Superconductivity in LuGe2 -: art. no. 052511

We report the discovery of a superconductor LuGe2. Magnetic and electrical measurements showed that the transition temperature T-c=2.6+/-0.1 K. Powder x-ray diffraction patterns indicate that this compound has the orthorhombic ZrSi2-type structure with space group C-mcm. A refinement of the lattice parameters of the unit cell, determing by the method of least squares using the thirteen intense reflections for 2theta<60degrees, showed that a=0.3969(9), b=1.5553(3), and c=0.3839(9) nm. In addition, no superconducting transition above 1.8 K was observed for the nonstrochiometric compound LuGe1.5 with AIB(2)-type structure.