Anisotropic order parameter in Li-intercalated layered superconductor Li$_x$ZrNCl

TL;DR

This paper investigates the anisotropic superconducting order parameter in Li-intercalated layered superconductor Li$_x$ZrNCl, revealing strong anisotropy that varies with lithium content and aligns with theoretical predictions of a d+id' gap structure.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of anisotropic order parameters in Li$_x$ZrNCl and links these findings to theoretical models of gap development on disconnected Fermi surfaces.

Findings

Superconducting order parameter is highly anisotropic at x=0.12.

Anisotropy increases with lithium content x.

Results agree with theory predicting d+id' gap development.

Abstract

In this study, it is shown that in a layered nitride superconductor, i.e., LixZrNCl (0.07<=x<=0.21), the superconducting order parameter is highly anisotropic in a sample with x=0.12, as inferred from both the temperature and the magnetic field dependences of the muon depolarization rate (sigma_s, proportional to the superfluid density). Moreover, the tendency of strong anisotropy with an increase in x is indicated by the T dependence of sigma_s. These observations are in good agreement with the recent theory that predicts the development of anisotropy in a d+id' gap upon carrier filling to the bands with disconnected Fermi surfaces on a honeycomb lattice.