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Register a new userPositions of Point-Nodes in Borocarbide Superconductor YNi2B2C
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To determine the superconducting gap function of YNi2B2C, we calculate the local density of states (LDOS) around a single vortex core with the use of Eilenberger theory and the band structure calculated by local density approximation assuming various gap structures with point-nodes at different positions. We also calculate the angular-dependent heat capacity in the vortex state on the basis of the Doppler-Shift method. Comparing our results with the STM/STS experiment, the angular-dependent heat capacity and thermal conductivity, we propose the gap-structure of YNi2B2C, which has the point-nodes and gap minima along <110>. Our gap-structure is consistent with all results of angular-resolved experiments.
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To determine the superconducting gap function of a borocarbide superconductor YNi_2B_2C, the c-axis thermal conductivity kappa_zz was measured in a magnetic field rotated in various directions relative to the crystal axes. The angular variation of kappa_zz in H rotated within the ab-plane shows a peculiar fourfold oscillation with narrow cusps. The amplitude of this fourfold oscillation becomes very small when H is rotated conically around the c-axis with a tilt angle of 45 degrees. Based on these results, we provide the first compelling evidence that the gap function of YNi_2B_2C has POINT NODES, which are located along the [100] and [010]-directions. This unprecedented gap structure challenges the current view on the pairing mechanism and on the unusual superconducting properties of borocarbide superconductors.
We investigate the field-angle-dependent zero-energy density of states for YNi2B2C with using realistic Fermi surfaces obtained by band calculations. Both the 17th and 18th bands are taken into account. For calculating the oscillating density of states, we adopt the Kramer-Pesch approximation, which is found to improve accuracy in the oscillation amplitude. We show that superconducting gap structure determined by analyzing STM experiments is consistent with thermal transport and heat capacity measurements.
The thermal conductivity of borocarbide superconductor LuNi_2B_2C was measured down to 70 mK (T_c/200) in a magnetic field perpendicular to the heat current from H = 0 to above H_c2 = 7 T. As soon as vortices enter the sample, the conduction at T -> 0 grows rapidly, showing unambiguously that delocalized quasiparticles are present at the lowest energies. The field dependence is very similar to that of UPt_3, a heavy-fermion superconductor with a line of nodes in the gap, and very different from the exponential dependence characteristic of s-wave superconductors. This is strong evidence for a highly anisotropic gap function in LuNi_2B_2C, possibly with nodes.
We present a combined density-functional-perturbation-theory and inelastic neutron scattering study of the lattice dynamical properties of YNi2B2C. In general, very good agreement was found between theory and experiment for both phonon energies and line widths. Our analysis reveals that the strong coupling of certain low energy modes is linked to the presence of large displacements of the light atoms, i.e. B and C, which is unusual in view of the rather low phonon energies. Specific modes exhibiting a strong coupling to the electronic quasiparticles were investigated as a function of temperature. Their energies and line widths showed marked changes on cooling from room temperature to just above the superconducting transition at Tc = 15.2 K. Calculations simulating the effects of temperature allow to model the observed temperature dependence qualitatively.
We present point-contact (PC) Andreev-reflection measurements of a superconducting epitaxial c-axis oriented nickel borocarbide film LuNi2B2C (Tc=15.9 K). The averaged value of the superconducting gap is found to be 2.6 +/-0.2 meV in the one-gap approach, whereas the two-gap approach results in 2.14+/-0.36 meV and 3.0+/-0.27 meV. The better fit of the Andreev-reflection spectra for the LuNi2B2C - Cu PC obtained by the two-gap approach provides evidence for multiband superconductivity in LuNi2B2C. For the first time, PC electron-phonon interaction (EPI) spectra have been measured for this compound. They demonstrate pronounced phonon maximum at 8.5+/-0.4meV and a second shallow one at 15.8+/-0.6 meV. The electron-phonon coupling constant estimated from the PC EPI spectra turned out to be small (~ 0.1), like in other superconducting rare-earth nickel borocarbides. Possible reasons for this are discussed.
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