Pauli-Limited Multiband Superconductivity in KFe2As2

TL;DR

This study investigates the upper critical field in the multiband superconductor KFe2As2, revealing Pauli-limiting effects for magnetic fields aligned with the a-axis, confirmed through thermal expansion and magnetostriction measurements.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental confirmation of Pauli-limited Hc2(T) in a multiband superconductor, supported by modeling of single- and multiband cases.

Findings

Pauli-limiting effects dominate Hc2(T) for H || a.

Crossover from second- to first-order phase transitions observed.

No such crossover observed for H || c.

Abstract

The upper critical field Hc2(T) of the multiband superconductor KFe2As2 has been studied via low-temperature thermal expansion and magnetostriction measurements. We present compelling evidence for Pauli-limiting effects dominating Hc2(T) for H || a, as revealed by a crossover from second- to first-order phase transitions to the superconducting state in the magnetostriction measurements down to 50 mK. Corresponding features were absent for H || c. To our knowledge, this crossover constitutes the first confirmation of Pauli limiting of the Hc2(T) of a multiband superconductor. The results are supported by modeling Pauli limits for single-band and multiband cases.