- Physical Review Journals
All JournalsPhysics Magazine

Physical Review B

Reuse & Permissions

It is not necessary to obtain permission to reuse this article or its components as it is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI are maintained. Please note that some figures may have been included with permission from other third parties. It is your responsibility to obtain the proper permission from the rights holder directly for these figures.

Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation
  • Letter
  • Open Access

Exposing the odd-parity superconductivity in CeRh2As2 with hydrostatic pressure

K. Semeniuk1,*,†, M. Pfeiffer1,2,*, J. F. Landaeta1,2, M. Nicklas1, C. Geibel1, M. Brando1, S. Khim1, and E. Hassinger1,2,‡

  • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
  • †Contact author: konstantin.semeniuk@cpfs.mpg.de
  • ‡Contact author: elena.hassinger@tu-dresden.de
PDF

Phys. Rev. B 110, L100504 – Published 20 September, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.110.L100504

Abstract

Odd-parity superconductivity is a fundamentally interesting but rare state of matter with a potential for applications in topological quantum computing. Crystals with staggered locally noncentrosymmetric structures have been proposed as platforms where a magnetic field can induce a transition between even- and odd-parity superconducting (SC) states. The strongly correlated superconductor CeRh2As2, with the critical temperature Tc≈0.4K, is likely the first example material showing such a phase transition, which occurs at the magnetic field μ0H*=4T applied along the crystallographic c axis. CeRh2As2 also undergoes a phase transition of an unknown origin at T0=0.5K. By subjecting CeRh2As2 to hydrostatic pressure and mapping the resultant changes to the SC phase diagrams we investigated how the lattice compression and changes to the electronic correlations affect the stability and relative balance of the two SC states. The abnormally high in-plane upper critical field becomes even higher close to a quantum critical point of the T0 order. Remarkably, the SC phase-switching field H* is drastically reduced under pressure, dropping to 0.3 T at 2.7 GPa. This result signals an apparent strengthening of the local noncentrosymmetricity and forecasts a possible stabilization of the putative odd-parity state down to zero field, hitherto not considered by theoretical models.

View figure in article

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

See Also

Pressure-Tuned Quantum Criticality in the Locally Noncentrosymmetric Superconductor CeRh2As2

M. Pfeiffer, K. Semeniuk, J. F. Landaeta, R. Borth, C. Geibel, M. Nicklas, M. Brando, S. Khim, and E. Hassinger
Phys. Rev. Lett. 133, 126506 (2024)

Article Text

Supplemental Material

References (42)

  1. G. Bihlmayer, O. Rader, and R. Winkler, Focus on the Rashba effect, New J. Phys. 17, 050202 (2015).
  2. L. P. Gor'kov and E. I. Rashba, Superconducting 2D system with lifted spin degeneracy: Mixed singlet-triplet state, Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 037004 (2001).
  3. T. Yoshida, M. Sigrist, and Y. Yanase, Pair-density wave states through spin-orbit coupling in multilayer superconductors, Phys. Rev. B 86, 134514 (2012).
  4. S. Khim, J. F. Landaeta, J. Banda, N. Bannor, M. Brando, P. M. R. Brydon, D. Hafner, R. Küchler, R. Cardoso-Gil, U. Stockert, A. P. Mackenzie, D. F. Agterberg, C. Geibel, and E. Hassinger, Field-induced transition within the superconducting state of CeRh2As2, Science 373, 1012 (2021).
  5. R. Madar, P. Chaudouet, J. Senateur, S. Zemni, and D. Tranqui, New ternary pnictides with the CaBe2Ge2-type structure in the systems, rare-earth-Rh-P and rare-earth-Rh-As, J. Less-Common Met. 133, 303 (1987).
  6. K. Semeniuk, D. Hafner, P. Khanenko, T. Lühmann, J. Banda, J. F. Landaeta, C. Geibel, S. Khim, E. Hassinger, and M. Brando, Decoupling multiphase superconductivity from normal state ordering in CeRh2As2, Phys. Rev. B 107, L220504 (2023).
  7. J. F. Landaeta, P. Khanenko, D. C. Cavanagh, C. Geibel, S. Khim, S. Mishra, I. Sheikin, P. M. R. Brydon, D. F. Agterberg, M. Brando, and E. Hassinger, Field-angle dependence reveals odd-parity superconductivity in CeRh2As2, Phys. Rev. X 12, 031001 (2022).
  8. D. Möckli and A. Ramires, Superconductivity in disordered locally noncentrosymmetric materials: An application to CeRh2As2, Phys. Rev. B 104, 134517 (2021).
  9. D. C. Cavanagh, T. Shishidou, M. Weinert, P. M. R. Brydon, and D. F. Agterberg, Nonsymmorphic symmetry and field-driven odd-parity pairing in CeRh2As2, Phys. Rev. B 105, L020505 (2022).
  10. M. H. Fischer, M. Sigrist, D. F. Agterberg, and Y. Yanase, Superconductivity and local inversion-symmetry breaking, Annu. Rev. Condens. Matter Phys. 14, 153 (2023).
  11. D. Hafner, P. Khanenko, E.-O. Eljaouhari, R. Küchler, J. Banda, N. Bannor, T. Lühmann, J. F. Landaeta, S. Mishra, I. Sheikin, E. Hassinger, S. Khim, C. Geibel, G. Zwicknagl, and M. Brando, Possible quadrupole density wave in the superconducting Kondo lattice CeRh2As2, Phys. Rev. X 12, 011023 (2022).
  12. S. Mishra, Y. Liu, E. D. Bauer, F. Ronning, and S. M. Thomas, Anisotropic magnetotransport properties of the heavy-fermion superconductor CeRh2As2, Phys. Rev. B 106, L140502 (2022).
  13. M. Pfeiffer, K. Semeniuk, J. F. Landaeta, R. Borth, C. Geibel, M. Nicklas, M. Brando, S. Khim, and E. Hassinger, companion paper, Pressure-tuned quantum criticality in the locally noncentrosymmetric superconductor CeRh2As2, Phys. Rev. Lett. 133, 126506 (2024).
  14. M. Kibune, S. Kitagawa, K. Kinjo, S. Ogata, M. Manago, T. Taniguchi, K. Ishida, M. Brando, E. Hassinger, H. Rosner, C. Geibel, and S. Khim, Observation of antiferromagnetic order as odd-parity multipoles inside the superconducting phase in CeRh2As2, Phys. Rev. Lett. 128, 057002 (2022).
  15. S. Kitagawa, M. Kibune, K. Kinjo, M. Manago, T. Taniguchi, K. Ishida, M. Brando, E. Hassinger, C. Geibel, and S. Khim, Two-dimensional XY-type magnetic properties of locally noncentrosymmetric superconductor CeRh2As2, J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 91, 043702 (2022).
  16. S. Ogata, S. Kitagawa, K. Kinjo, K. Ishida, M. Brando, E. Hassinger, C. Geibel, and S. Khim, Parity transition of spin-singlet superconductivity using sublattice degrees of freedom, Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 166001 (2023).
  17. G. Chajewski and D. Kaczorowski, Discovery of magnetic phase transitions in heavy-fermion superconductor CeRh2As2, Phys. Rev. Lett. 132, 076504 (2024).
  18. J. F. Landaeta, A. M. León, S. Zwickel, T. Lühmann, M. Brando, C. Geibel, E.-O. Eljaouhari, H. Rosner, G. Zwicknagl, E. Hassinger, and S. Khim, Conventional type-II superconductivity in locally noncentrosymmetric LaRh2As2 single crystals, Phys. Rev. B 106, 014506 (2022).
  19. H. Siddiquee, Z. Rehfuss, C. Broyles, and S. Ran, Pressure dependence of superconductivity in CeRh2As2, Phys. Rev. B 108, L020504 (2023).
  20. See Supplemental Material at http://link.aps.org/supplemental/10.1103/PhysRevB.110.L100504 for description of the relevant details of the experimental methods and protocols, a set of resistivity data supporting the shown phase diagrams, as well as additional analysis and discussion reinforcing the conclusions of this work, which includes Refs. [37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42].
  21. K. Nogaki and Y. Yanase, Even-odd parity transition in strongly correlated locally noncentrosymmetric superconductors: Application to CeRh2As2, Phys. Rev. B 106, L100504 (2022).
  22. O. P. Squire, S. A. Hodgson, J. Chen, V. Fedoseev, C. K. de Podesta, T. I. Weinberger, P. L. Alireza, and F. M. Grosche, Superconductivity beyond the conventional Pauli limit in high-pressure CeSb2, Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 026001 (2023).
  23. C. F. Miclea, M. Nicklas, D. Parker, K. Maki, J. L. Sarrao, J. D. Thompson, G. Sparn, and F. Steglich, Pressure dependence of the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov state in CeCoIn5, Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 117001 (2006).
  24. S. Kittaka, Y. Aoki, Y. Shimura, T. Sakakibara, S. Seiro, C. Geibel, F. Steglich, Y. Tsutsumi, H. Ikeda, and K. Machida, Thermodynamic study of gap structure and pair-breaking effect by magnetic field in the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCu2Si2, Phys. Rev. B 94, 054514 (2016).
  25. F. Thomas, B. Wand, T. Lühmann, P. Gegenwart, G. Stewart, F. Steglich, J. Brison, A. Buzdin, L. Glémot, and J. Flouquet, Strong coupling effects on the upper critical field of the heavy-fermion superconductor UBe13, J. Low Temp. Phys. 102, 117 (1996).
  26. L. N. Bulaevskii, O. V. Dolgov, and M. O. Ptitsyn, Properties of strong-coupled superconductors, Phys. Rev. B 38, 11290 (1988).
  27. M. Schossmann and J. P. Carbotte, Pauli limiting of the upper critical magnetic field, Phys. Rev. B 39, 4210 (1989).
  28. R. Settai, Y. Miyauchi, T. Takeuchi, F. Lévy, I. Sheikin, and Y. Ōnuki, Huge upper critical field and electronic instability in pressure-induced superconductor CeIrSi3 without inversion symmetry in the crystal structure, J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 77, 073705 (2008).
  29. E. Lengyel, M. Nicklas, H. S. Jeevan, C. Geibel, and F. Steglich, Pressure tuning of the interplay of magnetism and superconductivity in CeCu2Si2, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 057001 (2011).
  30. Y. Wu, Y. Zhang, S. Ju, Y. Hu, G. Yang, H. Zheng, Y. Huang, Y. Zhang, H. Zhang, B. Song, N. C. Plumb, F. Steglich, M. Shi, G. Zwicknagl, C. Cao, H. Yuan, and Y. Liu, Fermi surface nesting with heavy quasiparticles in the locally noncentrosymmetric superconductor CeRh2As2, Chinese Phys. Lett. (2024), doi: 10.1088/0256-307X/41/9/097403.
  31. X. Chen, L. Wang, J. Ishizuka, R. Zhang, K. Nogaki, Y. Cheng, F. Yang, Z. Chen, F. Zhu, Z. Liu, J. Mei, Y. Yanase, B. Lv, and Y. Huang, Coexistence of near-EF flat band and van Hove singularity in a two-phase superconductor, Phys. Rev. X 14, 021048 (2024).
  32. P. Fulde and R. A. Ferrell, Superconductivity in a strong spin-exchange field, Phys. Rev. 135, A550 (1964).
  33. A. I. Larkin and Y. N. Ovchinnikov, Nonuniform state of superconductors, Sov. Phys. JETP 20, 762 (1965).
  34. T. Yoshida, M. Sigrist, and Y. Yanase, Complex-stripe phases induced by staggered Rashba spin-orbit coupling, J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 82, 074714 (2013).
  35. Y. Matsuda and H. Shimahara, Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov state in heavy fermion superconductors, J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 76, 051005 (2007).
  36. K. Machida, Violation of Pauli-Clogston limit in the heavy-fermion superconductor CeRh2As2: Duality of itinerant and localized 4f electrons, Phys. Rev. B 106, 184509 (2022).
  37. Y. Karaki, Y. Koike, M. Kubota, and H. Ishimoto, Specific heat of beryllium-copper alloy at very low temperature, Cryogenics 37, 171 (1997).
  38. S. Onishi, U. Stockert, S. Khim, J. Banda, M. Brando, and E. Hassinger, Low-temperature thermal conductivity of the two-phase superconductor CeRh2As2, Front. Electron. Mater. 2, 880579 (2022).
  39. E. Helfand and N. R. Werthamer, Temperature and purity dependence of the superconducting critical field, Hc2. II, Phys. Rev. 147, 288 (1966).
  40. A. Ptok, K. J. Kapcia, P. T. Jochym, J. Łażewski, A. M. Oleś, and P. Piekarz, Electronic and dynamical properties of CeRh2As2: Role of Rh2As2 layers and expected orbital order, Phys. Rev. B 104, L041109 (2021).
  41. J. Ishizuka, K. Nogaki, M. Sigrist, and Y. Yanase, Correlation-induced Fermi surface evolution and topological crystalline superconductivity in CeRh2As2, arXiv:2311.00324.
  42. K. J. Kapcia and A. Ptok, Electronic properties and surface states of CeRh2As2, arXiv:2311.01037.

Outline

Information

Phys. Rev. B 110, L100504– Published 20 September, 2024
  • Received 15 December 2023
  • Revised 31 May 2024
  • Accepted 29 August 2024
Crossmark - Check for updates button
Creative Commons Logo

Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI. Open access publication funded by Max Planck Society.

Published by the American Physical Society

Sign In to Your Journals Account

Filter

Filter

Article Lookup

Enter a citation