A theory for the superconducting phases of UPt{sub 3}

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Journal of Low Temperature Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00754932· OSTI ID:102556

Sauls, J A ^[1]

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1. Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)

The author discusses a phenomenological theory for the multiple superconducting phases of UPt{sub 3} that is based on an order parameter belonging to an orbital 2D representation of the hexagonal point group which is coupled to a weak symmetry breaking field. The author shows that (1) the existing H-T and P-T phase diagrams (including an apparent tetracritical point in the H-T plane for all field orientations), (2) the anisotropy of the upper critical field over the full temperature range, (3) the correlation between superconductivity and basal plane antiferromagnetism and (4) low-temperature power laws in the transport and thermodynamic properties can be explained qualitatively, and in many respects quantitatively, by an odd-parity, E{sub 2u} order parameter with a pair spin projection of zero along the c-axis. AFM ordering in the basal plane, which couples to the superconducting order parameter, acts as the symmetry breaking field that is responsible for both the apparent tetracritical point and the zero-field double transition.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 102556
• Report Number(s): CONF-9309321--; CNN: Grant DMMR-9120521
• Journal Information: Journal of Low Temperature Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Low Temperature Physics Journal Issue: 1-2 Vol. 95; ISSN JLTPAC; ISSN 0022-2291
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ANTIFERROMAGNETISM
CRITICAL FIELD
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PLATINUM COMPOUNDS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
TRANSPORT THEORY
URANIUM COMPOUNDS