Calorimetric Evidence for a Fulde–Ferrell–Larkin–Ovchinnikov Superconducting State in the Layered Organic Superconductor κ-(BEDT-TTF)₂Cu(NCS)₂

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 firstorder 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.