Pressure induced superconductivity in a CeRhSi$_{3}$ single crystal -- the high pressure study

TL;DR

This study explores pressure-induced superconductivity in CeRhSi3 at pressures above 3 GPa, revealing a dome-shaped phase diagram with a maximum Tc of 1.1 K and a critical field exceeding 19 T, extending understanding of its high-pressure behavior.

Contribution

The paper provides new high-pressure data up to 5 GPa on CeRhSi3, completing the phase diagram and revealing the suppression of superconductivity at higher pressures, which was previously unexplored.

Findings

Superconductivity appears between 1.1 GPa and 3.0 GPa.

Maximum Tc of 1.1 K at 2.4 GPa.

Critical magnetic field exceeds 19 T at 2.4 GPa.

Abstract

Pressure induced superconductivity in non-centrosymmetric CeRhSi$_{3}$ and CeIrSi$_{3}$ compounds has attracted significant attention of the scientific community since its discovery 15 years ago. Up-to-date, all reported experimental results were obtained employing the hybrid-cylinder piston pressure cells with a maximum reachable pressure of 3 GPa. Present study focuses on the superconducting state at higher, so far unreported, pressures using the Bridgman anvil cell and a CeRhSi$_{3}$ single crystal synthesized by the Sn-true-flux method. The initial increase of superconducting critical temperature from 0.4 K at 1.1 GPa to 1.1 K at 2.4 GPa is followed by a gradual suppression of SC state upon increasing the pressure above 3.0 GPa, forming a typical dome. The pressure induced superconductivity is expected to be completely suppressed in the pressure region between 4.5 and 5.0 GPa. Temperature dependence of electrical resistivity in constant magnetic fields and high pressures, as well as the magnetoresistance measurements, reveal a large critical field, exceeding 19 T at 0.6 K and 2.4 GPa, sharply decreasing receding the superconductivity dome. The previously reported $\it{T-p}$ and $\it{H-T}$ phase diagrams are completed by our high-pressure data and discussed in the frame of previous results.