Gap Function with Point Nodes in Borocarbide Superconductor YNi2B2C

K. Izawa; K. Kamata; Y. Nakajima; Y. Matsuda; T. Watanabe; M. Nohara; H. Takagi; P. Thalmeier; K. Maki

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.137006

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Gap Function with Point Nodes in Borocarbide Superconductor YNi2B2C

K. Izawa, K. Kamata, Y. Nakajima, Y. Matsuda, T. Watanabe, M. Nohara, H. Takagi, P. Thalmeier, K. Maki

DOI 10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.137006 · Physical Review Letters

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Abstract

To determine the superconducting gap function of YNi2B2C, the c-axis thermal conductivity κzz was measured in H rotated in various directions. The angular variation of κzz in H rotated within the ab plane shows a peculiar fourfold oscillation with narrow cusps. The amplitude of this fourfold oscillation becomes very small when H is rotated conically around the c axis with a tilt angle of 45°. These results provide the first compelling evidence that the gap function has point nodes located along the a and b axes. This unprecedented gap structure challenges the current view on the pairing mechanism.

Source-reported materials — not catalogue approval

Formula	Reported Tc (K)	Pressure (GPa)	Type
YNi2B2C Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	15.5	Pressure not reported	unknown
YNi2B2C Archive — visibility unverified Source-occurrence policy only; no material identity or catalogue acceptance is inferred from the formula.	15.5	Pressure not reported	unknown