Possible unconventional superconductivity in Na${}_x$CoO${}_2$yH${}_2$O probed by $\mu$SR

Abstract

The superconducting property of recently discovered sodium cobalt oxyhydrate, Na${}_{0.35}$CoO${}_2$1.3H${}_2$O ($T_c=4.5$ K), has been studied by means of muon spin rotation/relaxation ($\mu$SR) down to 2 K. It was found that the zero-field muon spin relaxation rate is independent of the temperature, indicating that no static magnetism appears in this compound, at least above 2 K. The result also provides evidence against the breakdown of time-reversal symmetry for the superconducting order parameter. Meanwhile, the muon Knight shift at 60 kOe shows no obvious reduction below $T_c$, suggesting that the local spin susceptibility is preserved upon a superconducting transition. Considering these observations, possible unconventional superconductivity of Na${}_{0.35}$CoO${}_2$1.3H${}_2$O is discussed.

9 pages, 5 figures