Unconventional Superconductivity in La7Ir3 Revealed by Muon Spin Relaxation: Introducing a New Family of Noncentrosymmetric Superconductor That Breaks Time-Reversal Symmetry

J. A. T. Barker, D. Singh, A. Thamizhavel, A. D. Hillier, M. R. Lees, G. Balakrishnan, D. McK. Paul, and R. P. Singh
Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 267001 – Published 30 December 2015

Abstract

The superconductivity of the noncentrosymmetric compound La7Ir3 is investigated using muon spin rotation and relaxation. Zero-field measurements reveal the presence of spontaneous static or quasistatic magnetic fields below the superconducting transition temperature Tc=2.25K—a clear indication that the superconducting state breaks time-reversal symmetry. Furthermore, transverse-field rotation measurements suggest that the superconducting gap is isotropic and that the pairing symmetry of the superconducting electrons is predominantly s wave with an enhanced binding strength. The results indicate that the superconductivity in La7Ir3 may be unconventional and paves the way for further studies of this family of materials.

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  • Received 14 August 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.267001

© 2015 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

J. A. T. Barker1,*, D. Singh2, A. Thamizhavel3, A. D. Hillier4, M. R. Lees1, G. Balakrishnan1, D. McK. Paul1, and R. P. Singh2

  • 1Physics Department, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
  • 2Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal 462066, India
  • 3Department of Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 400005, India
  • 4ISIS facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, United Kingdom

  • *Joel.Barker@warwick.ac.uk

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Vol. 115, Iss. 26 — 31 December 2015

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