Possible multigap type-I superconductivity in the layered boride

J Singh, A Jayaraj, D Srivastava, S Gayen… - Physical Review B, 2018 - APS
Physical Review B, 2018APS
The structure of the layered transition-metal borides AB 2 (A= Os, Ru) is built up by
alternating T and B layers with the B layers forming a puckered honeycomb. Here we report
superconducting properties of RuB 2 with a T c≈ 1.5 K using measurements of the magnetic
susceptibility versus temperature T, magnetization M versus magnetic field H, resistivity
versus T, and heat capacity versus T at various H. We observe a reduced heat capacity
anomaly at T c given by Δ C/γ T c≈ 1.1 suggesting multigap superconductivity. Strong …
The structure of the layered transition-metal borides is built up by alternating and B layers with the B layers forming a puckered honeycomb. Here we report superconducting properties of with a K using measurements of the magnetic susceptibility versus temperature , magnetization versus magnetic field , resistivity versus , and heat capacity versus at various . We observe a reduced heat capacity anomaly at given by suggesting multigap superconductivity. Strong support for this is obtained by the successful fitting of the electronic specific heat data to a two-gap model with gap values and . Additionally, versus measurements reveal a behavior consistent with type-I superconductivity. This is confirmed by comparing the experimental critical field Oe obtained from extrapolation to of the phase diagram, with an estimate of the thermodynamic critical field Oe. Additionally, the Ginzburg-Landau parameter was estimated to be . These results strongly suggest multigap type-I superconductivity in . We also calculate the band structure and obtain the Fermi surface for . The Fermi surface consists of one quasi-two-dimensional sheet and two concentric ellipsoidal sheets very similar to . An additional small fourth sheet is also found for . could thus be an example of a multigap type-I superconductor.
American Physical Society