Proximity to valence transition in heavy fermion superconductor CeCu2Si2 under pressure

The first heavy fermion superconductor CeCu2Si2 is still only partially understood. At high pressures, superconductivity is supposed to be mediated by a different mechanism than at ambient pressure, where spin fluctuations most likely act as pairing glue. We have obtained and analyzed new resistivity data up to 7GPa on a good quality CeCu2Si2 single crystal with an unprecedented high transition temperature. For the first time, we establish quantitatively that CeCu2Si2 lies in proximity to a valence transition: the critical end point could be located at 4.5 +/- 0.2GPa and a slightly negative temperature, and the corresponding valence cross-over line has been added to the p-T phase diagram. This outcome is essential for the theoretically predicted critical valence fluctuations scenario, and opens new routes for further investigations in other Ce-based compounds. Copyright (C) EPLA, 2012