Suppression of hidden order in URu2Si2 under pressure and restoration in magnetic field

E. Hassinger, D. Aoki, F. Bourdarot, G. Knebel, V. Taufour, S. Raymond, A. Villaume, J. Flouquet, E. Hassinger

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Abstract

We describe here recent inelastic neutron scattering experiments on the heavy fermion compound URu2Si2 realized in order to clarify the nature of the hidden order (HO) phase which occurs below T 0 = 17.5 K at ambient pressure. The choice was to measure at a given pressure P where the system will go, by lowering the temperature, successively from paramagnetic (PM) to HO and then to antiferromagnetic phase (AF). Furthermore, in order to verify the selection of the pressure, a macroscopic detection of the phase transitions was also achieved in situ via its thermal expansion response detected by a strain gauge glued on the crystal. Just above Px = 0.5 GPa, where the ground state switches from HO to AF, the Q0 = (1,0,0) excitation disappears while the excitation at the incommensurate wavevector Q1 = (1.4, 0, 0) remains. Thus, the Q 0 = (1, 0, 0) excitation is intrinsic only in the HO phase. This result is reinforced by studies where now pressure and magnetic field H can be used as tuning variable. Above Px, the AF phase at low temperature is destroyed by a magnetic field larger than HAF (collapse of the AF Q0 = (1, 0,0) Bragg reflection). The field reentrance of the HO phase is demonstrated by the reappearance of its characteristic Q0 = (1, 0, 0) excitation. The recovery of a PM phase will only be achieved far above H AF at HM ≈ 35 T. To determine the P-H-T phase diagram of URu2Si2, macroscopic measurements of the thermal expansion were realized with a strain gauge. The reentrant magnetic field increases strongly with pressure. Finally, to investigate the interplay between superconductivity (SC) and spin dynamics, new inelastic neutron scattering experiments are reported down to 0.4 K, far below the superconducting critical temperature TSC ≈ 1.3 K as measured on our crystal by diamagnetic shielding.

Original languageEnglish
Article number012001
JournalJournal of Physics: Conference Series
Volume251
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes

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