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# Title: Raising the superconducting $T_\mathrm{c}$ of gallium: in-situ characterization of the transformation of $α$-Ga into $β$-Ga

Abstract: Gallium (Ga) displays several metastable phases. Superconductivity is strongly enhanced in the metastable $\mathrm{\beta}$-Ga with a critical temperature $T_\mathrm{c}= 6.04(5)\,\mathrm{K}$, while stable $\mathrm{\alpha}$-Ga has a much lower $T_\mathrm{c}<1.2\,\mathrm{K}$. Here we use a membrane-based nanocalorimeter to initiate the transition from $\mathrm{\alpha}$-Ga to $\mathrm{\beta}$-Ga on demand, as well as study the specific heat of the two phases on one and the same sample. The in-situ transformation is initiated by bringing the temperature to about $10\,\mathrm{K}$ above the melting temperature of $\mathrm{\alpha}$-Ga. After such treatment, the liquid supercools down to $232\,\mathrm{K}$, where $\mathrm{\beta}$-Ga solidifies. We find that $\mathrm{\beta}$-Ga is a strong-coupling type-I superconductor with $\Delta(0)/k_\mathrm{B}T_\mathrm{c} =2.00(5)$ and a Sommerfeld coefficient $\gamma_\mathrm{n} = 1.53(4)\,\mathrm{mJ/molK^2}$, 2.55 times higher than that in the $\alpha$ phase. The results allow a detailed comparison of fundamental thermodynamic properties between the two phases.
 Subjects: Superconductivity (cond-mat.supr-con) Cite as: arXiv:1803.06743 [cond-mat.supr-con] (or arXiv:1803.06743v1 [cond-mat.supr-con] for this version)

## Submission history

From: Donato Campanini [view email]
[v1] Sun, 18 Mar 2018 21:26:52 GMT (3500kb,D)