Multipole and superconducting state in PrIr2Zn20 probed by muon spin relaxation

We performed muon spin rotation and relaxation (mu SR) measurements in the caged-structure heavy-fermion system PrIr2Zn20 to elucidate its magnetic and superconducting properties. Temperature-independent mu SR spectra were observed below 1 K, indicating that the phase transition at 0.11 K is of a nonmagnetic origin, most probably pure quadrupole ordering. In the superconducting phase, no sign of unconventional superconductivity, such as superconductivity with broken time-reversal symmetry, was seen below T-c = 0.05 K. We also observed spontaneous muon spin precession in zero field in the paramagnetic phase below 15 K, suggesting that unusual coupling between Pr-141 nuclei and muons is realized in PrIr2Zn20.