Anisotropic field-induced changes in the superconducting order parameter of UTe_{2}

UTe_{2} is a newly discovered unconventional superconductor, where electron Cooper pairs combine into a spin-triplet ground state. We study the specific heat C(H,T) of a high-quality UTe_{2} single crystal, with a single anomaly at a high superconducting transition temperature T_{c}=2.1 K and a low...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sangyun Lee, Andrew J. Woods, P. F. S. Rosa, S. M. Thomas, E. D. Bauer, Shi-Zeng Lin, R. Movshovich
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2025-06-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.L022053
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849471489551630336
author Sangyun Lee
Andrew J. Woods
P. F. S. Rosa
S. M. Thomas
E. D. Bauer
Shi-Zeng Lin
R. Movshovich
author_facet Sangyun Lee
Andrew J. Woods
P. F. S. Rosa
S. M. Thomas
E. D. Bauer
Shi-Zeng Lin
R. Movshovich
author_sort Sangyun Lee
collection DOAJ
description UTe_{2} is a newly discovered unconventional superconductor, where electron Cooper pairs combine into a spin-triplet ground state. We study the specific heat C(H,T) of a high-quality UTe_{2} single crystal, with a single anomaly at a high superconducting transition temperature T_{c}=2.1 K and a low residual Sommerfeld coefficient γ_{0}. Applying magnetic fields up to 12 T along the crystallographic axes a, b, and c, we observe highly anisotropic behavior in γ_{0}(H). Below 4 T, γ_{0}(H)≈γ0+λi√H (i=a,b,c), which is expected for an unconventional superconductor with nodes on the Fermi surface away from the direction of the magnetic field. At 4 T (a and b axes) and 5.5 T (c axis), distinctive changes in the behavior of γ_{0}(H) suggest that a stable low-field ground state begins to evolve above 4 T. The data analysis indicates that the nodes are located near the a–b plane, with possible order parameters d_{B2u}+iɛd_{B1u} or d_{B2u}+iɛd_{Au}. Our findings support B_{2u} as the primary superconducting order parameter in UTe_{2}.
format Article
id doaj-art-8c176be5ab0f4b6ebc13b358e92e0580
institution Kabale University
issn 2643-1564
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher American Physical Society
record_format Article
series Physical Review Research
spelling doaj-art-8c176be5ab0f4b6ebc13b358e92e05802025-08-20T03:24:48ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642025-06-0172L02205310.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.L022053Anisotropic field-induced changes in the superconducting order parameter of UTe_{2}Sangyun LeeAndrew J. WoodsP. F. S. RosaS. M. ThomasE. D. BauerShi-Zeng LinR. MovshovichUTe_{2} is a newly discovered unconventional superconductor, where electron Cooper pairs combine into a spin-triplet ground state. We study the specific heat C(H,T) of a high-quality UTe_{2} single crystal, with a single anomaly at a high superconducting transition temperature T_{c}=2.1 K and a low residual Sommerfeld coefficient γ_{0}. Applying magnetic fields up to 12 T along the crystallographic axes a, b, and c, we observe highly anisotropic behavior in γ_{0}(H). Below 4 T, γ_{0}(H)≈γ0+λi√H (i=a,b,c), which is expected for an unconventional superconductor with nodes on the Fermi surface away from the direction of the magnetic field. At 4 T (a and b axes) and 5.5 T (c axis), distinctive changes in the behavior of γ_{0}(H) suggest that a stable low-field ground state begins to evolve above 4 T. The data analysis indicates that the nodes are located near the a–b plane, with possible order parameters d_{B2u}+iɛd_{B1u} or d_{B2u}+iɛd_{Au}. Our findings support B_{2u} as the primary superconducting order parameter in UTe_{2}.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.L022053
spellingShingle Sangyun Lee
Andrew J. Woods
P. F. S. Rosa
S. M. Thomas
E. D. Bauer
Shi-Zeng Lin
R. Movshovich
Anisotropic field-induced changes in the superconducting order parameter of UTe_{2}
Physical Review Research
title Anisotropic field-induced changes in the superconducting order parameter of UTe_{2}
title_full Anisotropic field-induced changes in the superconducting order parameter of UTe_{2}
title_fullStr Anisotropic field-induced changes in the superconducting order parameter of UTe_{2}
title_full_unstemmed Anisotropic field-induced changes in the superconducting order parameter of UTe_{2}
title_short Anisotropic field-induced changes in the superconducting order parameter of UTe_{2}
title_sort anisotropic field induced changes in the superconducting order parameter of ute 2
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.L022053
work_keys_str_mv AT sangyunlee anisotropicfieldinducedchangesinthesuperconductingorderparameterofute2
AT andrewjwoods anisotropicfieldinducedchangesinthesuperconductingorderparameterofute2
AT pfsrosa anisotropicfieldinducedchangesinthesuperconductingorderparameterofute2
AT smthomas anisotropicfieldinducedchangesinthesuperconductingorderparameterofute2
AT edbauer anisotropicfieldinducedchangesinthesuperconductingorderparameterofute2
AT shizenglin anisotropicfieldinducedchangesinthesuperconductingorderparameterofute2
AT rmovshovich anisotropicfieldinducedchangesinthesuperconductingorderparameterofute2