Superconducting gap symmetry in the superconductor BaFe1.9Ni0.1As2

Abstract

We report on the Andreev spectroscopy and specific heat of high-quality single crystals of BaFe1.9Ni0.1As2. The intrinsic multiple Andreev reflection spectroscopy reveals two anisotropic superconducting gaps ΔL≈3.2-4.5meV, ΔS≈1.2-1.6meV (the ranges correspond to the minimum and maximum value of the coupling energy in the kxky plane). The 25%-30% anisotropy shows the absence of nodes in the superconducting gaps. Using a two-band model with s-wave-like gaps ΔL≈3.2meV and ΔS≈1.6meV, the temperature dependence of the electronic specific heat can be well described. A linear magnetic field dependence of the low-temperature specific heat offers further support of s-wave type of the order parameter. We find that a d-wave or single-gap BCS theory under the weak-coupling approach cannot describe our experiments.