An investigation of type-I superconductivity in single crystal of Pb2Pd

Abstract

We have investigated the superconducting properties in a single crystal of a new superconductor Pb${}_2$Pd via various techniques including magnetization, AC transport, transverse field muon spin rotation and relaxation (TF-$\hat{I}¼$SR), and heat capacity. Pb${}_2$Pd crystallizes in a body-centred tetragonal structure with space group I4/$mcm$. All measurements confirm the superconducting transition temperature, T${}_C$ = 3.0 $\pm$ 0.1 K. Electronic specific heat data are well described by the BCS fitting, suggesting that Pb${}_2$Pd opens an isotropic gap on entering the superconducting state. The specific heat jump and $\hat{I}{»}_{e-ph}$ value categorize Pb${}_2$Pd as a moderately coupled superconductor. Magnetization and transverse field muon spin rotation measurements along with Ginzburg-Landau parameter, $\hat{I}º$ < 1/$\sqrt{2}$ strongly infers that Pb${}_2$Pd is a type I superconductor.

7 pages, 8 figures