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 Physics at Virginia
ABSTRACT:
The discovery of superconductivity in CeCu2Si2 nearly 20 years ago was totally unexpected and contradicted fundamental tenants of the well-established BCS theory of superconductivity. Instead of the magnetic moment carried by Ce+3 suppressing superconductivity, as expected from BCS, the presence of Ce was essential for superconductivity and responsible for increasing the effective mass of the electrons participating in superconductivity by orders-of-magnitude-hence, heavy-fermion superconductivity. As we now know, CeCu2Si2 was the first example of superconductivity mediated by antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations, which also may be the dominant pairing mechanism in high-temperature superconductors, and other parallels between heavy-fermion and cuprate superconductivity are emerging. Recently, we have discovered a new family of heavy-fermion materials, CeMInsub5 (M=Rh, Co, and Ir), in which superconductivity appears at temperatures higher than in any other heavy-fermion system. These materials form in a quasi-2D structure, which makes an analogy with the cuprate's magnetism and superconductivity appealing. Though much remains to be learned about their properties, this new family appears to be quite interesting and provocative.
Colloquium
Friday, October 20, 2000
4:00 PM
Physics Building, Room 204
Note special time.
Note special room.

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