Master’s Research Project (July 2023 – June 2024)
Master’s Research Project (July 2023 – June 2024)
Title: Exploring Superconductivity in High Entropy Alloys.
Institution: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras
Supervisor: Prof. K. Sethupathi
Lab: Low Temperature Physics Laboratory, IIT Madras
As part of my Master’s thesis, I focused on the synthesis and investigation of superconducting properties in the high entropy alloy (HEA) Ta₁/₆Nb₂/₆Hf₁/₆Zr₁/₆Ti₁/₆, fabricated using the arc-melting technique. My work involved a comprehensive structural, electronic, and magnetic characterization of the material.
I began with structural analysis using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) to confirm phase formation and surface morphology. To explore the superconducting behaviour, I conducted resistivity vs. temperature measurements under magnetic fields up to 9 Tesla and down to 1.9 K using a Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS). These studies revealed a superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 7.8 K at zero field. I also determined key parameters such as the coherence length and the upper critical field (Hc₂ ≈ 12.41 T), highlighting the alloy’s potential for high-field applications.
Further, I analyzed the variation of the specific heat jump across magnetic fields ranging from 0 to 9 Tesla to gain insights into the superconducting phase transition.
For magnetic characterization, I collaborated with Dr. R. Venkatesh (Scientist-F) and Dr. Rajeev Rawat (Scientist-H) at the UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, Indore. There, I conducted Zero-Field Cooling (ZFC) and Field Cooling (FC) magnetic measurements using a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) to cross-verify transport data and assess sample purity.
To expand the scope of the study, I also synthesized a second HEA composition, Ta₁/₆Nb₂/₆Hf₁/₆Zr₁/₆Ge₁/₆. However, due to time constraints, its characterization could not be completed within the thesis duration.
Throughout this project, I gained hands-on experience with a range of sophisticated instruments including PPMS, SQUID, XRD, SEM, and EDX, as well as computational tools such as Mathematica and Origin for data analysis and visualization. This research has significantly strengthened my technical, experimental, and analytical skills in condensed matter physics and materials science.