Pressure-induced valence crossover in superconducting CeCu2Si2

Measurement of the Ce valence in the heavy fermion CeCu(2)Si(2) is reported for the first time under pressure and at low temperature (T=14 K) in proximity of the superconducting region. CeCu(2)Si(2) is considered as a strong candidate for a new type of pairing mechanism related to critical valence fluctuations which could set in at high pressure in the vicinity of the second superconducting dome. A quantitative estimate of the valence in this pressure region was achieved from the measurements of the Ce L(3) edge in the high-resolution partial-fluorescence yield mode and subsequent analysis of the spectra within the Anderson impurity model. While a clear increase of the Ce valence is found, the weak electron transfer and the continuous valence change under pressure suggests a crossover regime with the hypothetical valence line terminating at a critical end point T(cr) close to zero.     

The superconducting Kondo lattice: CeCu2Si2

Studying electric, magnetic, and thermolectric properties of Ce_xLa_1–xCu₂Si₂ alloys we have determined the variation of two principal parameters-T _k andT _RKKY -with concentrationx in the range 0<x1. The magnetic phase diagram of Ce_xLa_1-xCu₂Si₂ alloys has been found to be similar to that proposed by Doniach for the one-dimensional Kondo-necklace model. The anomalous low temperature properties of nonmagnetic Kondon lattices, including heavy fermion superconductivity, are related to the formate of the narrow Abrikosov-Suhl resonance in the vicinity of the Fermi level in concentrated Kondo systems withT _K T _RKKY .     

Growth of large superconducting CeCu2Si2single crystals

Large CeCu₂Si₂ single crystals have been grown with the cold boat technique. The transition temperature to the superconducting state is strongly dependent on the copper concentration in the crystal. Annealing under copper atmosphere shifts the transition temperature to higher values.     

A polarised neutron scattering study of magnetic fluctuations in the heavy fermion superconductor CeCu2Si2

Magnetic fluctuations in CeCu₂Si₂ were directly observed, both above the superconducting transition temperatureT _C as well as below. Spatial correlations of the magnetisation density belowT _C are weak, resulting in an essentially wavevector independent magnetic response. The intensity observed within an energy window of ±5 THz centred on =0 THz corresponds to 1µ per Ce atom. Higher energy excitations peaking between 7–10 THz were observed and are probably due to higher crystal field levels.     

Pressure tuning of the interplay of magnetism and superconductivity in CeCu2Si2

We carried out specific-heat and ac-susceptibility experiments under hydrostatic pressure to investigate the interplay of spin-density-wave antiferromagnetism (A) and superconductivity (S) in single-crystalline AS-type CeCu(2)Si(2). We find evidence for a line of magnetic-field- and pressure-tuned quantum critical points in the normal state in the zero-temperature magnetic field-pressure plane. Our analysis suggests an extension of this line into the superconducting state and corroborates the close connection of the underlying mechanisms leading to the formation of the antiferromagnetic and the superconducting states in AS-type CeCu(2)Si(2).     

Quasiparticle band structure of CeCu2Si2 and CeAl3

The band structure for the ground state is obtained for CeCu₂Si₂ and CeAl₃ within the local-density approximation (LDA). Subsequently, the quasiparticle band structure is calculated on the basis of the Kondo Lattice Ansatz (KLA) for the Cerium 4f state using the LDA potential parameters for all other electrons. The KLA requires the specification of both the symmetry of the scattering channel, which is taken from the crystal-field (CF) ground state, and the energy dependence of the scattering phase shift, for which a Kondo resonance is assumed. Different results are obtained for two choices of the CF ground-state parameters for CeCu₂Si₂. Based on our results the low temperature specific heat is discussed.     

Temperature dependence of the Kondo resonance and its satellites in CeCu2Si2

We present high-resolution photoemission spectroscopy studies on the Kondo resonance of the strongly correlated Ce system CeCu2Si2. By exploiting the thermal broadening of the Fermi edge we analyze position, spectral weight, and temperature dependence of the low-energy 4f spectral features, whose major weight lies above the Fermi level E(F). We also present theoretical predictions based on the single-impurity Anderson model using an extended noncrossing approximation, including all spin-orbit and crystal field splittings of the 4f states. The excellent agreement between theory and experiment provides strong evidence that the spectral properties of CeCu2Si2 can be described by single-impurity Kondo physics down to T approximately 5 K.     

Feedback spin resonance in superconducting CeCu2Si2 and CeCoIn5

We show that the recently observed spin resonance modes in heavy-fermion superconductors CeCoIn5 and CeCu2Si2 are magnetic excitons originating from superconducting quasiparticles. The wave vector Q of the resonance state leads to a powerful criterion for the symmetry and node positions of the unconventional gap function. The detailed analysis of the superconducting feedback on magnetic excitations reveals that the symmetry of the superconducting gap corresponds to a singlet d_{x;{2}-y;{2}} state symmetry in both compounds. In particular this resolves the long-standing ambiguity of the gap symmetry in CeCoIn5. We demonstrate that in both superconductors the resonance peak shows a significant dispersion away from Q which can be checked experimentally. Our analysis reveals the similar origin of the resonance peaks in the two heavy-fermion superconductors and in layered cuprates.     

Crystallographic investigations and comparison of superconducting and nonsuperconducting CeCu2Si2

Two samples of CeCu _x Si₂ withx=1.8 (non superconducting) andx=2.2 (superconducting) have been investigated by neutron powder diffraction. Both samples were characterized crystallographically and then their impurity content and lattice site occupation were determined. Anisotropic thermal vibrations of the Cu and Si atoms is detected at low temperatures. A relationship between the structural parameterz (defining the distance Ce to Si) and the occurance of superconductivity is suggested.     

Transport properties of LaCu2Si2 and CeCu2Si2 between 1.5K and 300K

We report measurements of the electrical resistivity, the thermal conductivityk and the thermoelectric powerS between 1.5K and 300K on the anomalous CeCu₂Si₂ compound and on LaCu₂Si₂ as reference compound. For LaCu₂Si₂ the temperature dependences of andS are in accord with those found in otherd band metals. For CeCu₂Si₂ the observed resistivity (220 µ cm at 200K) leads to a very short electronic mean free path which is of the order of the Ce-Ce spacing. Correspondingly,k is almost identical with the phonon contributionk _p . Below 20K, resistivity and thermoelectric power strongly suggest Fermi liquid behavior with a degeneracy temperature between 20K and 40K. Above 200K, both andS decrease proportionally to –ln(T/1 K).Work performed within the research program of the Sonderforschungsbereich 125 Aachen/Jülich/KölnPart of this work will be presented at the Int. Conf. on Rare Earths in the Metallic State, St. Pierre de Chartreuse, Sept. 1978     

ESR of Gd-impurities in the heavy fermion compounds CeCu2Si2 and CeAl3

The heavy fermion systems CeCu₂Si₂ and CeAl₃ are characterized by a huge quasiparticle density of states responsible for the large electronic specific heat. The observation of a Gd³⁺ electron spin resonance (ESR) in single crystals CeCu₂Si₂ and in polycrystalline CeAl₃ clearly demonstrates the local character of these quasiparticles. Nevertheless, the Gd-spin relaxation shows remarkable anomalies with respect to the isostructural compounds LaCu₂Si₂ and LaAl₃: Probably via RKKY coupling, Ce 4f-spin fluctuations give rise to an enhanced Gd-spin relaxation resulting in an unusual non-linear thermal broadening around the Kondo temperature. From this we obtain information about the temperature dependence of the Ce 4f-spin correlation time.     

Lattice disorder and impurity induced variation of electrical transport properties of the Heavy Fermion systems CeCu2Si2 and CeCu6

X-ray diffraction experiments have been performed on mono- and submonolayers of CF₃Cl physisorbed on the (001) surfaces of exfoliated graphite. Five quasi-twodimensional solid phases including the commensurate 2×2 phase, an electrically ordered phase and a disordered incommensurate phase have been observed. A phase diagram is proposed and the various phase transitions are discussed.     

Interplay between unconventional superconductivity and heavy-fermion quantum criticality: CeCu2Si2 versus YbRh2Si2

In this paper the low-temperature properties of two isostructural canonical heavy-fermion compounds are contrasted with regards to the interplay between antiferromagnetic (AF) quantum criticality and superconductivity. For CeCu₂Si₂, fully-gapped d-wave superconductivity forms in the vicinity of an itinerant three-dimensional heavy-fermion spin-density-wave (SDW) quantum critical point (QCP). Inelastic neutron scattering results highlight that both quantum critical SDW fluctuations as well as Mott-type fluctuations of local magnetic moments contribute to the formation of Cooper pairs in CeCu₂Si₂. In YbRh₂Si₂, superconductivity appears to be suppressed at T???10?mK by AF order (T_N?=?70?mK). Ultra-low temperature measurements reveal a hybrid order between nuclear and 4f-electronic spins, which is dominated by the Yb-derived nuclear spins, to develop at T_A slightly above 2?mK. The hybrid order turns out to strongly compete with the primary 4f-electronic order and to push the material towards its QCP. Apparently, this paves the way for heavy-fermion superconductivity to form at T_c?=?2?mK. Like the pressure – induced QCP in CeRhIn₅, the magnetic field – induced one in YbRh₂Si₂ is of the local Kondo-destroying variety which corresponds to a Mott-type transition at zero temperature. Therefore, these materials form the link between the large family of about fifty low-T unconventional heavy – fermion superconductors and other families of unconventional superconductors with higher T_cs, notably the doped Mott insulators of the cuprates, organic charge-transfer salts and some of the Fe-based superconductors. Our study suggests that heavy-fermion superconductivity near an AF QCP is a robust phenomenon.     

Structural properties and band structure of heavy fermion systems: CeCu2Si2 and LaCu2Si2

The structure of CeCu₂Si₂, isotypic with ThCr₂Si₂, has been refined in a single-crystal study. The atomic parameters were used in self-consistent LMTO band structure calculations for CeCu₂Si₂ and isostructural LaCu₂Si₂. The results are analysed in terms of energy levels, charge distribution and in particular Fermi surface properties. The Ce-4f levels are situated mainly aboveE _F , except near the Γ-point. The density-of-states atE _F is large and heavily concentrated around the Ce-4f band. This makes local Ce 4f fluctuations possible, while interaction with the rest of the band structure is small. The comparison with LaCu₂Si₂ shows that the additional Cef electron is partly promoted into the non-f bands. Large enhancement factors are required to bring band results into agreement with observed specific heat and magnetic critical field. Strong Fermi surface anisotropies are pointed out for both compounds suggesting new experiments on single crystals.     

Thin-film preparation,superconductivity and transport properties of the heavy-fermion system CeCu2Si2

The preparation and superconducting and transport properties of thin films of the heavy fermion superconductor CeCu₂Si₂ are reported. Superconductivity with onset temperatures above 600 mK was observed. The resistively measured temperature dependence of the upper critical field could be self-consistently fitted by Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg-theory with a Maki parameter α ≈ 20 and a spin-orbit scattering parameter λ_SO ≈ 6. The electrical resistivity was measured up to 300 K revealing characteristic structures slightly more pronounced than is known from bulk material and a clear T² behavior below 2 K. The formation of heavy quasiparticles at low temperature appears to be also the origin of the measured unusual temperature dependences of the Hall-effect and magnetoresistance.