Possible triplet superconductivity in the quasi-one-dimensional conductor Li0.9Mo6O17

Abstract

We consider a theoretical problem of the upper critical magnetic field parallel to a conducting axis of a quasi-one-dimensional layered superconductor. We show that the orbital effects against superconductivity in a magnetic field are capable of destroying the superconducting phase at low temperatures if the interplane distance is less than the corresponding coherence length. Applications of our results to recent experiments, performed in the superconductor Li${}_{0.9}$Mo${}_{6}$O${}_{17}$ [J.-F. Mercure et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 187003 (2012)], provide strong arguments in favor of a triplet superconducting pairing in this quasi-one-dimensional layered conductor.