Superconducting gap structure of CeIrIn5 from field-angle-resolved measurements of its specific heat

TL;DR

This study uses field-angle-resolved specific heat measurements and microscopic calculations to identify CeIrIn5 as a dx2-y2-wave superconductor, revealing its gap structure and supporting a universal pairing mechanism in CeMIn5 compounds.

Contribution

First direct experimental evidence of dx2-y2-wave gap symmetry in CeIrIn5 using field-angle-resolved specific heat measurements and theoretical confirmation.

Findings

CeIrIn5 exhibits fourfold angular oscillation in specific heat.

The observed features are explained by a dx2-y2-wave gap symmetry.

Results suggest a universal pairing mechanism in CeMIn5 superconductors.

Abstract

In order to identify the gap structure of CeIrIn5, we measured field-angle-resolved specific heat C(phi) by conically rotating the magnetic field H around the c axis at low temperatures down to 80 mK. We revealed that C(phi) exhibits a fourfold angular oscillation, whose amplitude decreases monotonically by tilting H out of the ab plane. Detailed microscopic calculations based on the quasiclassical Eilenberger equation confirm that the observed features are uniquely explained by assuming the dx2-y2-wave gap. These results strongly indicate that CeIrIn5 is a dx2-y2-wave superconductor and suggest the universal pairing mechanism in CeMIn5 (M = Co, Rh, and Ir).