Evidence for Nodal Superconductivity in LaFePO from Scanning SQUID Susceptometry

Journal Article · Mon Apr 13 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Submitted to Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.127003· OSTI ID:953007

Hicks, Clifford W; Lippman, Thomas M; Huber, Martin E; Analytis, James G; Chu, Jiun-Haw; Erickson, Ann S; Fisher, Ian R; Moler, Kathryn A

We measure changes in the penetration depth {lambda} of the T{sub c} {approx} 6 K superconductor LaFePO. In the process scanning SQUID susceptometry is demonstrated as a technique for accurately measuring local temperature-dependent changes in {lambda}, making it ideal for studying early or difficult-to-grow materials. {lambda} of LaFePO is found to vary linearly with temperature from 0.36 to {approx} 2 K, with a slope of 143 {+-} 15 {angstrom}/K, suggesting line nodes in the superconducting order parameter. The linear dependence up to {approx} T{sub c}/3 is similar to the cuprate superconductors, indicating well-developed nodes.

• Research Organization: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76SF00515
• OSTI ID: 953007
• Report Number(s): SLAC-PUB-13577
• Journal Information: Submitted to Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Submitted to Physical Review Letters
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
IRON COMPOUNDS
Instrumentation
Other
INST
MATSCI
LANTHANUM COMPOUNDS
ORDER PARAMETERS
PENETRATION DEPTH
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
SUPERCONDUCTORS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE