EFFECT OF THE Ba VACANCY ON THE FLUX PINNING IN YBaxCu3O7-δ SYSTEM

A series of Y123 single phase samples with various Ba vacancy concentration was prepared by making their Ba contents deviate from the stoichiometric composition. The measurements of their structure, superconductivity and flux pinning behaviour were systematically carried out. It is found that, compared with YBa₂Cu₃O_6.96 sample, the strength of the flux pinning in YBa_xCu₃O_7-δ(1.8≤x<2.0) samples is increased, and that there is an optimum value of Ba vacancy concentration for the maximum flux pinning force density. The possible origin of the flux pinning centers to determine the flux pinning behavior at higher field is discussed in detail. We suggest that the flux pinning effect at lower field may stein from the interaction between the vortex and the surfaces of grains, and that the flux pinning mechanism at higher field belongs to the core interaction.     

FLUX CREEP, FLUX PINNING AND CRITICAL CURRENT DENSITY OF Y-, Gd-, AND Tl-BASED SUPERCONDUCTIVE THIN FILMS

Magnetic hysteresis loops have been measured for YBa₂Cu₃O_6+x, GdBa₂Cu₃O_6+x and Tl₂Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O_10-y films at different temperatures with a vibrating sample magnetometer. Based on Bean model, magnetic critical current density J_cm has been derived approximately. The field and temperature dependence of J_cm for all samples can be written as: J_cm= J_c0(T)×f(B,T), Where f(B,T) = 1 - Aln(B/B₀(T)), which is similar to the transport critical density strongly affected by flux creep: J_ct = J_c0(B,t)(1 - (k_BT/U₀)ln(BΩd/E_c)). The extraordinary similarity suggests that J_cm is determined not only by flux pinning but also by flux creep. In the first formula, f(B,T) may be correlated with the effect of flux creep on J_cm, and J_c0(T) is determined by flux pinning. J_c0(T) is independent of magnetic field and is proportional to (T_c - T). Similar results have also been found for other samples. It may be the common characteristic of high-T_c superconductors. Magnetic relaxation of YBa₂Cu₃O_6+x and GdBa₂Cu₃O_6+x films has been measured at LN₂ temperature. Using the equation of Hagen et al., effective activation energy U₀ has been deduced, which is about 0.3eV, one order bigger than the value obtained by A = k_BT/U₀. U₀ is almost independent of the field in the field range selected.     

ANISOTROPY OF CRITICAL CURRENT DENSITY IN c-AXIS ORIENTED EPITAXIAL YBa2Cu3O7-δ FILMS

The dependence of critical current density J_c on the angle α between the directions of the applied magnetic field H (which was rotated in the c-axis-I plane) and the in-plane current I was measured on a c-axis oriented epitaxial YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ films at 81 K, with the magnetic field strength up to 6T. Analysis of the experimental results on the basis of the classical scaling law of pinning force shows that there exist simultaneously planar-pinning and volume-pinning mechanisms, and the contribution of volume pinning increases wish decreasing while that of the planar pinning decreases, We propose that the decrease of Lorentz-force-independent critical current density with increasing H for H∥I results from the suppression of superconductivity by the magnetic field, The fact that the contribution of volume pinning increases with decreasing α also arises from the suppression of superconductivity in CuO₂ plane by the magnetic field.     

CRITICAL CURRENT DENSITY AND FLUX PINNING CHARACTERISTICS IN MELT-TEXTURED Y0.6Er0.4Ba2Cu3Oy SUPERCONDUCTOR

We prepared highly textured YBa₂CuO_y and Y_0.6Er_0.4Ba₂Cu₃O_y bulk samples by a powder melting process method under the same conditions and studied the magnetic properties and flux pinning character istics. It is found that the J_c estimated by the Bean's model decreases with the magnetic field according to a power law J_c∝B^-n (n<0.55), suggesting that J_c values of these materials are controlled by the flux pinning rather than weak links. Also, J_c and flux pinning are improved by the Er addition. The reduction of the size of Y₂BaCuO₅ particles, magnetic pinning and stress-field pinning caused by the Er addition may be responsible for the enhancement of J_c and flux pinning.     

IRREVERSIBILITY LINE AND THERMAL DEPINNING IN YBa2Cu3O7-δ

By measuring magnetic torque moment in a field-sweeping process, the temperature and field dependence of the critical current density j (with a criterion of electric field) and the normalized relaxation rate Q = d lnj/d ln E of a YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ thin film were obtained. With a minimum current density (j_min = 10A·cm^-2) the irreversibility lines at different sweeping rates were determined. It was found that these irreversibility lines cannot be fitted to either the melting line or the vortex-glass transition. All the data can be interpreted by the thermally-assisted-flux-flow model. Further investigation shows that, at irreversible tem-perature and field, U_c is much smaller than k_BT, which indicates that the thermal depinning is the real origin of the irreversibility line.     

NON-EQUILIBRIUM MICROWAVE RESPONSE OF Yba2Cu3O7-δ GRANULAR THIN FILMS UNDER MAGNETIC FIELDS

Microwave responses of YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ(YBCO) granular film have been studied at the microwave frequency of 30.5 GHz. In the absence of a magnetic field the dependence of a normal microwave response on the bias current is observed at a temperature close to T_c. When a magnetic field ranged from 5.0 mT to 33.0 mT is applied, the responses broaden and shift toward a lower temperature. In the superconducting state, the responses were found to be highly dependent on the magnetic field. For the current equal to 5.0mA and a magnetic field above 17.0mT the response increases and did not vanish even at a very low temperature, the fact is believed to be correlated to the anisotropic character of the structure.     

STUDY OF HALOGEN DOPING IN POLYCRYSTALLINE YBa2Cu3O7-δ

This paper presents systematically the doping effects of halogens in YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ polycrystalline samples, with a series of concentrations of fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine. All samples were prepared by chemical method of citrate pyrolysis, which makes the halogen concentration in the samples more uniform. Samples doped with F have T_c as high as 94.5K, Cl, Br and I dopings also raise T_c to a certain extent. In addition, the influence of halogen doping on critical current density, morphology, constitution and so forth is discussed.     

SUPERCONDUCTING TRANSITION TEMPERATURES AND NORMAL-STATE ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITIES OF Tm1-xPrxBa2Cu3O7-δ

Superconducting transition temperature T_c and normal-state electrical resistivities ρ of the Tm_1-xPr_xBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ system have been measured. The results indicate that T_c remains constant for x = 0 to 0.08 before it drops steadily with higher x. Following the Abrikosov-Gor'kov model, a total suppression of superconductivity occurs at a critical Pr concentration x_cr≈0.56. It is found for the first time, as far as we know, that the logarithmic resistivity at 270 K increases linearly with increasing x, yielding ρ= ρ₀e^ax. Judging from the relation between dρ/dT and x, a metal to insulator transition occurs just beyond x_cr.     

COHERENT OPTICAL PHONON EXCITATION BY FEMTOSECOND LASER PULSE IN YBa2Cu3O7-δ THIN FILMS

With a correlation of nonequilibrium carriers relaxation and coherent phonons displacive excitation, the coherent optical phonon oscillations in YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ thin films excited by femtosecond laser pulse are simulated theoretically. It is revealed that as the oxygen concentration decreases, the coherent phonon oscillations become easier to be observed due to the decrease of the local coupling between the carriers and the lattice vibrations in the CuO₂ plane.     

THE SCREENING EFFECT OF PHONON MODES IN HIGH-Tc OXIDE SUPERCONDUCTOR

This paper presents three different kinds of infrared (IR) spectra of oxide materials. The first one is the IR reflection spectra of Ti₂Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀ superconducting film at the incident angles 7°, 12° and 30°. The second one is the IR spectra of nonsuperconducting ceramic materials YBa₂Cu₃O₆ and PrBa₂Cu₃O₇. The third one is the IR spectra of superconductor YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ and of its film with the c-axis perpendicular to the film plane, as well as the changes in the spectra of these materials after annealing at different temperatures. It is found that in the spectra of high-T_c oxide superconductor, only the phonon modes along c-axis can be observed while the modes in a-b plane are absent. But in the spectra of nonsuperconductors the modes in a-b plane can be observed, particularly in the absorption spectra of the semiconductor YBa₂Cu₃O₆, all eleven allowed IR active modes have been detected. We suggest that the above experimental phenomena may result from the fact that the phonon modes vibrating in the a-b plane of the high-T_c oxide superconducting materials are almost screened by the free carriers which can move only in a-b plane.     

Memory Effect in Ceramic Superconductors

We measured the time decay of the magnetic moment of high T_c superconductors YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ ceramic samples and found the memory effect which has hitherto been reported only in single crystals. The temperature and field ranges, especially the memory phenomenon in ceramic samples at liquid nitrogen temperature can only be understood in a combined picture of both flux creep and glass behaviour     

窄带隙KNb1-xFexO3-δ的室温铁磁性

We have investigated the structure, optical and magnetic properties of ferroelectric KNb_1-xFexO_3-δ (X=0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25) synthesized by a traditional solid-state reaction method. According to the X-ray diffraction and the results of Rietveld refinement, all the samples maintain orthorhombic distorted perovskite structures with Amm2 space group without any secondary phase, suggesting the well incorporation of Fe ions into the KNbO₃ matrix. With the increase of Fe concentration, the band gap of each sample is decreased gradually, which is much smaller than the 3.18 eV band gap of pure KNbO₃. Through X-ray photoelectron spectrum analysis, the increased density of oxygen vacancy and Fe ions may be responsible for the observed decrease in band gap. Compared with the pure KNbO₃, Fe doped samples exhibit room-temperature weak ferromagnetism. The ferromagnetism in KNb_1-xFexO_3-δ with low-concentration dopants (X=0.01-0.10) can be attributed to the bound magnetic polaron mediated exchange. The enhancement of magnetism for the high-concentration (X=0.10-0.20) doped samples may arise from the further increase of magnetic Fe ions.     

Production of thick YBa2Cu3O7-δ films on sapphire with a cerium oxide sublayer

The feasibility of producing high-quality films of the high-temperature superconducting material YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ with thicknesses up to 2.6 μm by dc magnetron sputtering is demonstrated. It is found that inclusions consisting of CuO and YBa₂Cu₃O₈ coexist with the growing film and are “sinks” for defects, nonstoichiometric atoms, and mechanical stresses. X-ray diffraction and Rutherford backscattering studies show that the structural perfection of the films increases as the thickness is increased in the proposed production regime. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 132–136 (September 1999)     

Comparative studies of microwave absorption in the singlet paramagnets HoVO<Subscript>4</Subscript> and HoBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> in strong pulsed magnetic fields

Microwave absorption in the tetragonal singlet paramagnets HoVO₄ (zircon structure) and HoBa₂Cu₃O _x (x ≈ 6, layered perovskite structure) is studied and compared in pulsed magnetic fields up to 40 T at low temperatures. These paramagnets are characterized by a singlet-doublet scheme of the low-lying levels of the Ho³⁺ ion in a crystal field. In a magnetic field directed along the tetragonal axis, HoVO₄ exhibits resonance absorption lines at wavelengths of 871, 406, and 305 μm, which correspond to electron transitions between the low-lying levels of the Ho³⁺ ion in the crystal field. The positions and intensities of these absorption lines in HoVO₄ are well described in terms of the crystal-field formalism with the well-known interaction parameters. The absorption spectra of HoBa₂Cu₃O _x at a wavelength of 871 μm exhibit broad resonance absorption lines against the background of strong nonresonance absorption. The effects of low-symmetry (orthorhombic, monoclinic) crystal-field components, the deviation of a magnetic field from a symmetry axis, and various pair interactions on the absorption spectra of the HoVO₄ and HoBa₂Cu₃O _x crystals are discussed. Original Russian Text ? Z.A. Kazeĭ, V.V. Snegirev, M. Goaran, L.P. Kozeeva, M.Yu. Kameneva, 2008, published in Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2008, Vol. 133, No. 3, pp. 632–645.     

THERMALLY ACTIVATED HOPPING IN Dy1-xPrxBa2Cu3O7-δ SYSTEM

The temperature dependence of resistivity in Dy_1-xPr_xBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ system with x>0.6 was measured. The experimental results show that Pr substitution leads to the localization of mobile holes and such a localization is enhanced with increasing Pr concentration. The gradually enhancing of localization induces Anderson transitions one by one in this system, including the transition from the conduction by excitation of holes to the one by thermal activation hopping between localized states, the so called Anderson transition type-I, and the transition from nearest neighbor hopping (NNH) to variable range hopping (VRH), the Anderson transition type-II, and the Anderson transition type-lI from 3D to 2D.     

EFFECT OF THERMAL TREATMENTS ON THE SUPERCONDUCTIVITY OF UNDOPED AND WO3 DOPED Y-Ba-Cu-O SYSTEM

Undoped and WO₃-doped Y-Ba-Cu-O ceramics have been slowly cooled in flowing oxygen or quenched in air from 900℃ to room temperature, after sintering at 900℃ for 3Oh in flowing oxygen. The ac susceptibility measurements show that the T_c of the quenched WO₃-doped Y-Ba-Gu-O superconductor can reach 88K, while the undoped Y-Ba-Cu-O ceramic quenched in air is a non-superconductor. X-ray diffraction data show that WO₃ does not enter into the YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x lattice but forms all impurity phase. The WO₃-doped YBCO specimens quenched in air consist of orthorhombic YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x phase and an impurity phase which increases with increasing WO₃ content. Raman spectra chow that oxygen contents are different for undoped and WO₃-doped samples. It la suggested that suitable doping with WO₃ can change the oxygen content and reduce the effect of thermal treatments on the superconductivity of Y-Ba-Cu-O system.     

Growth of YBa2Cu3O7−x thin films on sapphire with a cerium-oxide sublayer

The possibility is demonstrated of preparing high-quality films of the high-temperature superconductor YBa₂Cu₃C_7-δ with thicknesses up to 2.6 μm by dc magnetron sputtering. It is found that inclusions consisting of CuO and YBa₂Cu₃O₈ coexist with the growing film and are “sinks” for defects, nonstoichiometric atoms, and mechanical stresses. Using x-ray diffraction and Rutherford backscattering, we find that the structural perfection of the films is improved by increasing the thickness when using the proposed fabrication technique. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 94–98 (January 1999)     

POSITRON LIFETIME STUDIES OF Y1-xCaxBa2Cu3O7-δ AND Y1-xCaxBa2Cu3-xFexO7-δ

In this paper it is reported that the measurement of the bulk positron lifetime as a function of substitution content x in the temperature range from 70 to 220K was performed in two high-T_c superconducting systems, Y_1-xCa_xBa₂Cu_3-xFe_xO_7-δ and Y_1-xCa_xBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ. It was found that τ_B of both systems decreases significantly with x and the temperature dependence of τ_B is very weak in normal state. In lower temperature region (Tc), a dramatic x-dependent temperature variation of τ_B was observed in the Ca-substituted system: from a decrease of τ_B with decreasing T to an increase of τ_B. With increasing x, the temperature dependence of τ_B remains weak in the Ca- and Fe- substituted systems. Compared with the experimental data of positron lifetime in other substituted systems and the calculation of the positron density distribution, the authors suggest that positron bulk lifetime spectra behaviour can be interpreted by the physical model based on the transfer of electron density between the CuO₂ planes and Cu-O chains. Therefore, the study of positron lifetime spectra provides a useful means to detect the local charge density and to study the correlation between the electronic structure and the high-T_c superconductivity.     

INFLUENCE OF γ-RADIATION ON THE DIELECTRIC CHARACTERISTICS IN Rb2ZnCl4 SINGLE CRYSTALS AT INCOMMENSURATE-COMMENSURATE PHASE TRANSITION

In this paper the influence of γ-radiation on the dielectric constants of Rb₂ZnCl₄ crystal at incommensurate-commensurate phase transition (hereafter abbreviated as INC-C transition) are studied. The thermal hysteresis occurs upon both cooling and heating runs, irrespective of whether the samples have been treated with γ-radiation or not. For the γ-irradiated sample, its transition point, T_c, between the INC and C phases is not changed, but the peak value of the dielectric constant at T_c increases abruptly, compared with that before γ-irradiation, When this sample is annealed at 40℃, the peak value restores to the incipient value for the sample free from γ-irradiation. The origin of the phenomenon of the thermal hysteresis of the dielectric constant may be due to the pinning effect of dejects or impurities in the samples.     

A STUDY OF RAMAN SCATTERING AND INFRARED ABSORPTION SPECTRUM IN A NEW SERIES OF MERCURY-BASED HIGH-Tc SUPERCONDUCTOR (Hg,Mo)Sr2(Y1-xCax)Cu2O6+δ

Lattice vibrations of the (Hg,Mo)Sr₂(Y_1-xCa_x)Cu₂O_6+δ—a new series of mercury-based high-T_c superconductor are analyzed with the aid ofgroup theory. The vibrations of species are given. They are 4A_1g+ B_1g+ 5E_g+ 7A_2u + B_2u+ 8E_u. The 4A_1g, B_1g and 5E_g modes are Ramma active, the 6A_2u and 7E_u are infrared active. Phonon vibration characteristics of the samples are studied using Raman scattering and infrared absorption spectra. The experimental results show that the typical phonon vibrational modes appear mainly at 145, 320, 440, 578, 592 and 645cm^-1, The intensities of the 145, 320, 440, 578 and 645 peaks decrease with increasing Ca content x and the position of 645 peak moves to higher wavenumber slightly. In this article, the phonan modes are assigned and their variation behavior with increasing Ca content x are discussed.