Correlation of resonance scattering and superconductivity in PbxSn1−xTe solid solutions doped with In

The Hall coefficient and resistivity were measured on a series of samples of PbxSn1−xTe with 0⩽x⩽0.45 and View the MathML source of InTe as a dopant. All samples show p-type conductivity with hole concentration in the range from 1019 to View the MathML source at View the MathML source. A slight decrease of Hall mobility and corresponding increase in the scattering cross-section of holes by impurity atoms was observed with an extremum at x=0.25. All samples exhibit a transition to a superconducting state with the critical temperatures ranging from 0.3 to View the MathML source. The maximum of dHc2/dT (where Hc2 is the second critical field) correlates with the fall in mobility (or rise in the scattering cross-section of holes), which shows that the resonance scattering mechanism is playing an important role in the enhancement of superconducting properties of these solid solution materials.