Simultaneous resistivity and ac specific heat measurements have been performed under pressure on single-crystalline ${\mathrm{CeCu}}_2{\mathrm{Si}}_2$ to over 6 GPa in a hydrostatic helium pressure medium. A series of anomalies was observed around the pressure coinciding with a maximum in the superconducting critical temperature, $T_c^{\max }.$ These anomalies can be linked with an abrupt change of the Ce valence and suggest a second quantum critical point at a pressure $P_v\simeq 4.5$ GPa, where critical valence fluctuations provide the superconducting pairing mechanism, as opposed to spin fluctuations at ambient pressure. Such a valence instability—and associated superconductivity—is predicted by an extended Anderson lattice model with Coulomb repulsion between the conduction and f electrons. We explain the T-linear resistivity found at $P_v$ in this picture, while other anomalies found around $P_v$ can be qualitatively understood using the same model.

• Received 30 May 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.69.024508