BCS-like superconductivity in NdO$_{1-x}$F$_{x}$BiS$_{2}$ ($x$ = 0.3 and 0.5) single crystals

TL;DR

This study investigates the superconducting properties of NdO$_{1-x}$F$_{x}$BiS$_{2}$ single crystals, revealing strong-coupling BCS superconductivity with an energy gap of about 2.0 $k_B T_c$, despite paramagnetic effects.

Contribution

First detailed measurement of magnetic penetration depth in NdO$_{1-x}$F$_{x}$BiS$_{2}$ revealing strong-coupling BCS superconductivity.

Findings

Superconductivity follows exponential temperature dependence after paramagnetic correction.

Energy gap $ ightarrow$ approximately 2.0 $k_B T_c$.

Superfluid density consistent with BCS model.

Abstract

We measure the magnetic penetration depth $\Delta\lambda(T)$ for NdO$_{1-x}$F$_{x}$BiS$_{2}$ ($x$ = 0.3 and 0.5) using the tunnel diode oscillator technique. The $\Delta\lambda(T)$ shows an upturn in the low-temperature limit which is attributed to the paramagnetism of Nd ions. After subtracting the paramagnetic contributions, the penetration depth $\Delta\lambda(T)$ follows exponential-type temperature dependence at $T\ll T_c$. Both $\Delta\lambda(T)$ and the corresponding superfluid density $\rho_s(T)$ can be described by the BCS model with an energy gap of $\Delta(0)$ $\approx$ 2.0 $k_BT_c$ for both $x$ = 0.3 and 0.5, suggesting strong-coupling BCS superconductivity in the presence of localized moments for NdO$_{1-x}$F$_{x}$BiS$_{2}$.