Large Reduction in the $a$-axis Knight Shift on UTe$_2$ with $T_{\rm c}$ = 2.1 K

Abstract

Spin susceptibility in the superconducting (SC) state was measured in the higher-quality sample of uranium-based superconductor UTe$_2$ by using Knight-shift measurements for a magnetic field $H$ along all three crystalline axes. In the higher-quality sample, the SC transition temperature $T_{\rm c}$ is about 2.1 K, and the residual electronic term in the specific heat is almost zero. The NMR linewidth becomes narrower and is almost half of that in the previous sample with $T_{\rm c} \sim 1.6$ K when $H \parallel a$ and $c$. Although the Knight-shift behavior was not so different from the previous results for $H \parallel b$, and $c$, a large reduction in Knight shift along the $a$ axis was observed, in contrast with the previous $a$-axis Knight shift result. We discuss the origin of the difference between the previous and present results, and the possible SC state derived from the present results.