Spatially Inhomogeneous Superconducting State near $H_{\rm c2}$ in UPd$_2$Al$_3$

TL;DR

This study uses NMR measurements on UPd₂Al₃ to explore its superconducting state near the upper critical field, revealing evidence for a spatially inhomogeneous superconducting phase possibly akin to the FFLO state.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of an inhomogeneous superconducting state near Hc2 in UPd₂Al₃, suggesting the realization of a FFLO-like phase.

Findings

NMR linewidth broadening indicates internal magnetic fields from antiferromagnetic order.

Knight shift remains unchanged in the high-field superconducting state.

Symmetric broadening of NMR spectrum near Hc2 suggests inhomogeneous SC state.

Abstract

We have performed $^{27}$Al-NMR measurements on single-crystalline UPd$_2$Al$_3$ with the field parallel to the $c$ axis to investigate the superconducting (SC) properties near the upper critical field of superconductivity $H_{\rm c2}$. The broadening of the NMR linewidth below 14~K indicates the appearance of the internal field at the Al site, which originates from the antiferromagnetically ordered moments of U 5$f$ electrons. In the SC state well below $\mu_0H_{\rm c2}$ = 3.4~T, the broadening of the NMR linewidth due to the SC diamagnetism and a decrease in the Knight shift are observed, which are well-understood by the framework of spin-singlet superconductivity. In contrast, the Knight shift does not change below $T_{\rm c}(H)$, and the NMR spectrum is broadened symmetrically in the SC state in the field range of 3~T $< \mu_0 H < \mu_0 H_{\rm c2}$. The unusual NMR spectrum near $H_{\rm c2}$ suggests that a spatially inhomogeneous SC state such as the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state would be realized.