Muon-spin-rotation measurements of the penetration depth in Li_2Pd_3B

Abstract

Measurements of the magnetic field penetration depth $λ$ in the ternary boride superconductor Li$_2$Pd$_3$B ($T_c\simeq7.3$ K) have been carried out by means of muon-spin rotation ($μ$SR). The absolute values of $λ$, the Ginzburg-Landau parameter $κ$, and the first $H_{c1}$ and the second $H_{c2}$ critical fields at T=0 obtained from $μ$SR were found to be $λ(0)=252(2)$ nm, $κ(0)=27(1)$, $μ_0H_{c1}(0)=9.5(1)$ mT, and $μ_0H_{c2}(0)=3.66(8)$ T, respectively. The zero-temperature value of the superconducting gap $Δ_0=$1.31(3) meV was found, corresponding to the ratio $2Δ_0/k_BT_c=4.0(1)$. At low temperatures $λ(T)$ saturates and becomes constant below $T\simeq 0.2T_c$, in agreement with what is expected for s-wave BCS superconductors. Our results suggest that Li$_2$Pd$_3$B is a s-wave BCS superconductor with the only one isotropic energy gap.

6 pages, 7 figures