PuCoIn$_{5}$: A New Magnetic Superconductor

ORAL

Abstract

There is renewed interest in actinide research following the discovery of superconductivity at T$_{c}$=18.5 K in PuCoGa$_{5}$ and at T$_{c}$=8.7 K in PuRhGa$_{5}$. These materials appear to be unconventional superconductors with a moderate effective mass enhancement and are similar to the more well characterized CeMIn$_{5}$ (M=Co, Rh, Ir) superconductors. We have discovered a new member of this ``115'' family of superconductors, PuCoIn$_{5}$. This material superconducts at T$_{c}$=2.7 K and exhibits another phase transition at T$_{N}$=15 K, likely due to antiferromagnetic order. The Sommerfeld coefficient $\gamma $ = 200 mJ/mol K$^{2}$ and the large initial slope of the upper critical field indicate a large enhancement of the effective mass. The physical properties of PuCoIn$_{5}$ will be discussed.

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Authors

  • Eric Bauer

    • Los Alamos Natl. Lab., NM, USA
    • Los Alamos National Lab, MPA-CMMS
    • Los Alamos Nat. Lab.
    • MPA-CMMS, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545

  • J.N. Mitchell

  • P.H. Tobash

  • F. Ronning

  • J.-X. Zhu

  • B.L. Scott

  • J.D. Thompson

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory