Session P8: Focus Session: Novel Superconductors:Miscellaneous Materials
11:15 AM–2:15 PM, Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Colorado Convention Center Room: Korbel 1C
Sponsoring Unit:
DMP
Chair: Amy Liu, Georgetown University
Abstract ID: BAPS.2007.MAR.P8.10
Abstract: P8.00010 : Multiband superconductivity and penetration depth in PrOs$_{4}$Sb$_{12}$
1:27 PM–1:39 PM
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Abstract 
Authors:
D.E. MacLaughlin
(U. Calif., Riverside)
Lei Shu
(U. Calif., Riverside)
R.H. Heffner
(JAEA, Tokai, Japan)
J.E. Sonier
(Simon Fraser U., Vancouver,Canada)
F.D. Callaghan
(Simon Fraser U., Vancouver, Canada)
G.D. Morris
(TRIUMF, Vancouver)
O.O. Bernal
(Calif. State U., Los Angeles)
W.M. Yuhasz
(U. Calif., San Diego)
N.A. Frederick
(U. Calif., San Diego)
M.B. Maple
(U. Calif., San Diego)
The penetration depth lambda in the filled-skutterudite heavy-fermion superconductor PrOs$_4$Sb$_{12}$ has been measured using transverse-field muon spin rotation. It is found to be temperature-independent at low temperatures, consistent with a nonzero gap for quasiparticle excitations. In contrast, zero-field radiofrequency inductive measurements yield a stronger temperature dependence of lambda, indicative of point nodes in the gap. A $\sim$10\% discrepancy is found at intermediate temperatures. This seems likely to be due to multiband superconductivity in this compound, recently found from thermal conductivity measurements. A sufficiently large difference between gaps would render the field distribution in the vortex controlled exclusively by the larger gap band, whereas all bands would participate in zero field.
To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2007.MAR.P8.10