Study of Coexistence of Ferromagnetism and Superconductivity in Single-Crystal ErRh sub 4 B sub 4.

摘要

Neutron diffraction and resistivity measurements on single crystals of ErRh sub 4 B sub 4 have revealed that both superconductivity and ferromagnetic order coexist in this material between 0.71 K and 1.2 K. In this intermediate phase, a linear polarized modulated structure with a wavelength of approximately 100 A is observed. The modulated moment increases faster than the ferromagnetic moment down to 0.71 K and then disappears suddenly, with loss of superconductivity and a transition to a normal ferromagnetic state. This transition is accompanied by temperature hysteresis of about 60 mK. The same hysteresis, in the inverse sense, is exhibited by the ferromagnetic component. The intermediate phase is interpreted as being one of coexisting normal ferromagnetic domains and superconducting sinusoidally ordered domains. (ERA citation 07:063268)