Low-dimensional antiferromagnetic fluctuations in the superconductor UTe<sub>2</sub>
ORAL · Invited
Abstract
We present inelastic-neutron-scattering measurements performed on a large single crystal (mass of 241 mg) of the new heavy-fermion superconductor UTe2 above [1] and below [2] its superconducting temperature. We confirm the presence of antiferromagnetic fluctuations with the incommensurate wavevector k1 = (0 0.57 0). We emphasize the low-dimensionality of the magnetic fluctuations, consequence of the ladder structure of the U atoms, which is indicated by weak correlations along the direction c. The absence or weakness of ferromagnetic fluctuations in our data is discussed. A phenomenological magnetic-exchange scheme, with intra-ladder ferromagnetic coupling and inter-ladder antiferromagnetic coupling along b, is proposed. A gap-opening of the antiferromagnetic fluctuations is observed in the superconducting phase. Our neutron-scattering data obtained from a unique single crystal are compared with data obtained using large assemblies of co-aligned single crystals [3,4]. A discussion about the possible signatures of the observed antiferromagnetic fluctuations in bulk electronic-transport and thermodynamic measurements, but also from NMR spectroscopy, is also proposed. These new data may stimulate the elaboration of models based on magnetically-mediated pairing to describe superconductivity in UTe2.
[1] W. Knafo et al., Phys. Rev. B 104, L100409 (2021).
[2] S. Raymond et al., J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 90, 113706 (2021).
[3] C. Duan et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 237003 (2020).
[4] C. Duan et al., arXiv:2106.14424.
[1] W. Knafo et al., Phys. Rev. B 104, L100409 (2021).
[2] S. Raymond et al., J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 90, 113706 (2021).
[3] C. Duan et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 237003 (2020).
[4] C. Duan et al., arXiv:2106.14424.
*This work was supported by the ANR FRESCO No. ANR-20-CE30-0020 and was partly supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grants Nos. JP19H00646, 19K03756, JP20H00130, 20H01864, JP20K20889, JP20KK0061, and 21H04987.
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Publication: "Low-dimensional antiferromagnetic fluctuations in the heavy-fermion paramagnetic ladder UTe2",W. Knafo, G. Knebel, P. Steffens, K. Kaneko, A. Rosuel, J.-P. Brison, J. Flouquet, D. Aoki, G. Lapertot, and S. Raymond, Phys. Rev. B 104, L100409 (2021).
"Feedback of superconductivity on the magnetic excitation spectrum of UTe2", S. Raymond, W. Knafo, G. Knebel, K. Kaneko, J. -P. Brison, J. Flouquet, D. Aoki, and G. Lapertot, J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 90, 113706 (2021).
Presenters
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William Knafo
- LNCMI-Toulouse / CNRS