Sign reversal of field-angle resolved heat capacity oscillations in a heavy fermion superconductor CeCoIn$_5$ and $d_{x^2-y^2}$ pairing symmetry

TL;DR

This study uses angle-resolved specific heat measurements and theoretical calculations to reveal d_{x^2-y^2} pairing symmetry in the heavy fermion superconductor CeCoIn5, demonstrating a sign reversal in heat capacity oscillations at low temperatures.

Contribution

It provides direct experimental evidence of d_{x^2-y^2} pairing symmetry in CeCoIn5 through combined measurements and theoretical analysis, highlighting a sign reversal in heat capacity oscillations.

Findings

Sign reversal of fourfold oscillation in heat capacity at low T

Confirmation of d_{x^2-y^2} pairing symmetry

Identification of a narrow quasiclassical regime

Abstract

To identify the superconducting gap symmetry in CeCoIn5 (Tc=2.3 K), we performed angle-resolved specific heat (C_\phi) measurements in a field rotated around the c-axis down to very low temperatures 0.05Tc and detailed theoretical calculations. In a field of 1 T, a sign reversal of the fourfold angular oscillation in C_\phi has been observed at T ~ 0.1Tc on entering a quasiclassical regime where the maximum of C_\phi corresponds to the antinodal direction, coinciding with the angle-resolved density of states (ADOS) calculation. The C_\phi behavior, which exhibits minima along [110] directions, unambiguously allows us to conclude d_{x^2-y^2} symmetry of this system. The ADOS-quasiclassical region is confined to a narrow T and H domain within T/Tc ~ 0.1 and 1.5 T (0.13Hc2).