Litcius/Paper detail

Single thermodynamic transition at 2 K in superconducting UTe2 single crystals

P. F. S. Rosa, Ashley Weiland, Shannon S. Fender, Brian L. Scott, F. Ronning, J. D. Thompson, E. D. Bauer, S. M. Thomas

2022Communications Materials102 citationsDOIOpen Access PDF

Abstract

Abstract UTe 2 is a newly-discovered unconventional superconductor wherein multicomponent topological superconductivity is anticipated based on the presence of two superconducting transitions and time-reversal symmetry breaking in the superconducting state. The observation of two superconducting transitions, however, remains controversial. Here we demonstrate that UTe 2 single crystals displaying an optimal superconducting transition temperature at 2 K exhibit a single transition and remarkably high quality supported by their large residual resistance ratio and small residual heat capacity in the superconducting state. Our results shed light on the intrinsic superconducting properties of UTe 2 and bring into question whether UTe 2 is a multicomponent superconductor at ambient pressure.

Topics & Concepts

SuperconductivityCondensed matter physicsMaterials scienceSuperconducting transition temperatureSingle crystalTransition (genetics)ThermodynamicsCrystallographyChemistryPhysicsBiochemistryGeneRare-earth and actinide compoundsIron-based superconductors researchHigh-pressure geophysics and materials