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Published on: August 2, 2019
Coupled superconducting and magnetic order in CeCoIn5
M Kenzelmann1, T Strässle, C Niedermayer
1Laboratory for Developments and Methods, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland.
Summary
In CeCoIn5, magnetic and superconducting orders cooperate, challenging the usual competition. Superconductivity is essential for this magnetic order, suggesting novel momentum-dependent superconducting states.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Quantum Materials
Background:
- Unconventional superconductivity arises from electron coupling via magnetic fluctuations.
- Coexistence of magnetic order and superconductivity is known, but typically involves competing orders.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the interplay between magnetic and superconducting orders in CeCoIn5.
- Determine the relationship between magnetic order and superconductivity near the upper critical field.
Main Methods:
- Experimental measurements of CeCoIn5 properties near its upper critical field.
- Symmetry analysis of the coupling between magnetic order and superconducting gap function.
Main Results:
- CeCoIn5 exhibits a unique multicomponent ground state with cooperating magnetic and superconducting orders.
- Superconductivity is suppressed in a first-order transition at the upper critical field, causing magnetic order to collapse.
- This indicates superconductivity is necessary for the observed magnetic order.
Conclusions:
- The findings reveal a cooperative relationship between magnetic and superconducting orders in CeCoIn5.
- A novel form of superconductivity associated with nonvanishing momentum is suggested by symmetry analysis.
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