Magnetotransport and Superconductivity of Alpha-Uranium

TL;DR

This study investigates the electrical transport, magnetoresistance, Hall effect, and superconductivity in alpha-uranium, revealing complex charge and spin density wave behaviors and intrinsic superconductivity consistent with a two-band model.

Contribution

The paper provides new experimental data on alpha-uranium's magnetotransport properties and superconductivity, highlighting the coexistence of charge and spin density waves and their effects.

Findings

Magnetoresistance reaches 1000% at 2 K and 18 T.

Hall coefficient changes sign below 40 K, indicating complex electronic behavior.

Superconductivity observed is intrinsic and consistent with a two-band model.

Abstract

We have measured the electrical resistivity, magnetoresistance, and Hall effect on several new single crystal samples and one polycrystalline sample of alpha-uranium. The residual resistivity ratios of these samples vary from 13 to 315. Matthiessen's law appears to hold above the onset of the charge density wave phase transitions that begin near 43 K, but not below this temperature. Sharp features at all three charge density wave transitions are observed and the effects of high magnetic fields on them are presented and discussed. The magnetoresistance is anisotropic, reaches 1000% at 2 K and 18 T, and does not exhibit Kohler scaling. The Hall coefficient is positive, independent of magnetic field, and slightly temperature dependent above about 40 K in agreement with earlier studies. Below 40 K the Hall coefficient changes sign as the temperature falls, varies with field, and becomes much more strongly negative at the lowest temperatures than has been reported. Some of our results suggest that a spin density wave may coexist with the charge density wave states. Superconductivity is observed in two of our samples, we argue that it is intrinsic to alpha-uranium and suggest that it is consistent with a two-band model. Several parameters characterizing the transport and superconductivity of alpha-uranium are estimated.