Evidence for s-wave superconductivity with antiferromagnetic fluctuations in filled skutterudite LaFe$_{4}$P$_{12}$: $^{139}$La and $^{31}$P-NMR studies

TL;DR

This study provides NMR evidence that LaFe4P12 is an s-wave superconductor with antiferromagnetic fluctuations, showing a coherence peak and exponential relaxation behavior below Tc.

Contribution

First NMR investigation revealing s-wave superconductivity with AFM fluctuations in LaFe4P12, highlighting its unique pairing mechanism among skutterudite superconductors.

Findings

Observation of a coherence peak just below Tc

Exponential decrease of 1/T1 indicating isotropic gap

Decrease in Knight shift confirming singlet pairing

Abstract

We have performed $^{139}$La,$^{31}$P-NMR studies on a filled skutterudite superconductor LaFe$_{4}$P$_{12}$ with a critical temperature $T_c=4.1$ K. In the normal state, the presence of antiferromagnetic (AFM) fluctuations at finite wave vectors is suggested from the relation between the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate $1/T_1$ and the Knight shift. In the superconducting (SC) state, the distinct coherence peak was observed just below $T_c$, and is easily suppressed by the applied field. An exponential decrease of $1/T_1$ was observed, suggestive of the isotropic superconducting gap with $2\Delta/k_{\rm B}T_c =3.8$. Besides, we observed the decrease of the Knight shift, indicative of the singlet-pair formation below $T_c$. These results are clear evidence that LaFe$_{4}$P$_{12}$ is a rare s-wave superconductor with significant AFM fluctuations.