Effect of Anisotropic Strain on the Electronic Properties of the Pressure Induced Superconductor CePd2Si2

Taking advantage of the additional uniaxial stress present in the non-ideal pressure conditions of a Bridgman anvil cell, we demonstrate the high sensitivity of the physical properties in CePd2Si2 to anisotropic strain. Stress applied along the c-axis extends the phase diagram to higher pressures and enhances the superconducting phase emerging around the magnetic instability, with a 40% increase in the maximum superconducting temperature and a doubled pressure range. We discuss first the possible effect of anisotropic strain on the physics described only by spin fluctuations. However, the pressure dependence of the resistivity suggests a more complex ground state around the quantum critical point, where the Kondo and excited crystal field energies interact. (author)