Effect of strain-induced electronic topological transitions on the superconducting properties of La 2 - x Sr x CuO 4 thin films

We propose a Ginzburg-Landau phenomenological model for the dependence of the critical temperature on microscopic strain in tetragonal high-T _c cuprates. Such a model is in agreement with the experimental results for LSCO under epitaxial strain, as well as with the hydrostatic pressure dependence of T _c in most cuprates. In particular, a nonmonotonic dependence of T _c on hydrostatic pressure, as well as on in-plane or apical microstrain, is derived. From a microscopic point of view, such results can be understood as due to the proximity to an electronic topological transition (ETT). In the case of LSCO, we argue that such an ETT can be driven by a strain-induced modification of the band structure, at constant hole content, at variance with a doping-induced ETT, as is usually assumed. Received 1st October 2001 and Received in final form 5 December 2001     

Doping dependence of the superconducting gap by Andreev reflection in Au/La2−xSrxCuO4 point-contact junctions

We studied the doping dependence of the superconducting gap in La_2−xSr_xCuO₄ (LSCO) by means of Andreev reflection measurements in Au/LSCO point-contact junctions. The Andreev reflection features were found to disappear at T_c^A close to the bulk T_c. The fit of the conductance curves with the BTK-Tanaka-Kashiwaya model gives good results if a (s+d)-wave gap symmetry is used. The low-temperature dominant isotropic gap component Δ_s follows very well the T_c vs. x curve, while the gap-like features observed by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and tunneling scale with T^∗. This confirms the different origin of these two energy scales at T<T_c.     

Transport properties of La 1 - x Ca x MnO 3 ( 0.5 ? x < 1)

The transport properties of the La_1-xCa_xMnO₃ ( 0.5 ? x < 1) system in magnetic fields up to 14 T were studied. We found that the relationship between the charge ordering temperature T _CO and Mn⁴⁺ content n _{Mn4 +} obeys the formula T _CO / T _max = 1 - a ( n _{Mn4 +} - n ₀ ) ² , here n₀ and a are constants and T _max is the maximum of T _CO . For x = 0.65, T _CO arrives at the maximum value of 249.5 K in zero magnetic field, while the charge ordered (CO) state is most stable around x = 0.75. For x = 0.5 when H < 6 T the resistivity displays Mott's variable-range hopping (VRH) behavior, when 6 < H < 12 T it is suggested that two kinds of conduction mechanism, i.e., VRH and magnetic polarons, coexist in the material, and when H > 12 T the resistivity shows metallic-like behavior and the transport mechanism is attributed to coexistence of magnetic polarons and free carriers. For x = 0.95, the conduction mechanism accords with the coexistence of VRH and magnetic polarons. Received 4 January 2002 and Received in final form 28 January 2002     

Unconventional antiferromagnetic correlations of the doped Haldane gapsystem Y 2 BaNi 1 - x Zn x O 5

We make a new proposal to describe the very low temperature susceptibility of the doped Haldane gap compound Y₂BaNi_1-xZn_xO₅. We propose a new mean field model relevant for this compound. The ground state of this mean field model is unconventional because antiferromagnetism coexists with random dimers. We present new susceptibility experiments at very low temperature. We obtain a Curie-Weiss susceptibility χ( T ) ∼ C /(Θ + T ) as expected for antiferromagnetic correlations but we do not obtain a direct signature of antiferromagnetic long range order. We explain how to obtain the “impurity” susceptibility ( T ) by subtracting the Haldane gap contribution to the total susceptibility. In the temperature range [1 K, 300 K] the experimental data are well fitted by T ( T ) = C _imp 1 + T _imp / T . In the temperature range [100 mK, 1 K] the experimental data are well fitted by T ( T ) = A ln( T / T _c ), where T _c increases with x. This fit suggests the existence of a finite Néel temperature which is however too small to be probed directly in our experiments. We also obtain a maximum in the temperature dependence of the ac-susceptibility ( T ) which suggests the existence of antiferromagnetic correlations at very low temperature. Received 17 July 2001     

Temperature dependence of the YBa2Cu3O7 energy gap in differently oriented tunnel junctions

We have applied the break-junction technique to highly biepitaxial c-axis oriented YBa₂Cu₃O₇ thin films with T _C (ρ=0) = 91 K. Mechanically adjustable junctions with a good stability and tunneling current favored along the ab-planes have been realized. The conductance characteristics of these junctions show the presence of gap related maxima that move towards zero bias for increasing temperatures. Considering the misorientation angle α≈ 45 ^° ± 5 ^° of the junction, a maximum gap value at the Fermi level Δ ≈ 22 meV is inferred at T = 13 K. The temperature dependence of the gap related structures, shows a quasilinear behavior for T > 0.4 T _C similar to that observed in c-axis oriented, S-I-N type YBa₂Cu₃O₇ planar junctions. Received 20 July 2001     

Metal-insulator transition in electron-doped Ba1−x La x MnO3 compounds

Electron-doped (Ba_1−x La _x )MnO₃ compounds were prepared for x=0−0.5. Measurements of X-ray diffraction (XRD) at room temperature and temperature variation of dc electrical resistivity down to 20 K were carried out. Samples with x=0.2–0.5 exhibit metal-insulator (M-I) transition. The maximum M-I transition temperature (T _c) of 289 K was observed for 30% of La doping (x=0.3). XRD patterns of these samples (x=0.2−0.5) were analyzed using Rietveld refinement. These samples are found to be mostly in single-phase form with orthorhombic symmetry (space group Pbnm). We have found strong correlation between Mn-O-Mn bond angles and T _c of M-I transition. The resistivity data below T _c could be fitted to the expression ρ=ρ ₁+ρ ₂ T ² and this shows that double exchange interaction plays a major role even in Mn⁴⁺-rich compound. Above T _c the resistivity data were fitted to variable range hopping and small polaron models.     

Low-temperature specific heat of Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>RuO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

We report low-temperature measurements 0.07 K ? T ? 2 K of the specific heat, C, of the perovskite superconductor Sr₂RuO₄. Based on a detailed analysis of our data with respect to both sample quality (as measured by T _c = 0.43 K - 1.17 K) and magnetic-field dependence, it is shown that the electronic contribution to the specific heat, which contains the desired information on the gap structure, is superimposed by at least two additional contributions: a Schottky-type hump at T ≈ 0.1 - 0.2 K and a low-temperature upturn in C / T at T < 0.1 K. We discuss possible origins of these additional contributions and their implications for the interpretation of low-temperature C ( T ) data. Received 23 August 2001     

Orbital-selective Mott-insulator transition in Ca 2 - x Sr x RuO 4

The electronic structures of the metallic and insulating phases of the alloy series Ca_2-xSr_xRuO₄ ( 0 ? x ? 2) are calculated using LDA, LDA+U and Dynamical Mean-Field Approximation methods. In the end members the groundstate respectively is an orbitally non-degenerate antiferromagnetic insulator (x = 0) and a good metal (x = 2). For x > 0.5 the observed Curie-Weiss paramagnetic metallic state which possesses a local moment with the unexpected spin S = 1/2, is explained by the coexistence of localized and itinerant Ru-4d-orbitals. For 0.2 < x < 0.5 we propose a state with partial orbital and spin ordering. An effective model for the localized orbital and spin degrees of freedom is discussed. The metal-insulator transition at x = 0.2 is attributed to a switch in the orbital occupation associated with a structural change of the crystal. Received 27 July 2001     

The electronic structure of the doped one-dimensional transition metal oxide Y 2 - x Ca x BaNiO 5 studied using X-ray absorption

A strong anisotropic distribution of the holes in Ni 3 d and O 2 p orbitals is observed in the polarization dependent O 1 s and Ni 2 p _3/2 X-ray absorption spectroscopy of the linear-chain nickelate Y_2-xCa_xBaNiO₅ (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2), which demonstrates the one-dimensional nature of the electronic state in these compounds. The holes introduced by Ca-doping occupy both O 2 p and Ni 3 d orbitals along the NiO₅ chains. By comparing the experimental Ni 2 p _3/2 absorption spectra of Y_2-xCa_xBaNiO₅ to those from charge transfer multiplet calculations we can derive the orbital character of the additional holes to be of ∼60% O2 p and ∼40% Ni 3 d. Received 7 January 2002     

Evolution of magnetism in U(Ni 1- xPd x) Si single crystals

Single crystals of U(Ni_1-xPd_x)₂Si₂ with x = 0.05, 0.09 and 0.135 have been grown. Magnetization and electrical resistivity measurements were performed in a wide range of temperatures and magnetic fields in order to study stability of magnetic phases in the solid solutions between UNi₂Si₂ and UPd₂Si₂ with a special emphasis on the type of ground state. In UPd₂Si₂ the simple AFI-type antiferromagnetic structure of U moments is observed at low temperatures. UNi₂Si₂ adopts the uncompensated AF structure (UAF) with the + + - stacking of U moments along the c-axis and consequently this compound exhibits a spontaneous magnetization corresponding to 1/3 of the U moment. The substitution of Pd for Ni leads to a rapid decay of the spontaneous magnetization. The evolution of magnetization and electrical resistivity behavior with Pd doping is tentatively attributed to the coexistence of the AF-I and UAF phases in the ground state of U(Ni_0.91Pd_0.09)₂Si₂ and U(Ni_0.865Pd_0.135)₂Si₂. In this scenario, the volume fraction of the AF-I phase rapidly grows with Pd doping on account of the UAF. At lowest temperatures an irreversible transition to the UAF phase is observed when a sufficiently high magnetic field is applied along the c-axis. Received 28 March 2002 / Received in final form 8 August 2002 Published online 19 December 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: sech@mag.mff.cuni.cz     

On the evolution of the ground state in the system U x La 1 - x S: Polarized neutron diffraction and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism study

In the U_xLa_1-xS system there is an abrupt loss of the long-range ferromagnetic ordering found in pure US at a critical concentration x _c ∼ 0.57, which is far above the percolation limit. As the magnetic ground state in such a system can be strongly affected by small variations of the 5f localization, we have investigated a set of samples with different x by polarized neutron diffraction and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). The neutron results are consistent with early measurements performed on pure US. Even at the lowest U content (x = 0.15, below x _c ) the shape of the induced form factor (f ( Q )) is comparable with that found for x = 1 and is well reproduced by either a U⁴⁺ or a U³⁺ state. The ratio between the orbital and the effective spin moments in the XMCD measurements confirms this result, but the evolution of the shape at the M₅ edge suggests an abrupt change in the distribution of the electrons (holes) in the 5 f density of states around x _c . Received 31 January 2001     

Size and concentration effects in the optical properties of alloyed ( Au x Ag 1 - x ) n and core-shell ( Ni x Ag 1 - x ) n embedded clusters

Optical properties of mixed clusters (Au_xAg _{1 - x} ) _n and (Ni_xAg _{1 - x} ) _n , produced by laser vaporization and embedded in an alumina matrix, are reported. The size effects are investigated for different concentrations (x = 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75) in the diameter range 2-4 nm. For alloyed clusters (Au_xAg _{1 - x} ) _n of a given size an almost linear evolution of the surface plasmon frequency ω _s with the concentration is observed (between those of pure gold and pure silver clusters). Moreover the blue-shift and the damping of the resonance with decreasing size is all the more important as the gold concentration in the particles increases. Such results are in agreement with theoretical calculations carried out in the frame of the time-dependent local-density-approximation (TDLDA) including an inner skin of ineffective screening and the porosity of the matrix. The optical response of (Ni_xAg _{1 - x} ) _n clusters exhibits a surface plasmon resonance in the same spectral range as the one observed for pure silver clusters, but considerably damped and broadened. For a given mean cluster size 3.0 nm, a blue-shift of the resonance is observed when increasing the nickel concentration (between x = 0.25 and x = 0.75). The results are in good qualitative agreement with classical predictions in the dipolar approximation, assuming a core-shell geometry. Received 21 November 2000     

Electronic structure and metal-insulator transition in SrTi 1 - x Ru xO 3

We studied the changes in the electronic structure of SrTi_1-xRu_xO₃ across the metal-insulator transition. The parent compound, SrTiO₃, is a well known diamagnetic insulator; whereas the doped compound, SrTi_1-xRu_xO₃, becomes a ferromagnetic metal above x _C = 0.35. The techniques used in the study were photoemission (PES) and O 1 s X-ray absorption (XAS) spectroscopy. The experimental spectra were analyzed in terms of band structure and Hubbard model calculations. The PES and XAS spectra of SrTi_1-xRu_xO₃ show the Ru 4 d bands growing in the band gap of SrTiO₃ . The analysis in terms of the Hubbard model indicates that the Ti 3 d and Ru 4 d bands are mostly decoupled. This suggests that the metal-insulator transition is a percolation transition like that of metals embedded in a rare gas matrix. Electron correlation effects are present in this system, but they do not seem to play a major role in the transition. Received 10 September 2001     

Slow relaxation experiments in disordered charge and spin density waves: collective dynamics of randomly distributed solitons

We show that the dynamics of disordered charge density waves (CDWs) and spin density waves (SDWs) is a collective phenomenon. The very low temperature specific heat relaxation experiments are characterized by: (i) “interrupted” ageing (meaning that there is a maximal relaxation time); and (ii) a broad power-law spectrum of relaxation times which is the signature of a collective phenomenon. We propose a random energy model that can reproduce these two observations and from which it is possible to obtain an estimate of the glass cross-over temperature (typically T _g≃ 100-200 mK). The broad relaxation time spectrum can also be obtained from the solutions of two microscopic models involving randomly distributed solitons. The collective behavior is similar to domain growth dynamics in the presence of disorder and can be described by the dynamical renormalization group that was proposed recently for the one dimensional random field Ising model [D.S. Fisher, P. Le Doussal, C. Monthus, Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 3539 (1998)]. The typical relaxation time scales like ∼τexp(T _g/T). The glass cross-over temperature T_g related to correlations among solitons is equal to the average energy barrier and scales like T _g∼ 2xξΔ. x is the concentration of defects, ξ the correlation length of the CDW or SDW and Δ the charge or spin gap. Received 12 December 2001     

Spin-wave theory for finite classical magnets and superparamagnetic relation

Analytical calculations based on finite-size spin-wave theory and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations are performed to investigate the validity of the well-known relation m(H, T) = M(H, T)B _D[M(H, T) H/T] between the induced magnetization m of the magnetic particle and its intrinsic magnetization M for the Ising and isotropic classical models (B _D(x) is the Langevin function, D is the number of spin components, is the number of atoms in the particle). It follows from general arguments and from our analytical results for the Heisenberg model at T≪T _c that this relation is not exact for any finite D and nonzero temperature. Nevertheless, corrections to this formula remain very small practically in the whole range T < T _c if ≫ 1, as confirmed by our Monte Carlo calculations. At T T _c/4 there is a good agreement between the MC and finite-size spin-wave calculations for the field dependence of m and M for the Heisenberg model with free boundary conditions. Received 1st December 2000     

Superconductivity of SrTiO

Superconducting SrTiO _{3 - δ} was obtained by annealing single crystalline SrTiO₃ samples in ultra high vacuum. An analysis of the V ( I ) characteristics revealed very small critical currents I _c which can be traced back to an unavoidable doping inhomogeneity. R ( T ) curves were measured for a range of magnetic fields B at I ≪ I _c , thereby probing only the sample regions with the highest doping level. The resulting curves B _c2 ( T ) show upward curvature, both at small and strong doping. These results are discussed in the context of bipolaronic and conventional superconductivity with Fermi surface anisotropy. We conclude that the special superconducting properties of SrTiO _{3 - δ} can be related to its Fermi surface and compare this finding with properties of the recently discovered superconductor MgB₂. Received 4 December 2002 / Received in final form 10 March 2003 Published online 23 May 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: jourdan@uni-mainz.de     

Magnetic properties of undoped YBa 2 Cu 3 O 6 + x system

In the present paper, we study the magnetic properties of bilayer cuprate antiferromagnets. In order to evaluate the expressions for spin-wave dispersion, sublattice magnetization, Néel temperature and the magnetic contribution to the specific heat, the double time Green's function technique has been employed in the random phase approximation (RPA). The spin wave dispersion curve for a bilayer antiferromagnetic system is found to consist of one acoustic and one optic branch. The “optical magnon gap” has been attributed solely to the intra-bilayer exchange coupling (J _⊥ ) as its magnitude does not change significantly with the inter-bilayer exchange coupling (J_z). However J_z is essential to obtain the acoustic mode contribution to the magnetization. The numerical calculations show that the Néel temperature (T _N ) of the bilayer antiferromagnetic system increases with the J_z and a small change in J_z gives rise to a large change in the Néel temperature of the system. The magnetic specific heat of the system follows a T² behaviour but in the presence of J_z it varies faster than T². Received 13 July 2000 and Received in final form 14 May 2001     

Preparation, magnetoresistance and magnetocaloric effect of two-layered perovskite La 2.5- x K 0.5+ x Mn 2 O 7+δ

Polycrystalline two-layered perovskite La_2.5-xK_0.5+xMn₂O _{7 + δ} (0 < x < 0.5) samples have been prepared by a modified sol-gel method and their magnetoresistance and magnetocaloric effects have been studied. A large deviation between the metal-insulator (MI) transition temperature (T _ρ ) and the magnetic transition temperature (T_C) is observed. Large magnetoresistance (MR) effects with Δρ/ρ of ∼40% at 12 kOe are obtained in wide temperature ranges. The maximum of the magnetic entropy change peaks at its Curie temperature (T_C), far above its MI transition temperature (T _ρ ). The large magnetic entropy change (∼1.4 J/kg.K) is obtained in the sample La_2.5-xK_0.5+xMn₂O _{7 + δ} (x = 0.35) upon 10 kOe applied magnetic field. Received 2 May 2002 / Received in final form 1st October 2002 Published online 19 December 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: wzhong@ufp.nju.edu.cn     

Structural phase transition in the 2D spin dimer compound SrCu 2 ( BO 3 ) 2

A displacive, 2nd order structural phase transition at T _s = 395 K from space group I 2 m below T _s to I 4/m c m above T _s has been discovered in the two-dimensional spin dimer compound SrCu₂(BO₃)₂. The temperature evolution of the structure in both phases has been studied by X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering, supplemented by differential scanning calorimetry and SQUID magnetometry. The implications of this transition and of the observed phonon anomalies in Raman scattering for spin-phonon and interlayer coupling in this quantum spin system will be discussed. Received 24 July 2000 and Received in final form 2 November 2000     

Zero bias anomaly in the density of states of low-dimensional metals

We consider the effect of Coulomb interactions on the average density of states (DOS) of disordered low-dimensional metals for temperatures T and frequencies ω smaller than the inverse elastic life-time 1/τ. Using the fact that long-range Coulomb interactions in two dimensions (2d) generate ln²-singularities in the DOS ν(ω) but only ln-singularities in the conductivity σ(ω), we can re-sum the most singular contributions to the average DOS via a simple gauge-transformation. If σ(ω) > 0, then a metallic Coulomb gapν(ω) ∝ |ω|/e ⁴ appears in the DOS at T = 0 for frequencies below a certain crossover frequency Ω ₂ which depends on the value of the DC conductivity σ(0). Here, - e is the charge of the electron. Naively adopting the same procedure to calculate the DOS in quasi 1d metals, we find ν(ω) ∝ (|ω|/Ω ₁)^1/2exp(- Ω ₁/|ω|) at T = 0, where Ω ₁ is some interaction-dependent frequency scale. However, we argue that in quasi 1d the above gauge-transformation method is on less firm grounds than in 2d. We also discuss the behavior of the DOS at finite temperatures and give numerical results for the expected tunneling conductance that can be compared with experiments. Received 28 August 2001 / Received in final form 28 January 2002 Published online 9 July 2002