Speaker
Level for award<br> (Hons, MSc, <br> PhD)?
PhD
Abstract content <br> (Max 300 words)<br><a href="http://events.saip.org.za/getFile.py/access?resId=0&materialId=0&confId=34" target="_blank">Formatting &<br>Special chars</a>
LaRh2Sn2 crystallizes in the centrosymmetric primitive tetragonal crystal structure
P4/mmm (number 123) [1] commonly referred to as the CaBe2Ge2-type which was confirmed on
our synthesized samples by x-ray diffraction. The existence of this superconducting transition
was published [2] and in this study we proceed with an extensive study into the properties of this
superconducting ground state using physical property measurements. Electrical resistance and
heat capacity measurements reveal a sharp and well defined superconducting transition TSC =
0.70 ± 0.07 K. The low-temperature heat capacity measurements show LaRh2Sn2 to be a weakly
coupled [3] bulk BCS superconductor that has an s-wave singlet ground state with an isotropic energy gap 3.38 ± 0.06 meV. From the field dependence
of the electrical resistance the upper critical field was estimated to be 0.127 ± 0.003 T. With
the calculated penetration depth and coherence length LaRh2Sn2 is a type-II superconductor which was confirmed with low temperature magnetization measurements.
reference
[1] M. Francois et al., J. Less-Common Met. 113, 231 (1985).
[2] A. Strydom and D. Britz, J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 81, SB018 (2012).
[3] W. L. McMillan, Phys. Rev. 167, 331 (1968).
Apply to be<br> considered for a student <br> award (Yes / No)?
Yes
Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)?
Yes
Main supervisor (name and email)<br>and his / her institution
Prof. A.M. Strydom, UJ
