Superconductivity on the threshold of magnetism in CePd2Si2 and CeIn3

Abstract

The magnetic ordering temperature of some rare earth based heavy fermion compounds is strongly pressure-dependent and can be completely suppressed at a critical pressure, p$_c$, making way for novel correlated electron states close to this quantum critical point. We have studied the clean heavy fermion antiferromagnets CePd$_2$Si$_2$ and CeIn$_3$ in a series of resistivity measurements at high pressures up to 3.2 GPa and down to temperatures in the mK region. In both materials, superconductivity appears in a small window of a few tenths of a GPa on either side of p$_c$. We present detailed measurements of the superconducting and magnetic temperature-pressure phase diagram, which indicate that superconductivity in these materials is enhanced, rather than suppressed, by the closeness to magnetic order.