Spin-Fermion model of $UGe_2$

TL;DR

This paper presents a spin-fermion model for UGe₂ that explains the coexistence of ferromagnetism and superconductivity, accounting for experimental phenomena like metamagnetic transitions and quantum phase transitions under pressure.

Contribution

The model provides a quantitative explanation for the coexistence of ferromagnetism and superconductivity in UGe₂, incorporating effects of pressure on electron bandwidths and magnetic properties.

Findings

Explains coexistence of ferromagnetism and superconductivity in UGe₂

Accounts for metamagnetic and quantum phase transitions

Predicts the position of maximum superconducting critical temperature

Abstract

It is assumed that U atoms in $UGe_2$ have a number of $f$ electrons appropriate to give them each a spin $s=1$ as well as one extra itinerant electron which may equally well be on one or other U atom. The dynamical degrees of freedom are spin-s operators of localized spins and spin-1/2 fermi operators of itinerant electrons. Applying hydrostatic pressure changes the bandwidths of spin-up and spin-down itinerant electrons in different way, which leads to decreasing of the contribution of the fermions to the magnetization keeping the spin-fermion interaction unchanged. In turn the local spin-fermion interaction leads to ferromagnetic superconductivity. The model accounts, in a quantitative and natural way, for the characteristics of the coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism in $UGe_2$, including many of the key experimental results: metamagnetic transitions, quantum transition from ferromagnetism to ferromagnetic superconductivity, the position of the highest superconducting critical temperature etc.