Observation of the non-linear Meissner effect

A long-standing theoretical prediction is that in clean, nodal unconventional superconductors the magnetic penetration depth λ , at zero temperature, varies linearly with magnetic field. This non-linear Meissner effect is an equally important manifestation of the nodal state as the well studied linear-in- T dependence of λ , but has never been convincingly experimentally observed. Here we present measurements of the nodal superconductors CeCoIn 5 and LaFePO which clearly show this non-linear Meissner effect. We further show how the effect of a small dc magnetic field on λ ( T ) can be used to distinguish gap nodes from non-nodal deep gap minima. Our measurements of KFe 2 As 2 suggest that this material has such a non-nodal state.