A Spin Triplet Superconductor UPt$_3$

TL;DR

This paper identifies the pairing symmetry in UPt$_3$ as an $E_{1u}$ $f$-wave triplet state, analyzes vortex structures across phases, and discusses topological Majorana modes, aligning with recent experimental findings.

Contribution

The study provides a group-theoretical identification of the pairing function in UPt$_3$ as $E_{1u}$ with $f$-wave symmetry, and performs detailed microscopic vortex structure analysis.

Findings

Double-core vortex stabilized in B phase

Thermal conductivity supports $E_{1u}^f$ pairing

Surface Majorana modes discussed

Abstract

Motivated by a recent angle-resolved thermal conductivity experiment that shows a twofold gap symmetry in the high-field and low-temperature C phase in the heavy-fermion superconductor UPt$_3$, we group-theoretically identify the pairing functions as $E_{1u}$ with the $f$-wave character for all the three phases. The pairing functions are consistent with the observation as well as with a variety of existing measurements. By using a microscopic quasi-classical Eilenberger equation with the identified triplet pairing function under applied fields, we performed detailed studies of the vortex structures for three phases, including the vortex lattice symmetry, the local density of states, and the internal field distribution. These quantities are directly measurable experimentally by SANS, STM/STS, and NMR, respectively. It is found that, in the B phase of low $H$ and low $T$, the double-core vortex is stabilized over a singular vortex. In the C phase, thermal conductivity data are analyzed to confirm the gap structure proposed. We also give detailed comparisons of various proposed pair functions, concluding that the present scenario of $E_{1u}$ with the $f$-wave, which is an analogue to the triplet planar state, is better than the $E_{2u}$ or $E_{1g}$ scenario. Finally, we discuss the surface topological aspects of Majorana modes associated with the $E_{1u}^f$ state of planar like features.