1. Odd-parity superconductivity underpinned by antiferromagnetism in heavy fermion metal YbRh$_2$Si$_2$
- Author
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Levitin, Lev V., Knapp, Jan, Knappová, Petra, Lucas, Marijn, Nyéki, Ján, Heikkinen, Petri, Antonov, Vladimir, Casey, Andrew, Ho, Andrew F., Coleman, Piers, Geibel, Christoph, Steppke, Alexander, Kliemt, Kristin, Krellner, Cornelius, Brando, Manuel, and Saunders, John
- Subjects
Condensed Matter - Superconductivity ,Condensed Matter - Strongly Correlated Electrons - Abstract
Topological superconductors are essential elements of the periodic table of topological quantum matter. However, the relevant odd-parity spin-triplet superconductors are rare. We report high-resolution measurements of the complex electrical impedance of YbRh$_2$Si$_2$ down to 0.4 mK, that reveal the presence of several superconducting states, suppressed differently by magnetic field, both Pauli-limited and beyond the Pauli limit. Superconductivity is abruptly switched off at the critical field of the primary antiferromagnetic order. The onset of electro-nuclear spin density wave order enhances the superconductivity, which we account for by the simultaneous formation of a spin-triplet pair density wave. Together these observations provide compelling evidence for odd-parity superconductivity, and its underpinning by antiferromagnetism, and allow us to identify the topological helical state., Comment: 24 pages, 4 main and 15 supplementary figures, 1 supplementary table
- Published
- 2025