Calorimetric evidence for a Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov superconducting state in the layered organic superconductor κ-(BEDT-TTF) 2Cu(NCS)2

Abstract

The specific heat of the layered organic superconductor κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu(NCS)2, where BEDT-TTF is bisethylenedithio- tetrathiafulvalene, has been studied in magnetic fields up to 28 T applied perpendicular and parallel to the superconducting layers. In parallel fields above 21 T, the superconducting transition becomes first order, which signals that the Pauli-limiting field is reached. Instead of saturating at this field value, the upper-critical-field increases sharply and a second first-order transition line appears within the superconducting phase. Our results give strong evidence that the phase, which separates the homogeneous superconducting state from the normal state is a realization of a Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin- Ovchinnikov state. © 2007 The American Physical Society.