First-Order Transition between Weak and Strong Pinning in Clean Superconductors with Enhanced Spin Susceptibility

Abstract

Dilatometric and magnetic experiments on high-quality single crystals of the superconducting compounds UP${\mathrm{d}}_{2}$A${\mathrm{l}}_{3}$ and CeR${\mathrm{u}}_{2}$, which have enhanced spin susceptibilities, demonstrate a first-order transition between weak and strong pinning at $T<{0.9T}_{c}$ ( $H>10$ kOe). This is compatible with a staggered order parameter due to the formation of a ``Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov'' state.