First-order superconducting transition of Sr2RuO4

By means of the magnetocaloric effect, we examine the nature of the superconducting-normal (S-N) transition of Sr(2)RuO(4), a most promising candidate for a spin-triplet superconductor. We provide thermodynamic evidence that the S-N transition of this oxide is of first order below approximately 0.8...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2013-02, Vol.110 (7), p.077003-077003
Main Authors: Yonezawa, Shingo, Kajikawa, Tomohiro, Maeno, Yoshiteru
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:By means of the magnetocaloric effect, we examine the nature of the superconducting-normal (S-N) transition of Sr(2)RuO(4), a most promising candidate for a spin-triplet superconductor. We provide thermodynamic evidence that the S-N transition of this oxide is of first order below approximately 0.8 K and only for magnetic field directions very close to the conducting plane, in clear contrast to the ordinary type-II superconductors exhibiting second-order S-N transitions. The entropy release across the transition at 0.2 K is 10% of the normal-state entropy. Our result urges an introduction of a new mechanism to break superconductivity by magnetic field.
ISSN:1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.077003