Observation of half-height magnetization steps in Sr2RuO4

Science. 2011 Jan 14;331(6014):186-8. doi: 10.1126/science.1193839.

Abstract

Spin-triplet superfluids can support exotic objects, such as half-quantum vortices characterized by the nontrivial winding of the spin structure. We present cantilever magnetometry measurements performed on mesoscopic samples of Sr(2)RuO(4), a spin-triplet superconductor. With micrometer-sized annular-shaped samples, we observed transitions between integer fluxoid states as well as a regime characterized by "half-integer transitions"--steps in the magnetization with half the height of the ones we observed between integer fluxoid states. These half-height steps are consistent with the existence of half-quantum vortices in superconducting Sr(2)RuO(4).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.