Abstract
We have measured the thermal conductivity of the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn5 in the vicinity of the upper critical field, with the magnetic field perpendicular to the c axis. Thermal conductivity displays a discontinuous jump at the superconducting phase boundary below critical temperature Tc ≈ 1 K, indicating a change from a second- to first-order transition and confirming the recent results of specific heat measurements on CeCoIn5. In addition, the thermal conductivity data as a function of field display a kink at a field Hk below the superconducting critical field, which closely coincides with the recently discovered anomaly in specific heat, tentatively identified with the appearance of the spatially inhomogeneous Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Oychinnikov (FFLO) superconducting state. Our results indicate that the thermal conductivity is enhanced within the FFLO state, and call for further theoretical investigations of the order parameter's real-space structure (and, in particular, the structure of vortices) and of the thermal transport within the inhomogeneous FFLO state.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 134513 |
Pages (from-to) | 134513-1-134513-7 |
Journal | Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics |
Volume | 70 |
Issue number | 13 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2004 |
Externally published | Yes |