Tunneling and magnetic characteristics of superconducting ZrB12 single crystals

M. I. Tsindlekht*, G. I. Leviev, I. Asulin, A. Sharoni, O. Millo, I. Felner, Yu B. Paderno, V. B. Filippov, M. A. Belogolovskii

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bulk and surface properties of high-quality single crystals of zirconium dodecaboride have been studied in the temperature range from 4.5 K up to the superconducting transition temperature, which is found to be nearly 6.06 K. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy data, together with dc and ac magnetization measurements, are consistent with the conventional s-wave pairing scenario, whereas they disagree in estimates of the electronphonon coupling strength. We explain the divergence, supposing a great difference between the surface and bulk superconducting characteristics of the compound. This assertion is supported by our findings of a non-linear magnetic response to an amplitude-modulated alternating magnetic field, testifying to the presence of surface superconductivity in the ZrB12 samples at dc fields exceeding the thermodynamic critical field.

Original languageEnglish
Article number212508
Pages (from-to)212508-1-212508-4
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume69
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2004

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Tunneling and magnetic characteristics of superconducting ZrB12 single crystals'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this