Fully gapped superconductivity in Ni-pnictide superconductors BaNi2As2 and SrNi2P2

Abstract

We have performed low-temperature specific heat C and thermal conductivity κ measurements on the Ni-pnictide superconductors BaNi2As2 (Tc = 0.7K) and SrNi2P2 (Tc = 1.4K). The temperature dependences C(T) and κ(T) of the two compounds are similar to the results of a number of s-wave superconductors. Furthermore, the concave field responses of the residual κ for BaNi2As2 rules out the presence of nodes on the Fermi surfaces. We postulate that fully gapped superconductivity could be universal for Ni-pnictide superconductors. Specific heat data on Ba0.6La0.4Ni2As2 shows a mild suppression of Tc and Hc2 relative to BaNi2As2.