Direct observation of lattice symmetry breaking at the hidden-order transition in URuSi

利根川 翔*; 笠原 成*; 福田 竜生; 杉本 邦久*; 安田 伸広*; 鶴原 悠悟*; 渡邊 大樹*; 水上 雄太*; 芳賀 芳範; 松田 達磨*; et al.

Nature Communications (Internet), 5, p.4188_1 - 4188_7, 2014/06

https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms5188

We report on the observation of lattice symmetry breaking from the fourfold to twofold structure by high-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements at zero field. Small orthorhombic symmetry-breaking distortion sets in at the transition temperature with a jump, uncovering the weakly first-order nature of the hidden-order transition. This distortion is observed only in ultra pure samples, implying a highly unusual coupling nature between the electronic pneumaticity and underlying lattice.