Measurements of the Magnetic Field Dependence of Lambda in YBa_2Cu_3O_6.95: Results as a Function of Temperature and Field Orientation

TL;DR

This study measures how the magnetic field affects the penetration depth in YBa2Cu3O6.95 across various temperatures and orientations, revealing linear field dependence consistent with d-wave predictions but with some discrepancies.

Contribution

It provides detailed measurements of Lambda(H) in untwinned YBa2Cu3O6.95, exploring temperature and orientation effects with high precision, and compares results to theoretical d-wave models.

Findings

Field dependence of Lambda is linear at low temperatures.

Measured values align with d-wave superconductor predictions.

Discrepancies suggest residual sample issues or other effects.

Abstract

We present measurements of the magnetic field dependence of the penetration depth Lambda(H) for untwinned YBa_2Cu_3O_6.95 for temperatures from 1.2 to 70 K in dc fields up to 42 gauss and directions 0, 45 and 90 degrees with respect to the crystal b-axis. The experiment uses an ac susceptometer with fields applied parallel to the ab-plane of thin platelet samples. The resolution is about 0.15 Angstroms in zero dc field, degrading to 0.2 or 0.3 Angstroms at the higher fields. At low temperatures the field dependencies are essentially linear in H, ranging from 0.04 Angstroms/gauss for Delta-Lambda_a to 0.10 Angstroms/gauss for Delta-Lambda_b, values comparable to the T=0 Yip and Sauls prediction for a d-wave superconductor. However, the systematics versus temperature and orientation do not agree with the d-wave scenario probably due, in part, to residual sample problems.