Superconductivity of the filled skuterrudite PrOs4Sb12: Phase diagram and characterisations

摘要

We present a precise (H-T) phase diagram of the double superconducting transition in the specific heat of the heavy fermion superconductor PrOs4Sb12, down to 350 mK, on a sample which exhibits two sharp distinct anomalies at T-c1 = 1.89 K and T-c2 = 1.72 K. Comparison with an existing phase diagram based on transport measurements will be reviewed. The intrinsic or extrinsic nature of this double transition is discussed in light of some characterisations of the superconducting transition of different samples and with respect to the historical case of UPt3. Finally, we give a detailed analysis of H-c2 which shows the importance of the multiband character of the electronic structure of PrOs4Sb12 and gives strong support to an even parity order parameter. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.