Polar Kerr Effect from Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking in the Heavy-Fermion Superconductor PrOs_{4}Sb_{12}

Physical Review Letters
E M Levenson-FalkA Kapitulnik

Abstract

We present polar Kerr effect measurements of the filled skutterudite superconductor PrOs_{4}Sb_{12}. Simultaneous ac susceptibility measurements allow us to observe the superconducting transition under the influence of heating from the optical beam. A nonzero Kerr angle θ_{K} develops below the superconducting transition, saturating at ∼300  nrad at low temperatures. This result is repeated across several measurements of multiple samples. By extrapolating the measured θ_{K}(T) to zero optical power, we are able to show that the Kerr angle onset temperature in one set of measurements is consistent with the transition to the B phase at T_{C2}. We discuss the possible explanations for this result and its impact on the understanding of multiphase and inhomogeneous superconductivity in PrOs_{4}Sb_{12}.

References

Mar 14, 2003·Physical Review Letters·R VollmerM B Maple
Apr 12, 2003·Physical Review Letters·K IzawaK Maki
Feb 7, 2007·Physical Review Letters·G SeyfarthJ Flouquet
Sep 23, 2009·Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal·M E McBriartyB Andraka
Apr 19, 2016·Reports on Progress in Physics·Catherine Kallin, John Berlinsky
Dec 14, 2016·Science Advances·Vladyslav KoziiLiang Fu

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Citations

Jul 30, 2020·Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal·Sudeep GhoshHuiqiu Yuan
Aug 14, 2021·Science·I M HayesJ Paglione
May 2, 2020·Science·Tarapada SarkarRichard L Greene

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