A peak in the critical current for quantum critical superconductors

Soon-Gil Jung, Soonbeom Seo, Sangyun Lee, Eric D. Bauer, Han-Oh Lee and Tuson Park ()
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Soon-Gil Jung: Sungkyunkwan University
Soonbeom Seo: Sungkyunkwan University
Sangyun Lee: Sungkyunkwan University
Eric D. Bauer: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Han-Oh Lee: Zhejiang University
Tuson Park: Sungkyunkwan University

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-5

Abstract: Abstract Generally, studies of the critical current Ic are necessary if superconductors are to be of practical use, because Ic sets the current limit below which there is a zero-resistance state. Here, we report a peak in the pressure dependence of the zero-field Ic, Ic(0), at a hidden quantum critical point (QCP), where a continuous antiferromagnetic transition temperature is suppressed by pressure toward 0 K in CeRhIn5 and 4.4% Sn-doped CeRhIn5. The Ic(0)s of these Ce-based compounds under pressure exhibit a universal temperature dependence, underlining that the peak in zero-field Ic(P) is determined predominantly by critical fluctuations associated with the hidden QCP. The dc conductivity σdc is a minimum at the QCP, showing anti-correlation with Ic(0). These discoveries demonstrate that a quantum critical point hidden inside the superconducting phase in strongly correlated materials can be exposed by the zero-field Ic, therefore providing a direct link between a QCP and unconventional superconductivity.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-02899-5

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