Time-reversal symmetry breaking in the superconducting low carrier density quasiskutterudite Lu3Os4Ge13

The complex structure of the Remeika phases, the intriguing quantum states they display, and their low carrier concentrations are strong motivations to study the nature of their superconducting phases. In this Letter, the microscopic properties of the superconducting phase of single-crystalline Lu3Os4Ge13 are investigated by muon-spin relaxation and rotation (mu SR) measurements. The zero-field mu SR data reveal the presence of spontaneous static or quasistatic magnetic fields in the superconducting state, breaking time-reversal symmetry; the associated internal magnetic-field scale is found to be exceptionally large (' 0.11 mT). Furthermore, transverse-field mu SR measurements in the vortex state of Lu3Os4Ge13 imply a complex gap function with significantly different strengths on different parts of the Fermi surface. Although our measurements do not completely determine the order parameter, they strongly indicate that electron-electron interactions are essential to stabilizing pairing in the system, thus, demonstrating its unconventional nature.

Automated summary

The nature of the superconducting phase of single-crystalline Lu3Os4Ge13 is investigated using muon-spin relaxation and rotation (mu SR) measurements. The results show the presence of static or quasistatic magnetic fields in the superconducting state, breaking time-reversal symmetry, with an exceptionally large internal magnetic-field scale. Transverse-field mu SR measurements in the vortex state indicate a complex gap function with significantly different strengths on different parts of the Fermi surface, suggesting the essential role of electron-electron interactions in stabilizing pairing in the system and demonstrating its unconventional nature.