Time Reversal Symmetry of A and B phases of PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$

ORAL

Abstract

The heavy-fermion superconductor PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ has attracted great interest because of the existence of two superconducting transitions at zero magnetic field. However, there is great debate over whether the two superconducting phases (A and B) corresponding to these transitions are intrinsic or simply the result of impurity-induced inhomogeneities. Further, there is strong evidence for time reversal symmetry breaking (TRSB) in the superconducting state. We present polar Kerr effect measurements of PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ crystals. By moving the focused optical spot over the surface of our samples, we are able to discern whether the strength and onset temperature of TRSB is homogeneous over the entire crystal.

*Supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering, under Grant No. DEFG02-04-ER46105, and by Department of Energy Contract No. DE-AC02-76SF00515

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Authors

  • Eli Levenson-Falk

    • Stanford University
    • Quantum Nanoelectronics Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.

  • Elizabeth Schemm

    • Stanford University

  • Ruby Shi

    • Stanford University

  • M. Brian Maple

    • UC San Diego

  • Aharon Kapitulnik

    • Stanford University
    • Stanford Univ