Evidence for non-s-wave symmetry of the pi gap in MgB[subscript 2] from intermodulation distortion measurements
Name
Agassi-2009-Evidence for non.pdf
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Author(s)
Moeckly, B. H.
Agassi, Y. D.
Oates, Daniel E.
Alternative Title
Evidence for non-s-wave symmetry of the π gap in MgB[subscript 2] from intermodulation distortion measurements
Date Issued
November 2009
Journal
Physical Review B
Publisher
American Physical Society
Citation
Agassi, Y. D., D. E. Oates, and B. H. Moeckly. “Evidence for non- s -wave symmetry of the pi gap in MgB2 from intermodulation distortion measurements.” Physical Review B 80.17 (2009): 174522. © 2009 The American Physical Society
Version
Final published version
Abstract
We present low-temperature low-power intermodulation-distortion (IMD) measurements of high-quality MgB[subscript 2] thin films that are inconsistent with presumed s-wave symmetry of the order parameter. The measurements were carried out in a stripline resonator at approximately 2 GHz between 1.8 K and T[subscript c]. The IMD arises from the nonlinear Meissner effect in which the penetration depth is dependent on the RF magnetic field. Specifically, the observed IMD vs temperature T for T≪T[subscript c]/2 varies as T[superscript −2], while for an s-wave gap symmetry in the clean limit, the low-temperature IMD decreases exponentially with decreasing temperature. We calculate the IMD from first principles for different order-parameter symmetries using a Green’s function approach and compare the results with the measured data. We propose that the observed upturn in the low-temperature IMD implies an admixture of an order parameter with nodal lines into the energy gaps of MgB[subscript 2]. Most likely, this admixture is prominent for the π gap. Within the constraints of the hexagonal crystal symmetry of MgB[subscript 2], the best fit with our IMD measurements is obtained with a gap Δ(ϕ,T)=Δ[subscript 0](T)sin(6ϕ), where ϕ is the azimuthal angle in the abˆ plane, and Δ[subscript 0](T) is the amplitude, weakly temperature dependent at low temperatures. This gap symmetry entails six nodal lines. We also present low-temperature penetration-depth measurements that are consistent with the proposed nodal gap symmetry. To relate our proposition with existing literature, we review other low-temperature probes of the order-parameter symmetry. The literature presents conflicting results, some of which are in direct support of the symmetry proposed here.
MIT Department
Lincoln Laboratory
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DOI of Published Version
http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.80.174522
