Hidden Order and Exotic Superconductivity in the Heavy-Fermion Compound URu2Si2

In this thesis, the author investigates hidden-order phase transition at T₀ = 17.5 K in the heavy-fermion URu₂Si₂. The four-fold rotational symmetry breaking in the hidden order phase, which imposes a strong constraint on the theoretical model, is observed through the magnetic torque measurement. The translationally invariant phase with broken rotational symmetry is interpreted as meaning that the hidden-order phase is an electronic "nematic" phase. The observation of such nematicity in URu₂Si₂ indicates a ubiquitous nature among the strongly correlated electron systems.
The author also studies the superconducting state of URu₂Si₂ below T_c = 1.4 K, which coexists with the hidden-order phase. A peculiar vortex penetration in the superconducting state is found, which may be related to the rotational symmetry breaking in the hidden-order phase. The author also identifies a vortex lattice melting transition. This transport study provides essential clues to the underlying issue of quasiparticle dynamics as to whether a quasiparticle Bloch state is realized in the periodic vortex lattice.

List of contents

Introduction.- Heavy-Fermion Superconductor URu 2 Si 2 .- Magnetic torque Study on the Hidden-Order Phase.- Lower Critical Field Study on the Superconducting Phase.- Vortex Lattice Melting Transition.- Conclusion.

About the author

Dr.Ryuji Okazaki

Department of Physics, Nagoya University,

Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.

Product details

• Authors: Ryuji Okazaki
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.01.2016
• EAN: 9784431563594
• ISBN: 978-4-431-56359-4
• No. of pages: 102
• Dimensions: 157 mm x 8 mm x 236 mm
• Weight: 196 g
• Illustrations: XIII, 102 p. 71 illus. in color.
• Series: Springer Theses; Springer Theses
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Technology > Electronics, electrical engineering, communications engineering; B, Optical and Electronic Materials, Physics and Astronomy, Electronic materials, Electronic devices & materials, Optical Materials, Strongly Correlated Systems, Superconductivity, Superconductivity, Superconductors, Low Temperature Physics, Low temperatures