Ca${}_3$Ir${}_4$Sn${}_{13}$: A weakly correlated nodeless superconductor

Abstract

We report detailed Seebeck coefficient, Hall resistivity as well as specific heat measurement on Ca${}_3$Ir${}_4$Sn${}_{13}$ single crystals. The Seebeck coefficient exhibits a peak corresponding to the anomaly in resistivity at $T^{\ast }$, and the carrier density is suppressed significantly below $T^{\ast }$. This indicates a significant Fermi surface reconstruction and the opening of the charge density wave gap at the supperlattice transition. The magnetic field induced enhancement of the residual specific heat coefficient $\gamma (H)$ exhibits a nearly linear dependence on magnetic field, indicating a nodeless gap. In the temperature range close to $T_c$ the Seebeck coefficient can be described well by the diffusion model. The zero-temperature extrapolated thermoelectric power is very small, implying large normalized Fermi temperature. Consequently the ratio $\frac{T_c}{T_F}$ is very small. Our results indicate that Ca${}_3$Ir${}_4$Sn${}_{13}$ is a weakly correlated nodeless superconductor.

5 pages, 5 figures