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The origin of multiple superconducting gaps in MgB2

Author

Listed:
  • S. Souma

    (Tohoku University)

  • Y. Machida

    (Tokyo Institute of Technology)

  • T. Sato

    (Tohoku University)

  • T. Takahashi

    (Tohoku University)

  • H. Matsui

    (Tohoku University)

  • S.-C. Wang

    (Boston College)

  • H. Ding

    (Boston College)

  • A. Kaminski

    (Argonne National Laboratory
    University of Illinois at Chicago)

  • J. C. Campuzano

    (Argonne National Laboratory
    University of Illinois at Chicago)

  • S. Sasaki

    (Tokyo Institute of Technology)

  • K. Kadowaki

    (University of Tsukuba)

Abstract

Magnesium diboride, MgB2, has the highest transition temperature (Tc = 39 K) of the known metallic superconductors1. Whether the anomalously high Tc can be described within the conventional BCS (Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer) framework2 has been debated. The key to understanding superconductivity lies with the ‘superconducting energy gap’ associated with the formation of the superconducting pairs. Recently, the existence of two kinds of superconducting gaps in MgB2 has been suggested by several experiments3,4,5,6,7,8,9; this is in contrast to both conventional and high-Tc superconductors. A clear demonstration of two gaps has not yet been made because the previous experiments lacked the ability to resolve the momentum of the superconducting electrons. Here we report direct experimental evidence for the two-band superconductivity in MgB2, by separately observing the superconducting gaps of the σ and π bands (as well as a surface band). The gaps have distinctly different sizes, which unambiguously establishes MgB2 as a two-gap superconductor10,11.

Suggested Citation

  • S. Souma & Y. Machida & T. Sato & T. Takahashi & H. Matsui & S.-C. Wang & H. Ding & A. Kaminski & J. C. Campuzano & S. Sasaki & K. Kadowaki, 2003. "The origin of multiple superconducting gaps in MgB2," Nature, Nature, vol. 423(6935), pages 65-67, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:423:y:2003:i:6935:d:10.1038_nature01619
    DOI: 10.1038/nature01619
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