Abstract
High-resolution anisotropic-thermal-expansion measurements of single-crystalline and oriented-grained at the superconducting transition are presented for the first time. Discontinuities in the thermal-expansion coefficient [Δ=(15–23)× ], measured with a capacitance dilatometer, are found to occur in both samples. No discontinuity in (‖Δ‖<1× ) is observed in either sample, although (T) shows a distinct change of slope at . The specific-heat discontinuity Δ of both samples was also measured and is used, along with the Δα’s, to calculate the dependence of on uniaxial pressure and uniaxial strain to first order. is predicted to increase with pressure applied perpendicular to the c axis (/=0.04–0.09 K/kbar) and to be insensitive to pressure parallel to the c axis. Uniaxial strain, on the other hand, is found to increase about equally in both directions.
- Received 4 December 1989
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.41.11299
©1990 American Physical Society