Competition of multiband superconducting and magnetic order in ErNi2B2C observed by Andreev reflection

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Published 8 July 2008 Europhysics Letters Association
, , Citation N. L. Bobrov et al 2008 EPL 83 37003 DOI 10.1209/0295-5075/83/37003

0295-5075/83/3/37003

Abstract

Point contacts (PC) Andreev reflection dV/dI spectra for the antiferromagnetic (TN≃6 K) superconductor (Tc≃11 K) ErNi2B2C have been measured for the two main crystallographic directions. The observed retention of the Andreev reflection minima in dV/dI up to Tc directly points to an unusual superconducting order parameter (OP) vanishing at Tc. The temperature dependence of the OP was obtained from dV/dI using the recent theory of Andreev reflection including the pair-breaking effect. For the first time the existence of two superconducting OPs in ErNi2B2C is shown. A distinct decrease of both OPs as temperature is lowered below TN is observed.

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10.1209/0295-5075/83/37003