Indication of unconventional superconductivity in layered bismuth chalcogenide superconductor LaO0.6F0.4Bi(S,Se)2 revealed by Se isotope effect

Abstract

We have investigated the Se isotope effect in layered bismuth chalcogenide (BiCh2-based) superconductor LaO0.6F0.4Bi(S,Se)2 with 76Se and 80Se. For all examined samples, the Se concentration, which is linked to the superconducting properties, is successfully controlled within x = 1.09-1.14 in LaO0.6F0.4BiS2-xSex. From the magnetization and electrical resistivity measurements, changes in Tc are not observed for the LaO0.6F0.4Bi(S,Se)2 samples with 76Se and 80Se isotopes. Our results suggest that pairing in the BiCh2-based superconductors is not mediated by phonons, and unconventional superconductivity states may emerge in the BiCh2 layers of LaO0.6F0.4Bi(S,Se)2.Comment: 11 pages, 1 table, 3 figure