Raising the superconducting $T_\mathrm{c}$ of gallium: in-situ characterization of the transformation of $\alpha$-Ga into $\beta$-Ga

TL;DR

This study demonstrates in-situ transformation of gallium from the low-$T_c$ $ ext{alpha}$ phase to the high-$T_c$ $ ext{beta}$ phase using a nanocalorimeter, revealing enhanced superconducting properties and thermodynamic differences between the phases.

Contribution

It provides the first in-situ characterization of the $ ext{alpha}$ to $ ext{beta}$ phase transition in gallium and links the phase change to superconducting property enhancement.

Findings

$eta$-Ga has $T_c=6.04$ K, significantly higher than $ ext{alpha}$-Ga.

$eta$-Ga is a strong-coupling type-I superconductor with $rac{ riangle(0)}{k_B T_c} eq 1$.

The Sommerfeld coefficient $ ext{γ}_n$ in $eta$-Ga is 2.55 times higher than in $ ext{alpha}$-Ga.

Abstract

Gallium (Ga) displays several metastable phases. Superconductivity is strongly enhanced in the metastable $\mathrm{\beta}$-Ga with a critical temperature $T_\mathrm{c}= 6.04(5)\,\mathrm{K}$, while stable $\mathrm{\alpha}$-Ga has a much lower $T_\mathrm{c}<1.2\,\mathrm{K}$. Here we use a membrane-based nanocalorimeter to initiate the transition from $\mathrm{\alpha}$-Ga to $\mathrm{\beta}$-Ga on demand, as well as study the specific heat of the two phases on one and the same sample. The in-situ transformation is initiated by bringing the temperature to about $10\,\mathrm{K}$ above the melting temperature of $\mathrm{\alpha}$-Ga. After such treatment, the liquid supercools down to $232\,\mathrm{K}$, where $\mathrm{\beta}$-Ga solidifies. We find that $\mathrm{\beta}$-Ga is a strong-coupling type-I superconductor with $\Delta(0)/k_\mathrm{B}T_\mathrm{c} =2.00(5)$ and a Sommerfeld coefficient $\gamma_\mathrm{n} = 1.53(4)\,\mathrm{mJ/molK^2}$, 2.55 times higher than that in the $\alpha$ phase. The results allow a detailed comparison of fundamental thermodynamic properties between the two phases.