Magnetic Field Dependence of Electronic Specific Heat in Pr_{1.85} Ce_{0.15} CuO_4

TL;DR

This study investigates how magnetic fields influence the electronic specific heat in electron-doped Pr_{1.85}Ce_{0.15}CuO_4 superconductors, supporting a nodal gap structure through experimental and theoretical analysis.

Contribution

It provides experimental data on specific heat under magnetic fields and compares it with theoretical models to determine the superconducting gap symmetry.

Findings

Non-linear magnetic field dependence of specific heat at low fields

Supports d-wave gap symmetry with lines of nodes

Data aligns with theoretical models for dirty and clean d-wave superconductors

Abstract

The specific heat of electron-doped Pr_{1.85} Ce_{0.15} CuO_4 single crystals is reported for the temperature range 2 - 10 K and magnetic field range 0 - 10 T. A non-linear magnetic field dependence is observed for the field range 0 - 2 T. Our data supports a model with lines of nodes in the gap function of these superconductors. Theoretical calculations of the electronic specific heat for dirty d-wave, clean d-wave, and s-wave symmetries are compared to our data.