Multicomponent superconducting order parameter in UTe 2

• DOI: 10.1126/science.abb0272
• Publication Date: 2021-07-15T19:15:14Z
• Authors: I. M. Hayes; D. S. Wei; T. Metz; J. Zhang; Y. S. Eo; S. Ran; S. R. Saha; J. Collini; N. P. Butch; D. F. Agterberg; A. Kapitulnik; J. Paglione
• Keywords: 0103 physical sciences; 01 natural sciences

Constraining symmetry

Most superconductors have only one transition point, and below a certain temperature, their electrical resistance drops to zero. In very rare cases, another superconducting transition appears at a lower temperature. By measuring its specific heat, Hayes et al . reveal that this two-step superconductivity occurs in the compound uranium ditelluride. Complementary optical measurements indicated the breaking of time reversal symmetry, constraining the possible symmetries of the order parameter in this material. —JS