Magnetic and superconducting phase diagrams in ErNi2B2C

• Published in: Solid state communications Vol. 152; no. 12; pp. 1076 - 1079
• Main Authors: Galvis, J.A., Crespo, M., Guillamón, I., Suderow, H., Vieira, S., García Hernández, M., Bud'ko, S., Canfield, P.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: A. Magnetic metals; A. Superconductors; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; D. Magnetic phase diagram; D. Tunneling; Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic properties; Metals, alloys and compounds (a15, 001c15, laves phases, chevrel phases, borocarbides, etc.); Physics; Properties of type I and type II superconductors; Superconducting materials (excluding high-tc compounds); Superconductivity; A. Magnetic metals; D. Magnetic phase diagram; D. Tunneling; A. Superconductors; Tetragonal lattices; Tunnel effect; Superconductivity; Magnetic-phase diagrams; Critical field; Magnetic transitions; Scanning tunneling microscopy; Superconductors; Erbium Nickel Borides carbides Mixed; Crystal structure
• ISSN: 0038-1098; 1879-2766
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssc.2012.03.021

We present measurements of the superconducting upper critical field Hc2(T) and the magnetic phase diagram of the superconductor ErNi2B2C made with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). The magnetic field was applied in the basal plane of the tetragonal crystal structure. We have found large gapless regions in the superconducting phase diagram of ErNi2B2C, extending between different magnetic transitions. A close correlation between magnetic transitions and Hc2(T) is found, showing that superconductivity is strongly linked to magnetism. ► We examine the coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism in ErNi2B2C. ► We determine the superconducting phase diagram using tunneling spectroscopy. ► We establish the relationship between magnetic and superconducting phase diagrams.