Anisotropic superconductivity and magnetism in single-crystal RbEuFe$_4$As$_4$

TL;DR

This study explores the anisotropic superconducting and magnetic behaviors of single-crystal RbEuFe$_4$As$_4$, revealing low anisotropy in superconductivity and highly anisotropic Eu-magnetism with significant fluctuation effects.

Contribution

It provides detailed measurements of superconducting and magnetic anisotropies, highlighting the quasi-two-dimensional Eu-magnetism and its contrast with superconducting properties in RbEuFe$_4$As$_4$.

Findings

Superconducting transition at 36.8 K with low anisotropy of 1.7.

Eu-magnetism is quasi-2D with highly anisotropic exchange constants.

Strong magnetic fluctuations and suppressed magnetic ordering temperature.

Abstract

We investigate the anisotropic superconducting and magnetic properties of single-crystal RbEuFe$_4$As$_4$ using magnetotransport and magnetization measurements. We determine a magnetic ordering temperature of the Eu-moments of $T_m$ = 15 K and a superconducting transition temperature of $T_c$ = 36.8 K. The superconducting phase diagram is characterized by high upper critical field slopes of -70 kG/K and -42 kG/K for in-plane and out-of-plane fields, respectively, and a surprisingly low superconducting anisotropy of $\Gamma$ = 1.7. Ginzburg-Landau parameters of $\kappa_c \sim 67$ and $\kappa_{ab} \sim 108$ indicate extreme type-II behavior. These superconducting properties are in line with those commonly seen in optimally doped Fe-based superconductors. In contrast, Eu-magnetism is quasi-two dimensional as evidenced by highly anisotropic in-plane and out-of-plane exchange constants of 0.6 K and $<$ 0.04 K. A consequence of the quasi-2D nature of the Eu-magnetism are strong magnetic fluctuation effects, a large suppression of the magnetic ordering temperature as compared to the Curie-Weiss temperature, and a cusp-like anomaly in the specific heat devoid of any singularity. Magnetization curves reveal a clear magnetic easy-plane anisotropy with in-plane and out-of-plane saturation fields of 2 kG and 4 kG.