Spontaneous vortex phase in ErNi2B2C

Abstract

Below T_{WFM} ~ 2.75K, a weak ferromagnetism and superconductivity coexist in ErNi2B2C. In the present paper, a possibility of a spontaneous vortex phase was examined directly by small angle neutron scattering technique. An external magnetic field was applied to align ferromagnetic domains so that the internal magnetic field induced by the weak ferromagnetism becomes uniform and uniaxial over the bulk sample. When the field is removed, the flux line lattice subsisted below T_{WFM} but disappeared above it. A pinning effect is also discussed. We conclude that the spontaneous vortex state is realized in ErNi2B2C.