Competition of multiband superconducting and magnetic order in ErNi2B2C observed by Andreev reflection

N. L. Bobrov; V. N. Chernobay; Yu. G. Naidyuk; L. V. Tyutrina; D. G. Naugle; K. D. D. Rathnayaka; S. L. Bud'ko; P. C. Canfield; I. K. Yanson

doi:10.1209/0295-5075/83/37003

All issues

Volume 83 / No 3 (August 2008)

EPL, 83 3 (2008) 37003

Abstract

Issue		EPL Volume 83, Number 3, August 2008


Article Number		37003
Number of page(s)		5
Section		Condensed Matter: Electronic Structure, Electrical, Magnetic and Optical Properties
DOI		https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/83/37003
Published online		08 July 2008

EPL, 83 (2008) 37003

Competition of multiband superconducting and magnetic order in ErNi₂B₂C observed by Andreev reflection

N. L. Bobrov¹, V. N. Chernobay¹, Yu. G. Naidyuk¹, L. V. Tyutrina¹, D. G. Naugle², K. D. D. Rathnayaka², S. L. Bud'ko³, P. C. Canfield³ and I. K. Yanson¹

¹ B. Verkin Institute for Low Temperature Physics and Engineering, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine 47 Lenin Ave., 61103, Kharkiv, Ukraine
² Department of Physics, Texas A&M University - College Station, TX 77843-4242, USA
³ Ames Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University - Ames, IA 50011, USA

Corresponding author: naidyuk@ilt.kharkov.ua

Received: 6 March 2008
Accepted: 6 June 2008

Abstract

Point contacts (PC) Andreev reflection dV/dI spectra for the antiferromagnetic ( $T_{\rm N}\simeq$ 6 K) superconductor ( $T_{\rm c}\simeq$ 11 K) ErNi₂B₂C have been measured for the two main crystallographic directions. The observed retention of the Andreev reflection minima in dV/dI up to T_c directly points to an unusual superconducting order parameter (OP) vanishing at T_c. The temperature dependence of the OP was obtained from dV/dI using the recent theory of Andreev reflection including the pair-breaking effect. For the first time the existence of two superconducting OPs in ErNi₂B₂C is shown. A distinct decrease of both OPs as temperature is lowered below T_N is observed.

PACS: 74.45.+c – Proximity effects; Andreev effect; SN and SNS junctions / 74.50.+r – Tunneling phenomena; point contacts, weak links, Josephson effects / 74.70.Dd – Ternary, quaternary, and multinary compounds (including Chevrel phases, borocarbides, etc.)

© EPLA, 2008

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