History Dependence of the Vortex Lattice Rotation in the B-phase of UPt$_3$

ORAL

Abstract

The unconventional superconductor UPt$_3$ is widely believe to be a triplet superconductor, where the low temperature superconducting B-phase is a chiral state. We have performed small angle neutron scattering from the vortex lattice (VL) of UPt$_3$ in the B-phase with magnetic fields parallel to the hexagonal $c$-axis. Our field dependent measurements show scattering from multiple VL domains, with a subtle magnetic field history dependence of the domain orientation; VL's prepared with the magnetic field parallel or antiparallel with respect to the angular momentum from the circulating screening currents show different field history dependence. These results indicate a coupling of a chiral superconducting order parameter with the applied magnetic field, in agreement with other recent results.

*This work was supported by the Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences under Awards No. DE-FG02-10ER46783 (Notre Dame: neutron scattering) and DE-FG02-05ER46248 (Northwestern: Crystal growth and characterization).

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Authors

  • M.R. Eskildsen

    • University of Notre Dame
    • University of Notre Dame, IN, USA

  • W.J. Gannon

    • Northwestern University, IL, USA

  • W.P. Halperin

    • Northwestern University, IL, USA

  • C. Rastovski

    • University of Notre Dame, IN, USA

  • C. Steiner

    • University of Notre Dame, IN, USA

  • U. Gasser

    • Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland

  • G. Nagy

    • Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland

  • J.L. Gavilano

    • Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland