Extrinsic paramagnetic Meissner effect in multiphase indium-tin alloys

摘要

The authors report the observation of a paramagnetic Meissner effect (PME) in a two-phase In-Sn alloy in which the phases become superconducting at different temperatures. This observation has been tested and confirmed by constructing an artificial In-Sn sample in which one phase was deliberately encapsulated in another. The authors conclude that PME is extrinsic, rather than intrinsic, and thus describe it as an extrinsic paramagnetic Meissner effect (EPME). It is expected to occur in multiple-phase samples where more than one phase is superconducting and where a suitable microstructural phase distribution is developed. In such samples EPME can be produced at will.