Complete decoupling of magnetic order and superconductivity in a conventional superconductor

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that in Pr2Pt3Ge5, superconductivity and magnetic order coexist but are entirely decoupled, with magnetic order emerging independently within the superconducting phase.

Contribution

It reveals the complete decoupling of magnetic order from superconductivity in a conventional superconductor, challenging the typical competition between these phenomena.

Findings

Superconductivity and magnetic order coexist in Pr2Pt3Ge5.

Magnetic order emerges independently within the superconducting phase.

Thermal conductivity indicates normal electrons coexist with magnetic order.

Abstract

Superconductivity and magnetic order strongly compete in many conventional superconductors, at least partly because both tend to gap the Fermi surface. In magnetically-ordered conventional superconductors, the competition between these cooperative phenomena leads to anomalies at magnetic and superconducting phase boundaries. Here we reveal that in Pr2Pt3Ge5 superconducting and multiple magnetic order are intertwined within the same HT-phase space, but remain completely decoupled. Our thermal conductivity measurements provide evidence for normal electrons in the superconducting phase from which magnetic order emerges with negligible coupling to electron bands that contribute to superconductivity.