Electron-phonon superconductivity in C-doped topological nodal-line semimetal Zr$_5$Pt$_3$: A muon spin rotation and relaxation ($\mu$SR) study

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that C-doped Zr$_{5}$Pt$_{3}$ is an electron-phonon superconductor with topological nodal-line features, combining experimental $$SR measurements and first-principles calculations to explore its unique electronic and superconducting properties.

Contribution

First demonstration of superconductivity in a C-doped topological nodal-line semimetal Zr$_{5}$Pt$_{3}$ using $$SR and DFT, revealing coexistence of topology and superconductivity.

Findings

Superconducting transition temperature T$_ ext{C}$ = 3.7 K.

Superconducting gap consistent with BCS theory.

Presence of topological nodal lines protected by crystal symmetries.

Abstract

In the present work we demonstrate that C-doped Zr$_{5}$Pt$_{3}$ is an electron-phonon superconductor (with critical temperature T$_\mathrm{C}$ = 3.7\,K) with a nonsymmorphic topological Dirac nodal-line semimetal state, which we report here for the first time. The superconducting properties of Zr$_{5}$Pt$_{3}$C$_{0.5}$ have been investigated by means of magnetization and muon spin rotation and relaxation ($\mu$SR) measurements. We find that at low temperatures the depolarization rate is almost constant and can be well described by a single-band $s-$wave model with a superconducting gap of $2\Delta(0)/k_\mathrm{B}T_\mathrm{C}$ = 3.84, close to the value of BCS theory. From transverse field $\mu$SR analysis we estimate the London penetration depth $\lambda_{L}$ = 469 nm, superconducting carrier density $n_{s}$ = 2$\times$10$^{26}$ $m^{-3}$, and effective mass m$^{*}$ = 1.584 $m_{e}$. Zero field $\mu$SR confirms the absence of any spontaneous magnetic moment in the superconducting ground state. To gain additional insights into the electronic ground state of C-doped Zr$_5$Pt$_3$, we have also performed first-principles calculations within the framework of density functional theory (DFT). The observed homogenous electronic character of the Fermi surface as well as the mutual decrease of $T_\mathrm{C}$ and density of states at the Fermi level are consistent with the experimental findings. However, the band structure reveals the presence of robust, gapless fourfold-degenarate nodal lines protected by $6_{3}$ screw rotations and glide mirror planes. Therefore, Zr$_5$Pt$_3$ represents a novel, unprecedented condensed matter system to investigate the intricate interplay between superconductivity and topology.