Observation of Multi-Gap Superconductivity in GdO(F)FeAs by Andreev Spectroscopy

TL;DR

This study provides experimental evidence of multi-gap superconductivity in GdO(F)FeAs using Andreev spectroscopy, revealing two distinct superconducting gaps in the material.

Contribution

First direct observation of multi-gap superconductivity in GdO(F)FeAs via Andreev spectroscopy, expanding understanding of its superconducting properties.

Findings

Identification of two superconducting gaps: 10.5 meV and 2.3 meV.

Evidence against single-gap superconductivity in GdO(F)FeAs.

Superconducting gaps measured at 4.2K with T_c around 52.5K.

Abstract

We have studied current-voltage characteristics of Andreev contacts in polycrystalline GdO$_{0.88}$F$_{0.12}$FeAs samples with bulk critical temperature ${T_c}$ = (52.5 \pm 1)K using break-junction technique. The data obtained cannot be described within the single-gap approach and suggests the existence of a multi-gap superconductivity in this compound. The large and small superconducting gap values estimated at T = 4.2K are {\Delta}L = 10.5 \pm 2 meV and {\Delta}S = 2.3 \pm 0.4 meV, respectively.