Enhanced weak superconductivity in trigonal γ-PtBi2

J Zabala; V F Correa; F J Castro; P Pedrazzini

doi:10.1088/1361-648X/ad3878

Enhanced weak superconductivity in trigonal γ-PtBi₂

J Phys Condens Matter. 2024 Apr 12;36(28). doi: 10.1088/1361-648X/ad3878.

Authors

J Zabala¹, V F Correa¹, F J Castro¹, P Pedrazzini¹

Affiliation

¹ Centro Atómico Bariloche and Instituto Balseiro, CNEA, CONICET and U. N. de Cuyo, 8400 San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina.

PMID: 38537283
DOI: 10.1088/1361-648X/ad3878

Abstract

Electrical resistivity experiments show superconductivity atTc=1.1K in a high-quality single crystal of trigonalγ-PtBi₂, with an enhanced critical magnetic fieldμ0Hc2(0)≳1.5Tesla and a low critical current-densityJc(0)≈40 A cm^-2atH = 0. BothT_candHc2(0)are the highest reported values for stoichiometric bulk samples at ambient pressure. We found a weakHc2anisotropy withΓ=Hc2ab/Hc2c<1, which is unusual among superconductors. Under a magnetic field, the superconducting transition becomes broader and asymmetric. Along with the low critical currents, this observation suggests an inhomogeneous superconducting state. In fact, no trace of superconductivity is observed through field-cooling-zero-field-cooling magnetization experiments.

Keywords: electrical transport; superconductivity; topological matter.