Anisotropy inc-axis oriented YBa2Cu3O7−δ

Muon spin relaxation (μSR) data taken at LAMPF on ac-axis oriented fine powder sample of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (YBCO) embedded in epoxy are analyzed for relaxation rate anisotropy. Clear differences beyond simple magnetic field penetration depth anisotropy are observed forB‖c andB c. The low-temperature anisotropy ratio is consistent with oriented ceramic data. Small crystallite size and anisotropic flux pinning characteristics are suggested as the fundamental cause of the additional effects.     

Upper critical magnetic field in Ba0.68K0.32Fe2As2 and Ba(Fe0.93Co0.07)2As2

We report measurements of the temperature dependence of the radio frequency magnetic penetration depth in Ba_0.68K_0.32Fe₂As₂ and Ba(Fe_0.93Co_0.07)₂As₂ single crystals in pulsed magnetic fields up to 60 T. From our data, we construct an H-T-phase diagram for the inter-plane (H ‖ c) and in-plane (H ‖ ab) directions for both compounds. For both field orientations in Ba_0.68K_0.32Fe₂As₂ we find a concave curvature of the H _c2(T) lines with decreasing anisotropy and saturation towards lower temperature. Taking into account Pauli spin paramagnetism we can describe H _c2(T) and its anisotropy. In contrast, we find that Pauli paramagnetic pair breaking is not essential for Ba(Fe_0.93Co_0.07)₂As₂. For this electron-doped compound, the data support a H _c2(T) dependence that can be described by the Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg model for H ‖ ab and a two-gap behavior for H ‖ c.     

The effect of a magnetic field on Jahn-Teller ordering in the monoclinic crystal RbDy(WO4)2

This paper presents the results of a study of the thermal properties of monoclinic single-crystal RbDy(WO₄)₂ at temperatures of 2–15 K and in magnetic fields up to 6 T. From the results of measurements of the heat capacity and thermograms, two structural phase transitions are detected, at T _c1=4.9 K and T _c2=9.0 K. The transformation from the high-temperature phase to the low-temperature phase occurs via an intermediate phase. The field dependences of the critical temperatures are found for various magnetic-field orientations. H-T phase diagrams are constructed for H‖a and H‖c. An anomalous increase (by almost an order of magnitude) of the relaxation time of the system, associated with structural instability of the crystal lattice, is detected in the region of the structural phase transitions. A symmetry analysis is carried out, and possible crystal structures of the low-temperature phase are indicated. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 2221–2225 (December 1998)     

Landau level quantization and possible superconducting instabilities in highly oriented pyrolitic graphite

Measurements of the basal-plane resistivity ρ _a(T,H) performed on highly oriented pyrolitic graphite, with magnetic field H∥c-axis in the temperature interval 2–300K and fields up to 8 T, provide evidence for the occurrence of both field-induced and zero-field superconducting instabilities. Additionally, magnetization M(T,H) measurements suggest the occurrence of Fermi surface instabilities which compete with the superconducting correlations. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 2135–2138 (December 1999)     

Low-temperature structural phase transition in a monoclinic KDy(WO4)2 crystal

The low-temperature thermal and magnetic-resonance properties of a monoclinic KDy(WO₄)₂ single crystal are investigated. It is established that a structural phase transition takes place at T _c=6.38 K. The field dependence of the critical temperature is determined for a magnetic field oriented along the crystallographic a and c axes. The initial part of the H-T phase diagram is plotted for H∥a. The prominent features of the structural phase transition are typical of a second-order Jahn-Teller transition, which is not accompanied by any change in the symmetry of the crystal lattice in the low-temperature phase. The behavior of C(T) in a magnetic field shows that the transition goes to an antiferrodistortion phase. An anomalous increase in the relaxation time (by almost an order of magnitude) following a thermal pulse is observed at T>T _c(H), owing to the structural instability of the lattice. A theoretical model is proposed for the structural phase transition in a magnetic field, and the magnetic-field dependence of T _c is investigated for various directions of the field. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 750–758 (April 1998)     

A study of the plasticity in the vortex matter across the second magnetization peak in a YBCO crystal via measurements of minor hysteresis loops

Results of an investigation of the path dependence of the critical current density J _c due to the plastic deformation of the flux line lattice in a weakly pinned YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ (YBCO) crystal for H‖c are reported. The procedure of minor hysteresis loops has been used to explore the path dependence of J _c and the metastability effects. Contrary to the behavior observed in low T _c systems. in YBCO it is found that at low temperatures, the multivaluedness in J _c(H) could persist beyond the notional peak field H _p, at which the anomalous variation in J _c(H) reaches its maximum value.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance of 55Mn in the antiferromagnet CsMnBr3 in a variable longitudinal magnetic field

The spectrum and intensities of NMR lines are investigated experimentally and theoretically for excitation by an alternating magnetic field h‖ parallel to a static field H in the quasi-one-dimensional, six-sublattice antiferromagnet CsMnBr₃. According to theory, two new NMR lines, which are not excited by a transverse magnetic field h _⊥, are observed near the phase transition from triangular to collinear structure (H=H _c ) [JETP 86, 197 (1998)]. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 115, 2228–2241 (June 1999)     

Magnetic field dependence ofT c and temperature dependence ofH c2 in layered superconductors with open normal state Fermi surface

A theoretical framework for treating the effects of magnetic fieldH on the pairing theory of superconductivity is considered, where the field is taken in an arbitrary direction with respect to crystal axes. This is applicable to closed, as well as open normal state Fermi surface (FS), including simple layered metals. The orbital effects of the magnetic field are treated semiclassically while retaining the full anisotropic paramagnetic contribution. Explicit calculations are presented in the limits |H| → |H _c2(T)|,T ∼ 0 andT →T _c(|H|), |H| ∼ 0. Effects of weak nonmagnetic impurity scattering, without vertex corrections, have also been taken into account in a phenomenological way. The final results for the case of open FS and layered materials are found to differ considerably from those of the closed FS. For example, an important parameter,h(T=0)=|H_c2(0)|/[-Tδ|H _c2 T|δT]_T{s0} for the case of a FS open ink _z-direction with thek _z-bandwidth, 4t ₃, very small compared to the Fermi energy,E _F, is close to 0.5906, compared to 0.7273 for the closed FS, in the clean limit. Analytical results are given for the magnetic field dependence ofT _c and the temperature dependence of H _c2 for a model of layered superconductors with widely open FS. For a set of band structure parameters for YBa₂Cu₃O₇ used elsewhere, we find reasonable values for the upper critical fieldH _c2(0), the slope (dH _c2/dT)_{T c0}, anisotropic coherence lengths ζ_i(T=0),i=x, y, z, and (dT _c/d|H|)_{|H| → 0}.     

Comparison of thermomagnetic history effects in weakly pinned single crystals of R 3Rh4Sn13 (R=Yb, Ca)

A comparative study of the thermomagnetic memory effects of J _c in two weakly pinned low T _c superconductors, Ca₃Rh₄Sn₁₃ (CaRhSn) and Yb₃Rh₄Sn₁₃ (YbRhSn), is presented. In both the systems, the peak effect (PE) phenomenon appears as an order-disorder transformation through stepwise amorphization of the flux line lattice (FLL). However, in CaRhSn. we can witness another disorder-driven transition (Bragg glass (BG) to a vortex glass (VG) in a distinct manner as in a single crystal of high T _c YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ for H‖c.     

Non-collinear vortex states in twinned YBa2Cu3O7?δ single crystals

The magnetic moments parallel and perpendicular to thec-axis (measured simultaneously) have been studied as a function of direction of applied magnetic fieldH in twinned and de-twinned YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ single crystals. They show pronounced anomalies when the field direction approaches thec-axis. These allow clear identification of the angle ϕ_L at which vortices are locked into twin planes. Complete shielding of theH _ab field component (transverse Meissner effect) was observed in the locked state. For larger angles, up to ϕ_T, the vortices continue to be non-collinear with the applied field, but their direction deviates from the trapping plane. ϕ_L exhibits a 1/H field-dependence, whereas ϕ_T shows only weak logarithmic variations withH.     

Metal-insulator transition induced by a magnetic field in the compounds Eu0.7 A 0.3MnO3 (A=Ca, Sr)

The temperature R(T) and field R(H) dependences of the electrical resistance in the compound Eu_0.7 A _0.3MnO₃ (A=Ca, Sr) are investigated in the temperature range 4.2–200 K in magnetic fields up to 14 T. Above the antiferromagnetic transition temperature T _a, the function R(T) is semiconducting in character. Application of a magnetic field H that exceeds a certain critical value H _c changes the character of the function R(T) for Eu_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ to metallic (dR/dT>0). For T<T _a and H<H _c a jump in the resistance is observed indicating instability of the electronic state caused by competition between charge and spin ordering of the Mn ions of different valences. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 708–712 (April 1998)     

Muonic study of type II superconductors

A theory of μSR method is developed for uniaxial anisotropic high-T _c superconductors. In two extreme cases ofH _ext‖c andH _ext⊥c analytical formulas are obtained which makes it possible to determine from the position of van Hove singularities in the Fourier-spectrum of muonium polarization, the type and parameters of the vortex lattice, such as λ _ab (λ _c ). In caseH _ext≲H _c2 we obtained the shape of the Fourier-spectrum in analytical form and the simple method of determining the Ginsburg-Landau parameter κ. Convenient expressions for numerical calculations are obtained for the arbitrary orientation of the external field, and an algorithm is provided to compute the mean fieldB, the vortex lattice parameters and the bulk field distribution in anisotropic superconductor. The Fourier spectrum of polarization based on these calculations can be used to independently check the validity of the high-T _c parameters determination for “appropriate” orientations.     

Influence of crystal defects on the irreversibility line of YBa2Cu3O7-x single crystals

High quality flux grown and defect enriched peritectically grown YBa₂Cu₃O_7–x single crystals have been investigated by an ac-susceptibility technique. This method allows to determine an irreversibility line from the temperature and field dependence of the peaked imaginary part of the susceptibility, which is due to magnetic losses. For magnetic fieldsH _ac perpendicular to thec-axis of the crystal, the irreversibility line of the defect enriched crystal shows a shift to higher field values as compared to the perfect crystal, a sign that crystal defects like Y₂BaCuO₅(211)-precipitates and microcracks act as strong pinning centers. ForH _ac parallel to thec-axis no clear evidence for a stronger pinning is found. From these results we conclude that different pinning mechanisms are dominating at different field orientations.     

Upper critical field <Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>2</Subscript> in anisotropic superconductors with varying charge carrier density: Application of the theory to doped MgB<Subscript>2</Subscript>

A theory describing the magnetic properties of a two-band superconductor with a varying charge carrier density is constructed. The upper critical field H _c2^(ab) parallel to the ab plane and field H _c2^(c) parallel to the c axis are determined in the entire temperature range 0 < T < T _c . A considerable increase in upper critical field H _c2^(ab) as compared to H _c2^(c) because of strong anisotropy of the system is detected. Anisotropy of coefficient γ _H = H _c2^(ab) / H _c2^(c) is obtained as a function of temperature for pure MgB₂ and as a function of the chemical potential in the case when Mg and B atoms are replaced with other chemical elements. A correlation between the variation in the superconducting transition temperature upon an increase in the chemical potential and critical magnetic fields H _c2^(ab) and H _c2^(c) is observed. The effect of doping on magnetic anisotropy is also determined.     

Influence of magnetic field on the superconducting transition in a Nd1.82Ce0.18CuO4−δ film

The temperature and magnetic-field dependences of the resistivity ρ and Hall effect R(j‖ab, B‖c) in a Nd_1.82Ce_0.18CuO_4−δ single crystal film (T _c =6 K) is investigated at temperatures 1.4≤T≤20 K and magnetic fields 0≤B≤5.5 T. At the lowest temperature T=1.4 K the resistive state (exhibiting resistivity and the Hall effect) arises in a magnetic field B=0.5 T. A transition to the normal state is completed at B _c 2≃3 T, where the Hall coefficient becomes nearly constant. The negative magnetoresistance due to the weak-localization effect in the normal state is observed for B>3 T. The nonmonotonic behavior and the inversion of the sign of R(B) in the mixed state are explained in a reasonable way by the flux-flow model with the effect of pinning taken into account. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 64, No. 6, 407–411 (25 September 1996) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.     

Translational and rotational motions of a diatomic molecule enclosed in a solid matrix

The hamiltonian for a molecule enclosed in a cavity may be written H = H ^R(θ) + H ^T(r) + U ^RT(θ, r), where θ and r denote the molecular orientation and the displacement of the centre of mass. The crystalline potential seen by the guest molecule can be explicitly calculated on the basis of atom-atom and electrostatic multipolar interactions, by using an nth-order gradient formula in the spherical representation. We take a N ₂ molecule encaged in β-quinol clathrate as our model system, and solve variationally the Schrödinger equation for H to clarify the translation-rotation coupling. Energy levels of H are obtained as a function of the height of the hindering potential for rotation, by modifying the strength of the electrostatic multipolar interaction. Three limiting cases of H ^R are important: (a) libration around the Z-axis, (b) free rotation, and (c) an oscillational rotation whose equilibrium orientation is perpendicular to the Z-axis. The constrained translation under consideration is an anharmonic and almost spherically symmetric oscillation. The Pauli principle must be applied to the eigenstate of H. Excepting the case (a), translational states of H are different for different nuclear spin species, and higher-order effects of U ^RT on these states are significant. For p-N₂, some modes of motion interchange if the rotational motion changes from case (a) to case (c). If the constraining potential for translation is steeper, the effect of U ^RT will become smaller. The anharmonicity involved in H ^T is not negligible in discussing this effect.     

Thermal conductivity of USb2 and UBi2 single crystals

The thermal conductivity (κ) of single crystals of tetragonal uniaxial antiferromagnets USb₂ (T _N = 202 K) and UBi₂ (T _N = 180.8 K) has been measured along the a-axis (κ_a ) over the temperature range from 0.5 to 300 K and along the c-axis (κ_c ) from 0.5 to 70 K. The as-grown samples have residual resistivity ratio (RRR) values of about 500–600 and 100–150 for UBi₂ and USb₂, respectively. The anisotropy of the thermal conductivity (κ_a (T)/κ_c (T) ～ 5) and the low-T Lorenz ratios are discussed in relation to Fermi surface topology for both compounds.     

Anisotropy of permittivity of the hexagonal multiferroic HoMnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> in the spectral range 0.6–5.0 eV

The anisotropy of the optical properties of a single crystal of the hexagonal manganite HoMnO₃ has been investigated by spectroscopic ellipsometry in the spectral range 0.6–5.0 eV. It has been demonstrated that the optical absorption edge for the polarization E ⊥ c is determined by the intense narrow transition O(2p) → Mn(3d) centered at 1.5 eV, whereas this transition for the polarization E ‖ c is strongly suppressed and shifted toward higher energies by 0.2 eV. It has been revealed that, at the temperature T = 293 K, the spectra for both polarizations E ‖ c and E ⊥ c exhibit a broad absorption band centered at ∼2.4 eV, which was earlier observed in nonlinear spectra during optical second harmonic generation.     

Transmission spectra of thin CdS and CdSe crystals near higher-order isotropic points

Summary For photon energies below the absorption edge in CdS, CdSe and other II–VI crystals the polariton dispersion curves forE⊥c andE‖c (c-axis in a wurtzite crystal) corss at some points called isotropic points (IP). The occurrence of isotropic points provides the possibility of mode coupling between ordinary and extraordinary waves. Since the consequences of mode coupling on the optical properties for photon energies near the lowest IP lying much below the first excitonic state were widely discussed in recent years, more attention is now paid to isotropic points lying near the band gap and related to then=2,3, … excitonic states (?higher isotropic points?). Making use of Stahl's real density matrix approach we derive the polariton dispersion relationsk _⊥ (ω), andk _‖ (ω), for CdS and CdSe bulk crystals and determine the positions of IP's due to the crossing of theB-polariton with higherA-excitonic resonances. By the method of multiple internal reflection we calculate the transmission spectra for various crystal thicknesses (between 3 μm and 0.5 mm) and coupling mechanisms. The calculated transmission shows sharply peaked structures centred at the isotropic points.