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Multiband superconductivity in the heavy fermion compound PrOs4Sb12
G Seyfarth1, J P Brison, M-A Méasson
1CRTBT, CNRS, Grenoble, France.
Physical Review Letters
|October 4, 2005
Summary
The heavy fermion superconductor Pr(Os4Sb12) shows restored thermal conductivity in the vortex state, indicating multiband superconductivity. This finding offers insights into complex superconducting materials.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Superconductivity
Background:
- Heavy fermion superconductors exhibit complex electronic behaviors.
- Understanding the interplay between magnetism and superconductivity is crucial.
- Pr(Os4Sb12) is a heavy fermion superconductor with potential for novel phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the thermal conductivity of Pr(Os4Sb12) in the vortex state.
- To identify signatures of multiband superconductivity in this material.
- To compare the observed behavior with other superconductors like MgB2.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of thermal conductivity.
- Exploration of the vortex state under varying magnetic fields (H).
- Temperature-dependent measurements down to T(c)/40.
Main Results:
- Significant restoration of normal state thermal conductivity (40%) observed at low temperatures and magnetic fields (H ≈ 0.07H(c2)).
- The observed behavior is analogous to that in MgB2.
- The results strongly suggest the presence of multiband superconductivity in Pr(Os4Sb12).
Conclusions:
- Pr(Os4Sb12) exhibits multiband superconductivity.
- Thermal conductivity measurements are a powerful tool for probing multiband effects in superconductors.
- The findings contribute to the understanding of exotic superconducting states in heavy fermion compounds.