Type-I superconductivity in PdTe$_2$ probed by $\mu$SR

TL;DR

This study uses muon spin rotation to confirm that PdTe$_2$, a Dirac semimetal, exhibits type-I superconductivity with an intermediate state, which is unusual for binary compounds.

Contribution

The paper provides microscopic evidence of type-I superconductivity and the intermediate state in PdTe$_2$, a binary compound, using muon spin rotation experiments.

Findings

Confirmed type-I superconductivity in PdTe$_2$

Observed the intermediate state via muon spin rotation

Demonstrated the growth of normal domains with applied field

Abstract

The Dirac semimetal PdTe$_2$ was recently reported to be a type-I superconductor with $T_c = 1.64$ K and a critical field $\mu_0H_c = 13.6$ mT. Since type-I superconductivity is unexpected for binary compounds, we have conducted muon spin rotation experiments to probe the superconducting phase on the microscopic scale via its intermediate state. For crystals with a finite demagnetization factor, $N$, the intermediate state forms in applied fields $(1-N)H_c < H_a < H_c$. We have carried out transverse field muon spin rotation measurements on a thin disk-like crystal with the field perpendicular to ($N_{\perp}=0.86$) and in the plane ($N_{\parallel}=0.08$) of the disk. By analysing the $\mu$SR signal we find that the volume fraction of the normal domains grows quasi-linearly with applied field at the expense of the Meissner domain fraction. This then provides solid evidence for the intermediate state and type-I superconductivity in the bulk of PdTe$_2$.