Observing the origin of superconductivity in quantum critical metals

Despite intense efforts during the last 25 years, the physics of unconventional superconductors, including the cuprates with a very high transition temperature, is still a controversial subject. It is believed that superconductivity in many of these strongly correlated metallic systems originates in the physics of quantum phase transitions, but quite diverse perspectives have emerged on the fundamentals of the electron-pairing physics, ranging from Hertz style critical spin fluctuation glue to the holographic superconductivity of string theory. Here we demonstrate that the gross energy scaling differences that are behind these various pairing mechanisms are directly encoded in the frequency and temperature dependence of the dynamical pair susceptibility. This quantity can be measured directly via the second order Josephson effect and it should be possible employing modern experimental techniques to build a `pairing telescope' that gives a direct view on the origin of quantum critical superconductivity.Comment: 19 pages, 9 figures; minor changes in the experimental part; added a new appendix section calculating the pair susceptibility of marginal Fermi liqui

Spin and orbital hybridization at specifically nested Fermi surfaces in URu2_2Si2_2

The Fermi surface (FS) nesting properties of URu$_2$Si$_2$ are analyzed with particular focus on their implication for the mysterious hidden order phase. We show that there exist two Fermi surfaces that exhibit a strong nesting at the antiferromagnetic wavevector, $\boldsymbol{Q}_0$=(0,\,0,\,1). The corresponding energy dispersions fulfill the relation $\epsilon_{1}(\boldsymbol{k})$=$- \epsilon_{2} (\boldsymbol{k}\pm \boldsymbol{Q}_0)$ at eight FS hotspot lines. The spin-orbital characters of the involved $5f$ states are {\it distinct} ($j_z$=$\pm$5/2 {\it vs.} $\pm$3/2) and hence the degenerate Dirac crossings are symmetry protected in the nonmagnetic normal state. Dynamical symmetry breaking through an Ising-like spin and orbital excitation mode with $\Delta j_z$=$\pm$1 induces a hybridization of the two states, causing substantial FS gapping. Concomitant spin and orbital currents in the uranium planes give rise to a rotational symmetry breaking.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

The dual nature of magnetism in a uranium heavy fermion system

The duality between localized and itinerant nature of magnetism in $5\textit{f}$ electron systems has been a longstanding puzzle. Here, we report inelastic neutron scattering measurements, which reveal both local and itinerant aspects of magnetism in a single crystalline system of UPt$_{2}$Si$_{2}$. In the antiferromagnetic state, we observe broad continuum of diffuse magnetic scattering with a resonance-like gap of $\approx$ 7 meV, and surprising absence of coherent spin-waves, suggestive of itinerant magnetism. While the gap closes above the Neel temperature, strong dynamic spin correlations persist to high temperature. Nevertheless, the size and temperature dependence of the total magnetic spectral weight can be well described by local moment with $J=4$. Furthermore, polarized neutron measurements reveal that the magnetic fluctuations are mostly transverse, with little or none of the longitudinal component expected for itinerant moments. These results suggest that a dual description of local and itinerant magnetism is required to understand UPt$_{2}$Si$_{2}$, and by extension, other 5$f$ systems in general.Comment: see supplementary material for more detail

Hysteretic behavior and magnetic ordering in CeRuSn

We report the thermodynamic and transport properties of the newly synthesized Ce-intermetallic compound CeRuSn. This ternary stannide possesses an unconventional structure with two Ce sites at room temperature which exhibit different valencies. Just below room temperature there are large thermal hysteretic effects in the magnetic susceptibility, in the specific heat, as well as in electronic and heat transport properties suggesting the formation of an incommensurate charge density wave modulation whose q vector changes as a function of temperature. Our measurements indicate that one site displays magnetic Ce3+ behavior while the other is a valence fluctuator. At 2.7 K antiferromagnetic long-range order occurs within one-half of the Ce sites, e.g., the magnetic entropy of the transition is 1/2Rln2. Below TN a series of metamagnetic transitions takes place in rather small fields (~1–2 T), leaving a magnetically fluctuating background. Such behavior is unique among the many Ce–transition-metal compounds