers its conventional value $z$=2. This corresponds to an incoherent-to-coherent transition associated with the switching of the two-particle transfer.Comment: LaTeX, JPSJ-style, 4 pages, 5 eps files, to appear in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. vol.67, No.6 (1998

NMR Evidence for Antiferromagnetic Transition in the Single-Component Molecular Conductor, [Au(tmdt)_{2}] at 110 K

We present the results of a ^{1}H NMR study of the single-component molecular conductor, [Au(tmdt)_{2}]. A steep increase in the NMR line width and a peak formation of the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate, 1/T_{1}, were observed at around 110 K. This behavior provides clear and microscopic evidences for a magnetic phase transition at considerably high temperature among organic conductors. The observed variation in 1/T_{1} with respect to temperature indicates the highly correlated nature of the metallic phase.Comment: 5pages, 6figures to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jp