Work

Visualization by scanning SQUID microscopy of the intermediate state in the superconducting Dirac semimetal PdTe2

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: The Dirac semimetal ${\mathrm{PdTe}}_{2}$ becomes superconducting at a temperature ${T}_{c}=1.6$ K. Thermodynamic and muon spin rotation experiments support type-I superconductivity, which is unusual for a binary compound. A key property of a type-I superconductor is the intermediate state, which presents a coexistence of superconducting and normal domains at magnetic fields lower than the thermodynamic critical field ${H}_{c}$. We present scanning SQUID microscopy studies of ${\mathrm{PdTe}}_{2}$ revealing coexisting superconducting and normal domains of tubular and laminar shape as the magnetic field is more and more increased, thus confirming type-I superconductivity in ${\mathrm{PdTe}}_{2}$. Values for the domain wall width in the intermediate state have been derived. The field amplitudes measured at the surface indicate bending of the domain walls separating the normal and superconducting domains.

Source: Physical review. B./Physical review. B

DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.103.104510

Authors: P. Garcia-Campos, Y. K. Huang, A. de Visser, K. Hasselbach

Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Néel, Université Grenoble Alpes, Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute, University of Amsterdam

Language: English

Topic: Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism

Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: European Commission, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Horizon 2020