Electronic structure and electric-field gradients analysis in CeIn3CeIn_3

Electric field gradients (EFG's) were calculated for the $CeIn_3$ compound at both $^{115}In$ and $^{140}Ce$ sites. The calculations were performed within the density functional theory (DFT) using the augmented plane waves plus local orbital (APW+lo) method employing the so-called LDA+U scheme. The $CeIn_3$ compound were treated as nonmagnetic, ferromagnetic, and antiferromagnetic cases. Our result shows that the calculated EFG's are dominated at the $^{140}Ce$ site by the Ce-4f states. An approximately linear relation is intuited between the main component of the EFG's and total density of states (DOS) at Fermi level. The EFG's from our LDA+U calculations are in better agreement with experiment than previous EFG results, where appropriate correlations had not been taken into account among 4f-electrons. Our result indicates that correlations among 4f-electrons play an important role in this compound and must be taken into account

Density of States and NMR Relaxation Rate in Anisotropic Superconductivity with Intersecting Line Nodes

We show that the density of states in an anisotropic superconductor with intersecting line nodes in the gap function is proportional to $E log (\alpha \Delta_0 /E)$ for $|E| << \Delta_0$, where $\Delta_0$ is the maximum value of the gap function and $\alpha$ is constant, while it is proportional to $E$ if the line nodes do not intersect. As a result, a logarithmic correction appears in the temperature dependence of the NMR relaxation rate and the specific heat, which can be observed experimentally. By comparing with those for the heavy fermion superconductors, we can obtain information about the symmetry of the gap function.Comment: 7 pages, 4 PostScript Figures, LaTeX, to appear in J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Unconventional Superconductivity in Heavy Fermion Systems

We review the studies on the emergent phases of superconductvity and magnetism in the $f$-electron derived heavy-fermion (HF) systems by means of the nuclear-quadrupole-resonance (NQR) under pressure. These studies have unraveled a rich variety of the phenomena in the ground state of HF systems. In this article, we highlight the novel phase diagrams of magnetism and unconventional superconductivity (SC) in CeCu$_2$Si$_2$, HF antiferromagnets CeRhIn$_5$, and CeIn$_3$. A new light is shed on the difference and common features on the interplay between magnetism and SC on the magnetic criticality.Comment: 15 pages, 13 figures, to appear in J. Phys. Soc. JPN, 74, No.1 (2005), special issue "Kondo Effect- 40 Years after the Discovery

Pressure-induced unconventional superconductivity in the heavy-fermion antiferromagnet CeIn3: An 115In-NQR study under pressure

We report on the pressure-induced unconventional superconductivity in the heavy-fermion antiferromagnet CeIn3 by means of nuclear-quadrupole-resonance (NQR) studies conducted under a high pressure. The temperature and pressure dependences of the NQR spectra have revealed a first-order quantum-phase transition (QPT) from an AFM to PM at a critical pressure Pc=2.46 GPa. Despite the lack of an AFM quantum critical point in the P-T phase diagram, we highlight the fact that the unconventional SC occurs in both phases of the AFM and PM. The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T1 in the AFM phase have provided evidence for the uniformly coexisting AFM+SC phase. In the HF-PM phase where AFM fluctuations are not developed, 1/T1 decreases without the coherence peak just below Tc, followed by a power-law like T dependence that indicates an unconventional SC with a line-node gap. Remarkably, Tc has a peak around Pc in the HF-PM phase as well as in the AFM phase. In other words, an SC dome exists with a maximum value of Tc = 230 mK around Pc, indicating that the origin of the pressure-induced HF SC in CeIn3 is not relevant to AFM spin fluctuations but to the emergence of the first-order QPT in CeIn3. When the AFM critical temperature is suppressed at the termination point of the first-order QPT, Pc = 2.46 GPa, the diverging AFM spin-density fluctuations emerge at the critical point from the AFM to PM. The results with CeIn3 leading to a new type of quantum criticality deserve further theoretical investigations

Enhancing the Superconducting Transition Temperature due to Strong-Coupling Effect under Antiferromagnetic Spin Fluctuations in CeRh1-xIrxIn5 : 115In-NQR Study

We report on systematic evolutions of antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin fluctuations and unconventional superconductivity (SC) in heavy-fermion (HF) compounds CeRh$_{1-x}$Ir$_{x}$In$_5$ via $^{115}$In nuclear-quadrupole-resonance (NQR) experiment. The measurements of nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate $1/T_1$ have revealed the marked development of AFM spin fluctuations as a consequence of approaching an AFM ordered state with increasing Rh content. Concomitantly the superconducting transition temperature $T_{\rm c}$ and the energy gap $\Delta_0$ increase drastically from $T_{\rm c} = 0.4$ K and $2\Delta_0/k_{\rm B}T_{\rm c} = 5$ in CeIrIn$_5$ up to $T_{\rm c} = 1.2$ K and $2\Delta_0/k_{\rm B}T_{\rm c} = 8.3$ in CeRh$_{0.3}$Ir$_{0.7}$In$_5$, respectively. The present work suggests that the AFM spin fluctuations in close proximity to the AFM quantum critical point are indeed responsible for the onset of strong-coupling unconventional SC with the line node in the gap function in HF compounds.Comment: 4pages,5figures,to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

New Superconducting and Magnetic Phases Emerge on the Verge of Antiferromagnetism in CeIn3_3

We report the discovery of new superconducting and novel magnetic phases in CeIn$_3$ on the verge of antiferromagnetism (AFM) under pressure ($P$) through the In-nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) measurements. We have found a $P$-induced phase separation of AFM and paramagnetism (PM) without any trace for a quantum phase transition in CeIn$_3$. A new type of superconductivity (SC) was found in $P=2.28-2.5$ GPa to coexist with AFM that is magnetically separated from PM where the heavy fermion SC takes place. We propose that the magnetic excitations such as spin-density fluctuations induced by the first-order magnetic phase transition might mediate attractive interaction to form Cooper pairs.Comment: 4 pages, 4 EPS figures, submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Gapless Magnetic and Quasiparticle Excitations due to the Coexistence of Antiferromagnetism and Superconductivity in CeRhIn5_5 : A study of 115^{115}In-NQR under Pressure

We report systematic measurements of ac-susceptibility, nuclear-quadrupole-resonance spectrum, and nuclear-spin-lattice-relaxation time ($T_1$) on the pressure ($P$)- induced heavy-fermion (HF) superconductor CeRhIn$_5$. The temperature ($T$) dependence of $1/T_1$ at $P$ = 1.6 GPa has revealed that antiferromagnetism (AFM) and superconductivity (SC) coexist microscopically, exhibiting the respective transition at $T_N = 2.8$ K and $T^{MF}_c$ = 0.9 K. It is demonstrated that SC does not yield any trace of gap opening in low-lying excitations below $T_c^{onset} = 2$ K, but $T_c^{MF} = 0.9$ K, followed by a $T_1T$ = const law. These results point to the unconventional characteristics of SC coexisting with AFM. We highlight that both of the results deserve theoretical work on the gapless nature in low-lying excitation spectrum due to the coexistence of AFM and SC and the lack of the mean-field regime below $T_c^{onset} = 2$ K.Comment: 4pages,5figures,revised versio

Unique Spin Dynamics and Unconventional Superconductivity in the Layered Heavy Fermion Compound CeIrIn_5:NQR Evidence

We report measurements of the ^{115}In nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate (1/T_1) between T=0.09 K and 100 K in the new heavy fermion (HF) compound CeIrIn_5. At 0.4 K < T < 100 K, 1/T_1 is strongly T-dependent, which indicates that CeIrIn_5 is much more itinerant than known Ce-based HFs. We find that 1/T_1T, subtracting that for LaIrIn_5, follows a 1/(T+\theta)^{3/4} variation with \theta=8 K. We argue that this novel feature points to anisotropic, due to a layered crystal structure, spin fluctuations near a magnetic ordering. The bulk superconductivity sets in at 0.40 K below which the coherence peak is absent and 1/T_1 follows a T^3 variation, which suggests unconventional superconductivity with line-node gap.Comment: minor changes, appeared in PRL (4 pages, 4 figures