Observation of Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking in the Non-Centrosymmetric Superconductor Re6Zr

Bulletin of the American Physical Society

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APS March Meeting 2014

Volume 59, Number 1

Monday–Friday, March 3–7, 2014; Denver, Colorado

Session Q39: Superconductivity: Sr2RuO4 and Related Materials

2:30 PM–4:54 PM, Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Room: Mile High Ballroom 2A-3A

Sponsoring Unit: DCMP
Chair: Maxim Khodas, University of Iowa

Abstract ID: BAPS.2014.MAR.Q39.9

Abstract: Q39.00009 : Observation of Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking in the Non-Centrosymmetric Superconductor Re6Zr*

4:06 PM–4:18 PM

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Authors:

Martin R. Lees
(Physics Department, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, U.K.)

Adrian D. Hillier
(ISIS facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QX, U.K.)

Bayan Mazidian
(H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL, U.K.)

James F. Annett
(H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL, U.K.)

Jorge Quintanilla
(SEPnet and Hubbard Theory Consortium, School of Physical Sciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NH, U.K.)

Donald McK. Paul
(Physics Department, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, U.K.)

Ravi Singh
(Physics Department, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, U.K.)

Geetha Balakrishnan
(Physics Department, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, U.K.)

We have investigated the superconducting state of the non-centrosymmetric compound Re$_{6}$Zr using magnetization, heat capacity, and muon-spin relaxation/rotation ($\mu$SR) measurements. Re$_{6}$Zr has a superconducting transition temperature, $T_c = 6.75\pm0.05$ K. Transverse-field $\mu$SR experiments, used to probe the superfluid density, suggest an $s$-wave character for the superconducting gap. However, zero and longitudinal-field $\mu$SR data reveal the presence of spontaneous static magnetic fields below $T_c$ indicating that time-reversal symmetry is broken in the superconducting state and an unconventional pairing mechanism. An analysis of the pairing symmetries identifies the ground states compatible with time-reversal symmetry breaking.

*Funded by the EPSRC, grant EP/I007210/1

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2014.MAR.Q39.9

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Bulletin of the American Physical Society

APS March Meeting 2014

Volume 59, Number 1

Monday–Friday, March 3–7, 2014; Denver, Colorado

Session Q39: Superconductivity: Sr2RuO4 and Related Materials

Abstract: Q39.00009 : Observation of Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking in the Non-Centrosymmetric Superconductor Re6Zr*

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