Noncentrosymmetric superconductivity in a clean crystal of type II superconductor Bi-Pd

Abstract

In this work, we present the bulk superconductivity of a high-quality single crystal of monoclinic BiPd (α-BiPd, space group P21) below 3.8 K by studying its electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and heat capacity. This is the cleanest noncentrosymmetric superconductor (NCS) that display anisotropy due to spin-orbit scattering and also exhibits unusual superconducting properties due to s and p wave mixing as evidenced by the observation of Andreev bound state and multiple energy gaps via point contact measurements. In addition, Fermi surface studies suggest multiband superconductivity in this compound. Penetration depth studies and NQR investigations support mixing of s and p wave Copper paring in this crystal. Moroever, Muon spin rotation measurements indicate strong field dependence of the Ginzburg- Landau coefficient of this superconductor. Unusual pairing and multiband superconductivity are extremely sensitive to disorder and they can be observed only in cleanest (RRR > 170) single crystals.