Pressure-induced superconductivity in elemental ytterbium metal

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that elemental ytterbium becomes superconducting under high pressure, with transition temperatures rising up to 4.6 K at 179 GPa, marking it as the 54th known elemental superconductor.

Contribution

It provides the first evidence of pressure-induced superconductivity in elemental ytterbium, expanding understanding of pressure effects on elemental metals.

Findings

Ytterbium becomes superconducting above 86 GPa

Superconducting transition temperature increases with pressure

Ytterbium is the 54th elemental superconductor

Abstract

Ytterbium (Yb) metal is divalent and nonmagnetic but would be expected under sufficient pressure to become trivalent and magnetic. We have carried out electrical resistivity and ac magnetic susceptibility measurements on Yb to pressures as high as 179 GPa over the temperature range 1.4 - 295 K. No evidence for magnetic order is observed. However, above 86 GPa Yb is found to become superconducting near 1.4 K with a transition temperature that increases monotonically with pressure to approximately 4.6 K at 179 GPa. Yb thus becomes the 54th known elemental superconductor.