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Title: Comparison of response of superconductivity to impurity concentration in UBe13 and LuBe13

Abstract

Uhlirova et al. reported superconductivity in LuBe13 and assigned it tentatively to be BCS-type, with specific heat measurements down to 0.45 K showing the partial onset of a bulk transition. In order to check LuBe13 for unconventional behavior, as well as to further characterize the unconventional superconductivity in UBe13, we have prepared and characterized down to 0.40 K three arc-melted samples each of MBe13, M = Lu, U, using three different purities (99.999%, 99.96%, and 99.8%) of Be but with the same high purity M (Lu or U) for all three. The measurements down to 0.40 K allow the detection of the maximum in the specific heat in all three LuBe13 samples. The resulting superconducting properties strongly depend on impurity level in UBe13 (40% decrease in ΔC/Tc, 15% decrease in Tcmid) while the three LuBe13 samples exhibit significantly smaller changes (10% and 5% respectively) with purity. The comparison of properties at the first two levels of purity (99.999% vs 99.96%) is even more disparate: 12% decrease in Tcmid in UBe13 vs no change in LuBe13. Furthermore, these results are consistent with previous results that argue for unconventional superconductivity in UBe13 and are consistent with Uhlirova et al.‘s assignment of LuBe13more » as a conventional, BCS superconductor. More generally, this example of comparing superconducting properties vs-controlled gradations in impurity levels with two compositionally and structurally “matched” superconducting compounds (one conventional and one of to-be-determined coupling behavior) offers a new method for determining unconventional behavior.« less

Authors:
 [1]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
OSTI Identifier:
1977547
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1856050
Grant/Contract Number:  
SC0020385; DE–SC–0020385
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Physica. B, Condensed Matter
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 635; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0921-4526
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; Physics; Superconductivity; Unconventional; Heavy Fermion; Impurity

Citation Formats

Kim, J. S., and Stewart, G. R. Comparison of response of superconductivity to impurity concentration in UBe13 and LuBe13. United States: N. p., 2022. Web. doi:10.1016/j.physb.2022.413792.
Kim, J. S., & Stewart, G. R. Comparison of response of superconductivity to impurity concentration in UBe13 and LuBe13. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physb.2022.413792
Kim, J. S., and Stewart, G. R. Thu . "Comparison of response of superconductivity to impurity concentration in UBe13 and LuBe13". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physb.2022.413792. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1977547.
@article{osti_1977547,
title = {Comparison of response of superconductivity to impurity concentration in UBe13 and LuBe13},
author = {Kim, J. S. and Stewart, G. R.},
abstractNote = {Uhlirova et al. reported superconductivity in LuBe13 and assigned it tentatively to be BCS-type, with specific heat measurements down to 0.45 K showing the partial onset of a bulk transition. In order to check LuBe13 for unconventional behavior, as well as to further characterize the unconventional superconductivity in UBe13, we have prepared and characterized down to 0.40 K three arc-melted samples each of MBe13, M = Lu, U, using three different purities (99.999%, 99.96%, and 99.8%) of Be but with the same high purity M (Lu or U) for all three. The measurements down to 0.40 K allow the detection of the maximum in the specific heat in all three LuBe13 samples. The resulting superconducting properties strongly depend on impurity level in UBe13 (40% decrease in ΔC/Tc, 15% decrease in Tcmid) while the three LuBe13 samples exhibit significantly smaller changes (10% and 5% respectively) with purity. The comparison of properties at the first two levels of purity (99.999% vs 99.96%) is even more disparate: 12% decrease in Tcmid in UBe13 vs no change in LuBe13. Furthermore, these results are consistent with previous results that argue for unconventional superconductivity in UBe13 and are consistent with Uhlirova et al.‘s assignment of LuBe13 as a conventional, BCS superconductor. More generally, this example of comparing superconducting properties vs-controlled gradations in impurity levels with two compositionally and structurally “matched” superconducting compounds (one conventional and one of to-be-determined coupling behavior) offers a new method for determining unconventional behavior.},
doi = {10.1016/j.physb.2022.413792},
journal = {Physica. B, Condensed Matter},
number = C,
volume = 635,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Mar 10 00:00:00 EST 2022},
month = {Thu Mar 10 00:00:00 EST 2022}
}

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