English

Transport and the Order Parameter of Superconducting UPt3

Superconductivity 2009-11-07 v1

Abstract

We calculate the ultrasonic absorption and the thermal conductivity in the superconducting state of UPt3_{3} as functions of temperature and direction of propagation and polarization. Two leading candidates for the superconducting order parameter are considered: the E1gE_{1g} and E2uE_{2u} representations. Both can fit the data except for the ultrasonic absorption in the AA phase. To do that, it is necessary to suppose that the system has only a single domain, and that must be chosen as the most favorable one. However, the E2uE_{2u} theory requires fine-tuning of parameters to fit the low temperature thermal conductivity. Thus, transport data favor the E1gE_{1g} theory. Measurements of the thermal conductivity as a function of pressure at low temperature could help to further distinguish the two theories.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0109360,
  title  = {Transport and the Order Parameter of Superconducting UPt3},
  author = {W. C. Wu and R. Joynt},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0109360},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

7 pages, 4 figures