Inclusions of metastable superconducting phase of gallium in SmGa2
Abstract
The magnetization M of the SmGa2 compound has a paramagnetic character in a wide temperature range, and when the temperature decreases below 30 K, a significant increase in magnetization is observed, which indicates the formation of a magnetically ordered state. At temperatures below 5 K, a sharp feature is observed on the M(H) dependences, which is the contribution from the magnetization of superconducting submicron gallium inclusions. Analysis of the M(H) dependences measured at different temperatures below 5 K allowed us to assume the presence of two superconducting gallium phases. The critical temperature TC = 5.9 K and the critical field HC (0) = 560 Oe correspond to the formation of a metastable β-phase of gallium, and the critical temperature TC = 8.4 K and the critical field HC (0) = 1100 Oe can be associated with the formation of a thin layer of amorphous gallium on the surface of the β-phase inclusions.
About the Authors
Alexander Evgenievich ShitovRussian Federation
Mikhail Pavlovich Volkov
Russian Federation
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Review
For citations:
Shitov A.E., Volkov M.P. Inclusions of metastable superconducting phase of gallium in SmGa2. Nanosystems: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics. 2025;16(5).
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