Mn-substitution effects on MgB2 superconductor

Abstract

Effects of magnetic impurity on the superconductivity has been investigated in Mg1-xMnB2. With increase of Mn concentration x, the lattice constant c (perpendicular to the boron sheet) decreases at a rate of -1.4 % (= dlnc/dx), while a remains nearly unchanged. The transition temperature Tc steeply decreases with $x$ at a rate of dTc/dx = - 159 K. These results suggest that superconducting state of the parent MgB2 is amenable to the magnetic impurities, i.e., Mn2+.