Mixed pairing symmetry in \kappa-(BEDT-TTF)_2 X organic superconductors from ultrasonic velocity measurements

TL;DR

This study uses ultrasonic velocity measurements to detect elastic constant discontinuities at the superconducting transition in layered organic conductors, revealing evidence of a mixed symmetry in the superconducting order parameter.

Contribution

It provides the first clear experimental evidence of mixed order parameter symmetry in ppa-(BEDT-TTF)_2X superconductors through ultrasonic velocity measurements and symmetry analysis.

Findings

Discontinuities in elastic constants at the transition point.

Evidence supporting a mixed order parameter with A_{1g}+B_{1g} symmetry.

Unique symmetry signatures not observed in other superconductors.

Abstract

Discontinuities in elastic constants are detected at the superconducting transition of layered organic conductors \kappa-(BEDT-TTF)_{2}X by longitudinal and transverse ultrasonic velocity measurements. Symmetry arguments show that discontinuities in shear elastic constants can be explained in the orthorhombic compound only if the superconducting order parameter has a mixed character that can be of two types, either A_{1g}+B_{1g} or B_{2g}+B_{3g} in the classification of irreducible representations of the orthorhombic point group D_{2h}. Consistency with other measurements suggests that the A_{1g}+B_{1g} (d_{xy}+d_{z(x+y)}) possibility is realized. Such clear symmetry-imposed signatures of mixed order parameters have not been observed in other superconducting compounds.