Andreev Reflection in Heavy-Fermion Superconductors and Order Parameter Symmetry in CeCoIn_5

W. K. Park, J. L. Sarrao, J. D. Thompson, L. H. Greene

Published 2007-09-09, updated 2008-04-28Version 3

Differential conductance spectra are obtained from nanoscale junctions on the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn$_5$ along three major crystallographic orientations. Consistency and reproducibility of characteristic features among the junctions ensure their spectroscopic nature. All junctions show a similar conductance asymmetry and Andreev reflection-like conductance with reduced signal (~ 10%-13%), both commonly observed in heavy-fermion superconductor junctions. Analysis using the extended Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk model indicates that our data provide the first spectroscopic evidence for $d_{x^2-y^2}$ symmetry. To quantify our conductance spectra, we propose a model by considering the general phenomenology in heavy fermions, the two-fluid behavior, and an energy-dependent density of states. Our model fits to the experimental data remarkably well and should invigorate further investigations.