Evidence for a nematic component to the hidden-order parameter in URu2Si2 from differential elastoresistance measurements

• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7425
• Publication Date: 2015-03-06T12:08:43Z
• Authors: Scott C. Riggs; M.C. Shapiro; Akash V Maharaj; S. Raghu; E.D. Bauer; R.E. Baumbach; P. Giraldo-Gallo; Mark Wartenbe; I.R. Fisher
• Keywords: Condensed Matter - Strongly Correlated Electrons; Strongly Correlated Electrons (cond-mat.str-el); 0103 physical sciences; FOS: Physical sciences; 01 natural sciences

15 pages, 10 figures<br/>Measurements of the differential elastoresistance of URu$_2$Si$_2$ reveal that the fluctuations associated with the 17 K Hidden Order phase transition have a nematic component. Approaching the "Hidden Order" phase transition from above, the nematic susceptibility abruptly changes sign, indicating that while the Hidden Order phase has a nematic component, it breaks additional symmetries.<br/>