C-axis critical current of a PrFeAsO0.7 single crystal

TL;DR

This study investigates the c-axis transport properties of a PrFeAsO0.7 superconductor, revealing strong anisotropy, high critical current density, and intrinsic Josephson effects, advancing understanding of iron-based superconductors.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed measurement of c-axis critical current and transport properties in PrFeAsO0.7, highlighting intrinsic Josephson effects and anisotropic electronic behavior.

Findings

Critical current density of 2.9×10^5 A/cm^2 along c-axis

Presence of hysteresis indicating intrinsic Josephson effect

Strong resistivity anisotropy of about 120 at 50 K

Abstract

The c-axis transport properties of a high-pressure synthesized PrFeAsO0.7 single crystal are studied using s-shaped junctions. Resistivity anisotropy of about 120 detected at 50 K shows the presence of strong anisotropy in the electronic states. The obtained critical current density for the c-axis of 2.9*10^5 A/cm^2 is two orders of magnitude larger than that in Bi2Sr1.6La0.4CuO6+d. The appearance of a hysteresis in the current-voltage curve below T_c is the manifestation of the intrinsic Josephson effect similar to that in cuprate superconductors. The suppression of the critical current-normal resistance (I_cR_n) product is explained by an inspecular transport in s_pm-wave pair potential.