Visualization by scanning SQUID microscopy of the intermediate state in the superconducting Dirac semimetal PdTe${}_2$

Abstract

The Dirac semimetal PdTe${}_2$ becomes superconducting at a temperature $T_c=1.6$~K. Thermodynamic and muon spin rotation experiments support type-I superconductivity, which is unusual for a binary compound. A key property of a type-I superconductor is the intermediate state which presents a coexistence of superconducting and normal domains (flux structures) at magnetic fields lower than the thermodynamic critical field $H_c$. By means of scanning SQUID microscopy (SSM) we observe flux structures in the superconducting state of PdTe${}_2$. The flux structures are strongly history dependent with a transition from round shapes to laminar shapes as the magnetic field is more and more increased. The field amplitudes measured at the surface are indicative for the presence of Landau branching. The domain wall width in the intermediate state has been determined.

arXiv comment8 pages 5 figures

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Cited by in corpus (5)

• Observation of Gapped Topological Surface States and Isolated Surface Resonances in PdTe${}_2$ Ultrathin Films
• Intrinsic superconducting diode effects in tilted Weyl and Dirac semimetals
• Superconducting density of states and bandstructure at the surface of the candidate topological superconductor Au2Pb
• Disorder induced transition from type-I to type-II superconductivity in the Dirac semimetal PdTe${}_2$
• A topological flux trap: Majorana bound states at screw dislocations