Experimental determination of superconducting parameters for the intermetallic perovskite superconductor MgCNi3

Z. Q. Mao; M. M. Rosario; K. D. Nelson; K. Wu; I. G. Deac; P. Schiffer; Y. Liu; T. He; K. A. Regan; R. J. Cava

Experimental determination of superconducting parameters for the intermetallic perovskite superconductor MgCNi₃

Z. Q. Mao, M. M. Rosario, K. D. Nelson, K. Wu, I. G. Deac, P. Schiffer, Y. Liu, T. He, K. A. Regan, R. J. Cava

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Abstract

We have measured upper-critical-field H_c2, specific heat C, and tunneling spectra of the intermetallic perovskite superconductor MgCNi₃ with a superconducting transition temperature T_c,≈7.6 K. Based on these measurements and relevant theoretical relations, we have evaluated various superconducting parameters for this material, including the thermodynamic critical field H_c(0), coherence length ξ(0), penetration depth λ(0), lower-critical-field H_c1(0), and Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ(0). From the specific heat, we obtain the Debye temperature Θ_D≈284 K. We find ajump of ΔClλT_c=2.1 at T_c (where γ is the normal-state electronic specific coefficient), which is larger than the weak-coupling BCS value of 1.43, suggesting that MgCNi₃ may be a strong-coupling superconductor. In addition, we observed a pronounced zero-bias conductance peak (ZBCP) in the tunneling spectra. We discuss the possible physical origins of the observed ZBCP.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	094502
Pages (from-to)	945021-945026
Number of pages	6
Journal	Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume	67
Issue number	9
State	Published - Mar 1 2003

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Condensed Matter Physics

Cite this

@article{c84e378306fc47fa8348b244d3d695a4,

title = "Experimental determination of superconducting parameters for the intermetallic perovskite superconductor MgCNi3",

abstract = "We have measured upper-critical-field Hc2, specific heat C, and tunneling spectra of the intermetallic perovskite superconductor MgCNi3 with a superconducting transition temperature Tc,≈7.6 K. Based on these measurements and relevant theoretical relations, we have evaluated various superconducting parameters for this material, including the thermodynamic critical field Hc(0), coherence length ξ(0), penetration depth λ(0), lower-critical-field Hc1(0), and Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ(0). From the specific heat, we obtain the Debye temperature ΘD≈284 K. We find ajump of ΔClλTc=2.1 at Tc (where γ is the normal-state electronic specific coefficient), which is larger than the weak-coupling BCS value of 1.43, suggesting that MgCNi3 may be a strong-coupling superconductor. In addition, we observed a pronounced zero-bias conductance peak (ZBCP) in the tunneling spectra. We discuss the possible physical origins of the observed ZBCP.",

author = "Mao, {Z. Q.} and Rosario, {M. M.} and Nelson, {K. D.} and K. Wu and Deac, {I. G.} and P. Schiffer and Y. Liu and T. He and Regan, {K. A.} and Cava, {R. J.}",

year = "2003",

month = mar,

day = "1",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "67",

pages = "945021--945026",

journal = "Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics",

issn = "0163-1829",

publisher = "American Physical Society",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Experimental determination of superconducting parameters for the intermetallic perovskite superconductor MgCNi3

AU - Mao, Z. Q.

AU - Rosario, M. M.

AU - Nelson, K. D.

AU - Wu, K.

AU - Deac, I. G.

AU - Schiffer, P.

AU - Liu, Y.

AU - He, T.

AU - Regan, K. A.

AU - Cava, R. J.

PY - 2003/3/1

Y1 - 2003/3/1

N2 - We have measured upper-critical-field Hc2, specific heat C, and tunneling spectra of the intermetallic perovskite superconductor MgCNi3 with a superconducting transition temperature Tc,≈7.6 K. Based on these measurements and relevant theoretical relations, we have evaluated various superconducting parameters for this material, including the thermodynamic critical field Hc(0), coherence length ξ(0), penetration depth λ(0), lower-critical-field Hc1(0), and Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ(0). From the specific heat, we obtain the Debye temperature ΘD≈284 K. We find ajump of ΔClλTc=2.1 at Tc (where γ is the normal-state electronic specific coefficient), which is larger than the weak-coupling BCS value of 1.43, suggesting that MgCNi3 may be a strong-coupling superconductor. In addition, we observed a pronounced zero-bias conductance peak (ZBCP) in the tunneling spectra. We discuss the possible physical origins of the observed ZBCP.

AB - We have measured upper-critical-field Hc2, specific heat C, and tunneling spectra of the intermetallic perovskite superconductor MgCNi3 with a superconducting transition temperature Tc,≈7.6 K. Based on these measurements and relevant theoretical relations, we have evaluated various superconducting parameters for this material, including the thermodynamic critical field Hc(0), coherence length ξ(0), penetration depth λ(0), lower-critical-field Hc1(0), and Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ(0). From the specific heat, we obtain the Debye temperature ΘD≈284 K. We find ajump of ΔClλTc=2.1 at Tc (where γ is the normal-state electronic specific coefficient), which is larger than the weak-coupling BCS value of 1.43, suggesting that MgCNi3 may be a strong-coupling superconductor. In addition, we observed a pronounced zero-bias conductance peak (ZBCP) in the tunneling spectra. We discuss the possible physical origins of the observed ZBCP.

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M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0037367953

SN - 0163-1829

VL - 67

SP - 945021

EP - 945026

JO - Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

JF - Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

IS - 9

M1 - 094502

ER -

Experimental determination of superconducting parameters for the intermetallic perovskite superconductor MgCNi₃

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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