Nature of structural instabilities in superconducting SrIrSn

Kaneko, Koji   ; Cheung, Y. W.*; Hu, Y.*; Imai, Masaki*; Tanioku, Yasuaki*; Kanagawa, Hibiki*; Murakawa, Joichi*; Moriyama, Kodai*; Zhang, W.*; Lai, K. T.*; Matsuda, Masaaki*; Yoshimura, Kazuyoshi*; Tsutsui, Satoshi*; Goh, S. K.*

A quantum critical point appears as a second-order phase transition which takes place at zero temperature. In contrast to heavy-fermion systems in which magnetism often plays a vital role, recent studies revealed that structural instabilities can drive a system to a quantum critical point as well. In quasi-skutterudite (Ca,Sr)Sn (=Rh, Ir), SrIrSn exhibits superconductivity around 5 K and a structural transition at 147 K. Applying physical or chemical pressure on SrIrSn suppresses rapidly, and a quasi-linear dependence of electrical resistivity, signature of non-Fermi liquid behavior, was observed where extrapolates to 0 K. The isomorphs (CaSr)RhSn exhibits similar behavior, where the criticality can be reached by 0.9 without external pressure. Neutron scattering experiments in SrIrSn evidences the second order nature of the structural transition at by the observation of a continuous evolution of superlattice peak below and a gradual increase of critical scattering upon approaching to by cooling. Increase of in (CaSr)RhSn toward the quantum critical point leads to the systematic variation of the critical exponents of the order parameter. In addition, this substitution induces the phonon softening around the M point towards zero energy revealed by inelastic X-ray scattering experiment. We will present systematic variations in both elastic and inelastic channels upon approaching to the quantum critical point.