Exotic superconducting properties in the electron-hole-compensated heavy-fermion "Semimetal" URu2Si2

We show that the charge and thermal transport measurements on ultraclean crystals of URu2Si2 reveal a number of unprecedented superconducting properties. The uniqueness is best highlighted by the peculiar field dependence of thermal conductivity including the first-order transition at Hc2 with a reduction of entropy flow. This is a consequence of multiband superconductivity with compensated electronic structure in the hidden order state of this system. We provide strong evidence for a new type of unconventional superconductivity with two distinct gaps having different nodal topology.     

Magnetostriction of monocrystalline URu2Si2

We report magnetostriction measurements on a monocrystalline sample of the heavy-fermion compound URu₂Si₂, below (at 4.2 K) and above (at 20 K) the Néel temperature. For a field direction along the tetragonal axis the magnetostriction is strongly anisotropic; the volume effect amounts to 1.4 × 10^-6T^-1 at 8 T and 4.2 K. For a field direction in the tetragonal plane the magnetostriction is nearly two orders of magnitude smaller, and less anisotropic.     

ESR study of the undoped heavy-fermion compound YbRh2Si2

The electron spin resonance (ESR) of the heavy-fermion metal YbRh₂Si₂ has been studied. The angular variation and the temperature dependence of the ESR line width have been measured in YbRh₂Si₂ single crystals in the temperature range of 4–25 K. The characteristic spin-fluctuation temperatureT ^* ～ 17 K estimated from these studies coincides very well with other experimental data. A well-behaved ESR signal due to local Yb³⁺ moments strongly supports the localized moment scenario for heavy-fermion quantum critical points.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance study of langatate

A langatate crystal was studied using the nuclear magnetic resonance method. The temperature dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation rate of ⁷¹Ga nuclei was measured in a single-crystal sample in the range 294–500 K. It was shown that the relaxation rate depends linearly on the square of the temperature. The shape of the powder spectrum obtained under static conditions was found to correspond to large values of the quadrupole coupling constant of gallium nuclei. The measurements of the powder spectra obtained upon magic-angle spinning made it possible to estimate the quadrupole coupling constant for gallium in the tetrahedral and octahedral oxygen coordinations.     

Superconductivity and magnetic order in a strongly interacting fermi-system: URu2Si2

Measurements are reported on the electrical resistivity, susceptibility, dc-Meissner effect and specific heat of the tetragonal U-compound URu₂Si₂. AtT _N 17 K, an antiferromagnetic phase transition is observed. This magnetically ordered state appears to coexist with superconductivity, which is found belowT _c 1.5 K. An analysis of the upper critical field data reveals rather, unusual properties of both the normal- and the superconducting state. The effective mass of the quasiparticles at low temperatures is substantially enhanced (m ^*50 m₀),though the measured low-temperature specific heat coefficient does not exceed 65 mJ/K²mol.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance study of potassium dihydrophosphate

A powder sample of potassium dihydrophosphate KH₂PO₄ has been studied by the ³¹P NMR method in a wide temperature range covering the ferroelectric phase transition. Changes in the position and shape of the resonance line at the transition to the ferroelectric phase have been revealed. The parameters of the chemical shift tensor of ³¹P (isotropic shift, anisotropy, and asymmetry) in the ferroelectric phase have been calculated from the experimental data. A sharp increase in the anisotropy of the tensor at the phase transition has been demonstrated. Dielectric measurements have also been carried out to verify the transition temperature.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance study of ultrananocrystalline diamonds

We report on a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study of ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) materials produced by detonation technique. Analysis of the ¹³C and ¹H NMR spectra, spin-spin and spin-lattice relaxation times in purified UNCD samples is presented. Our measurements show that UNCD particles consist of a diamond core that is partially covered by a sp ²-carbon fullerene-like shell. The uncovered part of outer diamond surface comprises a number of hydrocarbon groups that saturate the dangling bonds. Our findings are discussed along with recent calculations of the UNCD structure. Significant increase in the spin-lattice relaxation rate (in comparison with that of natural diamond), as well as stretched exponential character of the magnetization recovery, are attributed to the interaction of nuclear spins with paramagnetic centers which are likely fabrication-driven dangling bonds with unpaired electrons. We show that these centers are located mainly at the interface between the diamond core and shell.     

Thermal transport in the hidden-order state of URu2Si2

We present a study of thermal conductivity in the normal state of the heavy-fermion superconductor URu2Si2. Ordering at 18 K leads to a steep increase in thermal conductivity and (in contrast with all other cases of magnetic ordering in heavy-fermion compounds) to an enhancement of the Lorenz number. By linking this observation to several other previously reported features, we conclude that most of the carriers disappear in the ordered state and this leads to a drastic increase in both the phononic and electronic mean free path.     

59Co nuclear magnetic resonance study in GdCo2Si2 compound

The spin echo NMR spectra of⁵⁹Co for GdCo₂Si₂ are reported. A weak negative hyperfine field on Co nuclei was found in magnetically ordered state of the compound. The splitting of resonance lines in external magnetic field indicates on antiferromagnetic structure of Gd moments lying in thea-a plane with energetic minima in [100] and [110] directions as in GdFe₂Si₂ and GdNi₂Si₂.