Evolution of the 251 cm-1 infrared phonon mode with temperature in Ba0.6K0.4Fe2As2

The far-infrared optical reflectivity of an optimally doped Ba1-xKxFe2As2(x =0.4) single crystal is measured from room temperature down to 4 K. We study the temperature dependence of the in-plane infrared-active phonon at 251 cm-1 . This phonon exhibits a symmetric line shape in the optical conductivity, suggesting that the coupling between the phonon and the electronic background is weak. Upon cooling down, the frequency of this phonon continuously increases, following the conventional temperature dependence expected in the absence of a structural or magnetic transition. The intensity of this phonon is temperature independent within the measurement accuracy. These observations indicate that the structural and magnetic phase transition might be completely suppressed by chemical doping in the optimally doped Ba0.6K0.4Fe2As2 compound.     

ON THE SUPERCONDUCTING MECHANISM OF K3C60 AND Ba1-xKxBiO3

A superconducting mechanism for K₃C₆₀ and Ba_1-xK_xBiO₃ has been suggested. This is the combining picture of the Cooper pair and the Ogg pair. Numerical calculations within the framework of this picture have been done for K₃C₆₀ and Ba_1-xK_xBiO₃, and the overall consistency with the experimental data of superconducting properties is good.     

X-ray diffraction study of spontaneous strain in Fe-pnictide superconductor, NdFeAsO0.89F0.11

The lattice parameters of a Nd 1111 Fe-pnictide superconductor, NdFeAsO_0.89F_0.11, were accurately measured using X-ray diffraction between 20 K and 280 K. A very small change in the lattice parameter could be detected in the superconducting phase. This change can be attributed to a spontaneous strain generated in the superconducting phase by the coupling between a superconducting order parameter and the strain. The present results are compared with the thermal expansion coefficients of Ba (Fe_1−x Co _x )₂As₂, in addition to the previous lattice parameter measurements of YBa₂Cu₃O_6.5, MgB₂, La_1.85Sr_0.15CuO₄, and Ba_0.6K_0.4BiO₃.     

Studies on sintering of solid state synthesized Ba1−xKxBiO3−δ superconducting phase

Superconducting Ba_1−xK_xBiO_3−δ pellets were synthesized by solid state reaction followed by sintering. Thermo-gravimetric and differential thermo-gravimetric analysis (TG-DTA) of the mixture of nitrates was carried out to study the reactions during the phase formation. The effect of different sintering temperatures on the phase formation was studied. The X-ray diffraction data confirms the formation of superconducting Ba_0.6K_0.4BiO_2.23 phase at 700 °C. The surface morphological studies as a function of sintering temperature were studied by SEM. It is observed that the pellets prepared by solid state reaction followed its sintering at 700°C shows the superconducting transition at 26.8 K.     

Model spectral function and superconductivity in BaxK1−xBiO3 (x=0.5-0.7)

The Eliashberg spectral density function is constructed for the superconducting compound Ba_xK_1−xBiO₃ with x=0.5, 0.6, 0.7. The functions, besides yielding some prominent structures, show widely spreading spectra that inhibit lattice instability by yielding not too large values of λ(<1.32). The resulting spectral functions show similar shape as other results, where available, and also successfully reproduce the observed critical temperature, isotope exponent, gap ratio and several other parameters.     

Interpretation of temperature dependence of the in-plane electrical resistivity in YBa2Cu4O8: Electron–phonon approach

In this paper, we undertake a quantitative analysis of observed temperature-dependent in-plane normal state electrical resistivity of single crystal YBa₂Cu₄O₈. The analysis is within the framework of classical electron–phonon i.e., Bloch-Gruneisen model of resistivity. It is based on the inherent acoustic (low frequency) phonons (ω_ac) as well as high frequency optical phonons (ω_op), the contributions to the phonon resistivity were first estimated. The optical phonons of the oxygen breathing mode yields a relatively larger contribution to the resistivity compared to the contribution of acoustic phonons. Estimated contribution to in-plane electrical resistivity by considering both phonons i.e., ω_ac and ω_op, along with the zero-limited resistivity, when subtracted from single crystal data infers a quadratic temperature dependence over most of the temperature range [80 ? T ? 300]. Quadratic temperature dependence of ρ_diff. = [ρ_exp − {ρ₀ + ρ_e−ph (=ρ_ac + ρ_op)}] is understood in terms of electron–electron inelastic scattering. The relevant energy gap expressions within the Nambu-Eliashberg approach are solved imposing experimental constraints on their solution (critical temperature T_c). It is found that the indirect-exchange formalism provides a unique set of electronic parameters [electron–phonon (λ_ph), electron-charge fluctuations (λ_pl), electron–electron (μ) and Coulomb screening parameter (μ^*)] which, in particular, reproduce the reported value of T_c.     

Structural instability and superconductivity in B{a_{1 - x}}{K_x}Bi{o_3}

We report results of the ultrasonic investigation of Ba_1-xK_xBiO₃ superconducting (SC) single crystals for two potassium concentrations and in a wide temperature range including the normal and the SC states. An instability of the crystal lattice that develops above the superconducting phase transition leads to a softening of both the transverse c₄₄ and the longitudinal c₁₁ modes at temperatures between 200 K and 50 K. In the case of Ba_0.65K_0.35BiO₃ a pronounced hysteresis was discovered. Low temperature X-ray powder diffraction analysis does not reveal any change of the cubic structure in the samples within a resolution of our X-ray technique. The softening of the elastic moduli, the hysteresis, the maximum in the attenuation of sound along with the possible short- (or long-) range structural distortion can be explained qualitatively in a simple model by assuming a coupling of the acoustic modes with the anharmonic oscillations of BiO₆ octahedra. Some weak anomalies are discovered in the velocity of the longitudinal sound in the vicinity of the superconducting phase transition. Received 25 June 1999 and Received in final form 14 February 2000     

Microwave impedance of Ba0.6K0.4BiO3 crystals: Comparison with Nb

The surface impedance Z _s=R _s+iX _s of samples of Ba_0.6K_0.4BiO₃ in the temperature range 4<T<50 K is measured at 9.42 GHz. The BCS theory completely describes the electrodynamic properties of Nb in the dirty limit, and its application to Ba_0.6K_0.4BiO₃ allows determination of the London penetration depth λ _L(0)=3100±100 Å. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 111, 696–704 (February 1997)     

Superconductivity of powder-in-tube Sr0.6K0.4Fe2As2 wires

Nb-sheathed Sr_0.6K_0.4Fe₂As₂ superconducting wires have been fabricated using the powder-in-tube (PIT) method for the first time and the superconducting properties of the wires have been investigated. The transition temperature (T_c) of the Sr_0.6K_0.4Fe₂As₂ wires is confirmed to be as high as 35.3 K. Most importantly, Sr_0.6K_0.4Fe₂As₂ wires exhibit a very weak J_c-field dependence behavior even the temperature is very close to T_c. The upper critical field H_c2(0) value can exceed 140 T, surpassing those of MgB₂ and all the low temperature superconductors. Such high H_c2 and superior J_c-field performance make the 122 phase SrKFeAs wire conductors a powerful competitor potentially useful in very high field applications.     

Self-consistent spatially inhomogeneous state in HTSC Ba1-x KxBiO3 single crystals

A spatially inhomogeneous state in HTSC Ba_1-x K_xBiO₃ single crystals (T _c ≈ 30 K, x = 0.4) has been studied at T < ? ≈ 17 K, where ? is the temperature of separation into superconducting and dielectric phases. This separation has earlier been detected in Ba_1-x K_xBiO₃ polycrystals. In the single crystals, the main results are obtained from hysteretic magnetization reversal curves, whereas the character of separation in the polycrystals is clearly visible from I–V curves. The results obtained support the theoretical model of HTSC separation proposed in [1].     

Soft phonons and structural phase transition in superconducting Ba0.59K0.41BiO3

We have observed a softening of phonons and a structural phase transition in a superconducting Ba_0.59K_0.41BiO₃ (T_c = 31 K) single crystal using elastic and inelastic neutron scattering measurements. The soft phonon occurs for the [1 1 1] transverse acoustic mode at the zone boundary. The phonon energies in this vicinity are found to continuously decrease with decreasing temperature from above room temperature. This softening stops at a temperature close to T_s, where a structural phase transition from cubic to tetragonal symmetry occurs. The overall results are consistent with previous data that reported phonon softening and a (0.5, 0.5, 0.5) type superstructure in several Ba_1?xK_xBiO₃ systems. However, we also find weaker (0.5, 0.5, 0) type superstructure peaks that reveal an additional component to the modulation. No significant change related to the superconductivity was observed for these soft phonon energies or linewidths.     

Impact of anisotropy on polar optical vibration in a wurtzite cylindrical nanowire with ring geometry

The quasi-confined (QC) phonon modes, surface optical (SO) phonon modes and corresponding Fröhlich-like Hamiltonian in a wurtzite cylindrical nanowire with ring geometry are investigated in the framework of the dielectric continuum model and Loudon’s uniaxial crystal model. Numerical calculations are focused on the dispersion relations of the SO phonons and the electron–SO phonon coupling strength. Results show that there are only two branches of SO phonon modes. The dispersions of the two branches of SO phonon modes are obvious when the phonon wave-number k_z or the azimuthal quantum number m is small. Typical degenerating behavior of the SO modes is evidenced due to the anisotropic effect of wurtzite crystal. Moreover, when k_z or m are large enough, the frequencies of the two branches of SO modes converge to a definite limiting frequency in single planar heterostructure. The calculations of the electron–SO phonon coupling strength reveal that the high-frequency SO modes (SO₊) play a more important role in the coupling strength than the low-frequency ones (SO₋). Furthermore, the long-wavelength SO phonons with small m are the main factor contributing to the electron–phonon interaction.     

On the bistable behavior of a low-frequency Raman-active phonon line in superconducting oxide Ba<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>K<Subscript>x</Subscript>BiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The two-loop temperature hysteresis of integrated intensity of Raman scattering of light is explained theoretically for a line of frequency 50 cm^?1 in a superconducting oxide Ba_1?xK_xBiO₃ single crystal.     

Increase in the magnetization loop width in the Ba0.6K0.4BiO3 superconductor: Possible manifestation of phase separation

The magnetization of Ba_0.6K_0.4BiO₃ samples in fields up to 90 kOe in the temperature range from 2 to 30 K is investigated. It is shown that the observed increase in the width of the magnetization loop can be explained by a decrease in the phase nonuniformity upon an increase in the magnetic field. The asymmetric hysteretic dependence of magnetization with the secondary peak was successfully described by the extended critical state model taking into account the phase separation in the superconductor.     

用局域密度泛函线性丸盒轨道原子球近似超元胞法计算(Ba1-xKx)BiO3的Hopfield常数与Tc随组分x的变化

用局域密度泛函线性丸盒轨道原子球近似(LDF-LMTO-ASA)超元胞法计算(Ba_1-xK_x)BiO₃特定组分x的电子结构,其中x=0.0,0.5,1.0三种组分由扩大1倍的元胞计算;x=0.25和0.75两种组分由扩大4倍的元胞计算,所得能带参数总态密度TDOS(E_F)、分波态密度PDOS(E_F)以及自洽晶体势V^t(r),结合由实验测定的Θ_D≈210K,按McMillan强耦合公式以及Gaspari-Gyorffy近似,分别计算各原子的Hopfield常数η_t,电声子耦合常数λ以及超导转变温度T_c随组分x的变化。计算结果λ≈1而T_c最大约10K,且随x变化缓慢。与实验结果对比似乎暗示,在(Ba_1-xK_x)BiO₃中除电声子机制外,随组分变化的复杂结构相变亦将起重要的作用。 关键词：     

Reversal of the resistive switching effect in electron-doped Ba<Subscript>0.6</Subscript>K<Subscript>0.4</Subscript>BiO<Subscript>3−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>

The effect of electron instability of heterojunctions based on Ba_0.6K_0.4BiO_3?x single crystals has been found experimentally. This effect is shown to have the opposite sign along the electric field of the current compared to a similar effect observed in structures based on hole-doped systems.     

Resonant Raman scattering in superconducting Ba<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>K<Subscript>x</Subscript>BiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The effect of the photon energy of the exciting laser radiation on the Raman spectra of Ba_1?xK_xBiO₃ with x=0.25, 0.40, and 0.50 is studied. An increase in the laser wavelength from 488 to 750 nm scarcely affects the amplitudes and frequencies of the spectral lines in the Raman spectra of the nonsuperconducting compound with x=0.25. For the optimally doped (x=0.40) and overdoped (x=0.50) superconducting compounds, a substantial increase in the line intensity and a considerable shift of the characteristic frequencies are observed. This result suggests that, in the whole range of superconducting compositions 0.37≤x≤0.50, the local symmetry of the Ba_1?xK_xBiO₃ crystal lattice differs from the perfect cubic symmetry, which should take place according to the literature data. The fact that resonance phenomena are observed when the laser photon energy is shifted toward the optical gap testifies to the presence of local electron pairs in the whole range of superconducting compositions 0.37≤x≤0.50 and is evidence in favor of the superconductivity mechanism proposed for Ba_1?xK_xBiO₃ on the basis of the X-ray absorption studies in our previous paper.     

Vibrating reed magnetometer studies of superconducting and magnetic materials

ABSTRACT

Applications of sensitive vibrating reed magnetometry to a variety of superconducting and magnetic materials are reviewed. The advantages of conducting vibrating reed studies of small single crystals, ceramics, thin films and multilayers with high anisotropy, composition gradients, strain and nonlinear magnetic response are documented. The equilibrium and dynamic properties of magnetic flux in superconductors, and coexistence of magnetic and superconducting states are emphasised. Vibrating reed experiments on Nb, NbSe₂, (Ba_0.6K_0.4)BiO₃, HoNi₂B₂C, {Nb(x)/Ni(y)}_Z multilayer films, and κ-(ET)₂Cu{N(CN)₂}Br have revealed subtle, exotic superconducting behaviours that remain unexplained. Future prospects for vibrating reed measurements of ferromagnetic thin films with patterned nanostructures are considered.     

Anharmonicity and superconductivity in Ba0.6K0.4BiO3

The temperature dependence of the x-ray absorption spectra above the L ₃ absorption edge of bismuth in the superconducting oxide Ba_0.6K_0.4BiO₃ are investigated. It is found that the local structure is different from the simple cubic structure indicated by x-ray and neutron-diffraction data. It is shown that the oxygen atoms move in an anharmonic double-well potential arising as a result of the existence of two nonequivalent types of octahedral environments of bismuth. Vibrations in such potential modulate the Bi-O bond lengths at the low frequency of the rotational (“tilting” type) mode of the oxygen octahedra and thus give rise to a strong electron-phonon interaction, which explains the quite high superconducting transition temperatures T _c ∼30 K. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 67, No. 12, 977–982 (25 June 1998)     

Temperature variation of electrical conductivity and absorption edge in Cu7GeSe5I advanced superionic conductor

Single crystals of Cu₇GeSe₅I superionic conductor were grown by chemical transport. Their electrical conductivity in the frequency range 1.0×10⁶–1.2×10⁹ Hz and in the temperature range 196–295 K was measured. Cu₇GeSe₅I crystal is shown to exhibit a rather high electrical conductivity (σ₂₉₅=64.0 S/m at 295 K) and a low activation energy (ΔE_a=0.125 eV). Optical absorption edge of Cu₇GeSe₅I crystals in the temperature range 77–300 K was studied, the temperature dependences of the optical pseudogap and Urbach energy being obtained. The effect of different types of disordering on the Urbach absorption edge and electron–phonon interaction parameters was investigated.