Anisotropy in the thermal expansion of heavy-fermion UPt sub 3 at the superconducting transition

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.41.7304· OSTI ID:6949904

Visser, A de; Menovsky, A A; Franse, J J.M. ^[1]; Hasselbach, K; Lacerda, A; Taillefer, L; Haen, P; Flouquet, J ^[2]

---

1. Natuurkundig Laboratorium, Valckenierstraat 65, 1018 XE Amsterdam, The Netherlands (NL)
2. Centre de Recherches sur les Tres Basses Temperatures, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Boite Postale 166X, 38042 Grenoble CEDEX, France (FR)

We have measured the coefficients of linear thermal expansion ({alpha}{sub {parallel}} and {alpha}{sub {perpendicular}}) of two single-crystalline samples of heavy-fermion UPt{sub 3} down to temperatures well below the superconducting transition ({ital T}{sub {ital c}}{approx equal}0.5 K). The thermal expansion is strongly anisotropic at {ital T}{sub {ital c}}, where only {alpha}{sub parrallel} has a discontinuity. This implies that {ital T}{sub {ital c}} is suppressed for a uniaxial stress along the hexagonal axis only. In the superconducting phase {alpha}{sub {parallel}} and {alpha}{sub {perpendicular}} vary approximately quadratically, with temperature, as does the specific heat. The Grueneisen parameter shows a large drop at {ital T}{sub {ital c}}; from 69 in the normal phase to {minus}10 in the superconducting phase.

• OSTI ID: 6949904
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA) Vol. 41:10; ISSN PRBMD; ISSN 0163-1829
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104* -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
ACTINIDE ALLOYS
ALLOYS
ANISOTROPY
EXPANSION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLATINUM ALLOYS
PLATINUM METAL ALLOYS
SPECIFIC HEAT
SUPERCONDUCTORS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMAL EXPANSION
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
URANIUM ALLOYS