J an 2 01 2 Non-Centrosymmetric Heavy-Fermion Superconductors

In this chapter we discuss the physical properties of a parti cular family of non-centrosymmetric superconductors belonging to the cla ss heavy-fermion compounds. This group includes the ferromagnet UIr and the anti ferromagnets CeRhSi 3, CeIrSi3, CeCoGe3, CeIrGe3 and CePt 3Si, of which all but CePt 3Si become superconducting only under pressure. Each of these supercond u tors has intriguing and interesting properties. We first analyze CePt 3Si, then review CeRhSi 3, CeIrSi3, CeCoGe3 and CeIrGe3, which are very similar to each other in their magnetic and electrical properties, and finally discuss UIr. For each mat eri l we discuss the crystal structure, magnetic order, occurrence of superconductivi ty, phase diagram, characteristic parameters, superconducting properties and pair ing states. We present an overview of the similarities and differences between all th ese six compounds at the end.