We report the Shubnikov–de Haas (SdH) oscillations observed in the vortex liquid state of the quasi-two-dimensional organic superconductor $\mathrm{<ruby><rb>\kappa </rb><rt>かっぱ</rt></ruby>}-(\mathrm{BEDT}-\mathrm{TTF}{)}_2\mathrm{Cu}(\mathrm{NCS}{)}_2,$ where BEDT-TTF denotes bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene. The SdH oscillations can be observed down to about 5 T at 0.5 K, where the flux flow resistivity becomes as small as about 30% of the normal-state value. Below the upper critical field $H_{\mathrm{c}2}$ of about 7 T, the additional damping of the SdH oscillation amplitude appears, as well as that of the de Haas–van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations, with respect to the normal-state one that is described with the standard Lifshitz-Kosevich formula. The magnitude of the additional damping near $H_{\mathrm{c}2}$ is the same with that observed in the dHvA oscillations and well explained by the theoretical predictions in consideration of fluctuations in the thermal vortex liquid state. In the quantum fluctuation region at lower temperature, however, only the SdH effect shows the stronger damping than that of the dHvA oscillations. The different magnetic-field dependence of the additional damping of the oscillation amplitude between the SdH and dHvA effects is discussed in connection with the effect of the transport current on the short-range order of vortices in the quantum vortex slush state, which appear in the quantum vortex liquid region.

• Received 5 November 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.67.144521