Superconducting gap structure and pinning in disordered MgB2 films

We have performed a comparative study of two thin films of magnesium diboride (MgB2) grown by different techniques. The critical current density at different temperatures and magnetic fields was evaluated from magnetization curves, the structure of the superconducting order parameter was obtained from point-contact spectroscopy and the scattering rates were evaluated by fitting the temperature dependent normal-state resistivity to the two-band model. The films have similar critical temperatures close to 39 K, but the upper critical fields were different by a factor of 2 (5.2 and 2.5 T at 20 K). We have found that the film with higher Hc2 also had stronger scattering in the σ band and a smaller value of the superconducting gap in this band. As the scattering in the σ band is primarily due to the defects in the boron plane, our results are consistent with the assumption that disordering the boron planes leads to enhanced Hc2 and better pinning properties in a magnetic field.