Distorted vortex lattice in a tetrahedral superconductor

TL;DR

This paper investigates the shape and orientation of vortex lattices in tetrahedral superconductors near the upper critical field, revealing phase transitions and explaining neutron scattering data through symmetry considerations.

Contribution

It develops a theoretical framework for vortex lattice behavior in tetrahedral superconductors, applying it to PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ and explaining experimental observations.

Findings

Phase diagram with rhombic and rectangular lattice transitions

Weak temperature dependence of vortex lattice shape

Explanation of neutron scattering data via symmetry and band structure analysis

Abstract

Equilibrium shape and orientation of vortex lattice are studied for an s-wave tetrahedral superconductor in the vicinity of the upper critical field. The phase diagram, which includes transitions between rhombic and rectangular lattices, is constructed in the parameter space of the Ginzburg-Landau functional. The developed theory is applied to the heavy-fermion superconductor PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$. In a wide range of parameters the shape of the vortex lattice is only weakly dependent on temperature. The neutron scattering measurements of the vortex lattice in PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ can be explained by a peculiarities of the tetrahedral symmetry group and are further supported by analysis of the appropriate band structure calculations.