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Title: Transport and superconducting properties of RNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C (R=Y, Lu) single crystals

Abstract

The in-plane resistivity, in-plane absolute thermopower, and upper critical field measurements are reported for single-crystal samples of YNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C and LuNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C superconductors. The in-plane resistivity shows metallic behavior and varies approximately linearly with temperature near room temperature (RT) but shows nearly quadratic behavior in temperature at low temperatures. The YNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C and LuNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C single-crystal samples exhibit large transverse magnetoresistance ({approx}6{endash}8{percent} at 45 kOe) in the ab plane. The absolute thermopower S(T) is negative from RT to the superconducting transition temperature T{sub c}. Its magnitude at RT is a few times of the value for a typical good metal. S(T) is approximately linear in temperature between {approx}150 K and RT. Extrapolation to T=0 gives large intercepts (few {mu}V/K) for both samples suggesting the presence of a much larger {open_quotes}knee{close_quotes} than would be expected from electron-phonon interaction renormalization effects. The upper critical fields for H parallel and perpendicular to the c axis and the superconducting parameters derived from it do not show any anisotropy for the YNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C single-crystal samples in agreement with magnetization and torque magnetometry measurements, but a small anisotropy is observed for the LuNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C single crystals. The analysis shows thatmore » these are moderately strong-coupling type-II superconductors (similar to the A-15 compounds) with a value of the electron-phonon coupling parameter {lambda}(0) approximately equal to 1.2 for YNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C and 1.0 for LuNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C, the Ginzburg-Landau coherence length {xi}(0) approximately equal to 70 {Angstrom}, and H{sub c2}(0){approximately}60{endash}70 kOe. (Abstract Truncated)« less

Authors:
; ; ;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Physics Department, Texas AM University, College Station, Texas 77843-4242 (United States)
  2. Ames Laboratory, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
537230
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 55; Journal Issue: 13; Other Information: PBD: Apr 1997
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; YTTRIUM BORIDES; ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY; LUTETIUM CARBIDES; YTTRIUM CARBIDES; GINZBURG-LANDAU THEORY; LUTETIUM BORIDES; NICKEL CARBIDES; NICKEL BORIDES; HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTORS; ELECTRON-PHONON COUPLING; INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS; CRYSTAL STRUCTURE; TRANSITION TEMPERATURE; CRITICAL CURRENT; CURRENT DENSITY

Citation Formats

Rathnayaka, K D, Bhatnagar, A K, Parasiris, A, Naugle, D G, Canfield, P C, and Cho, B K. Transport and superconducting properties of RNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C (R=Y, Lu) single crystals. United States: N. p., 1997. Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.55.8506.
Rathnayaka, K D, Bhatnagar, A K, Parasiris, A, Naugle, D G, Canfield, P C, & Cho, B K. Transport and superconducting properties of RNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C (R=Y, Lu) single crystals. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.55.8506
Rathnayaka, K D, Bhatnagar, A K, Parasiris, A, Naugle, D G, Canfield, P C, and Cho, B K. 1997. "Transport and superconducting properties of RNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C (R=Y, Lu) single crystals". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.55.8506.
@article{osti_537230,
title = {Transport and superconducting properties of RNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C (R=Y, Lu) single crystals},
author = {Rathnayaka, K D and Bhatnagar, A K and Parasiris, A and Naugle, D G and Canfield, P C and Cho, B K},
abstractNote = {The in-plane resistivity, in-plane absolute thermopower, and upper critical field measurements are reported for single-crystal samples of YNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C and LuNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C superconductors. The in-plane resistivity shows metallic behavior and varies approximately linearly with temperature near room temperature (RT) but shows nearly quadratic behavior in temperature at low temperatures. The YNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C and LuNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C single-crystal samples exhibit large transverse magnetoresistance ({approx}6{endash}8{percent} at 45 kOe) in the ab plane. The absolute thermopower S(T) is negative from RT to the superconducting transition temperature T{sub c}. Its magnitude at RT is a few times of the value for a typical good metal. S(T) is approximately linear in temperature between {approx}150 K and RT. Extrapolation to T=0 gives large intercepts (few {mu}V/K) for both samples suggesting the presence of a much larger {open_quotes}knee{close_quotes} than would be expected from electron-phonon interaction renormalization effects. The upper critical fields for H parallel and perpendicular to the c axis and the superconducting parameters derived from it do not show any anisotropy for the YNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C single-crystal samples in agreement with magnetization and torque magnetometry measurements, but a small anisotropy is observed for the LuNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C single crystals. The analysis shows that these are moderately strong-coupling type-II superconductors (similar to the A-15 compounds) with a value of the electron-phonon coupling parameter {lambda}(0) approximately equal to 1.2 for YNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C and 1.0 for LuNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C, the Ginzburg-Landau coherence length {xi}(0) approximately equal to 70 {Angstrom}, and H{sub c2}(0){approximately}60{endash}70 kOe. (Abstract Truncated)},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevB.55.8506},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/537230}, journal = {Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter},
number = 13,
volume = 55,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1997},
month = {Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1997}
}