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Bulk evidence for single-Gap s-wave superconductivity in the intercalated graphite superconductor C6Yb
Mike Sutherland1, Nicolas Doiron-Leyraud, Louis Taillefer
1Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J.J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 OHE, United Kingdom.
Physical Review Letters
|March 16, 2007
Summary
Measurements of C6Yb superconductor reveal activated thermal conductivity behavior under magnetic fields. This provides strong evidence for an s-wave superconducting order parameter, ruling out multigap superconductivity.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Superconductivity
Background:
- Intercalated graphite superconductors offer unique electronic properties.
- Understanding the superconducting mechanism in materials like C6Yb is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the superconducting properties of C6Yb.
- To determine the nature of the superconducting order parameter.
Main Methods:
- In-plane electrical resistivity (rho) and thermal conductivity (kappa) measurements.
- Measurements were conducted down to temperatures of Tc/100.
- Applied magnetic fields along the c-axis (Hc1
Main Results:
- Observed an exponential evolution of the residual electronic linear term of thermal conductivity (kappa0/T) under applied magnetic fields.
- This activated behavior is a key finding.
Conclusions:
- The activated behavior provides compelling evidence for an s-wave order parameter in C6Yb.
- This finding strongly argues against the existence of multigap superconductivity in this material.
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