Energy-scale phenomenology and pairing via resonant spin-charge motion in FeAs, CuO, heavy-fermion and other exotic superconductors

Muon spin relaxation (μSR) studies of the “1111” and “122” FeAs systems have detected static magnetism with variably sized ordered moments in their parent compounds. The phase diagrams of FeAs, CuO, organic BEDT, A₃C₆₀ and heavy-fermion systems indicate competition between static magnetism and superconductivity, associated with first-order phase transitions at quantum phase boundaries. In both FeAs and CuO systems, the superfluid density n_s/m^* at T→0 exhibits a nearly linear scaling with T_c. Analogous to the roton-minimum energy scaling with the lambda transition temperature in superfluid ⁴He, clear scaling with T_c was also found for the energy of the magnetic resonance mode in cuprates, (Ba,K)Fe₂As₂, CeCoIn₅ and CeCu₂Si₂, as well as the energy of the superconducting coherence peak observed by angle resolved photo emission (ARPES) in the cuprates near (π,0). Both the superfluid density and the energy of these pair-non-breaking soft-mode excitations determine the superconducting T_c via phase fluctuations of condensed bosons. Combining these observations and common dispersion relations of spin and charge collective excitations in the cuprates, we propose a resonant spin-charge motion/coupling, “traffic-light resonance,” expected when the charge energy scale ε_F becomes comparable to the spin fluctuation energy scale ?ω_SF~J, as the process which leads to pair formation in these correlated electron superconductors.     

Magnetization and characteristic fields in Nd0.8Ba0.2FeAsO0.6F0.4 with binary doping

In the present work, the iron oxypnictide superconductor of the namely Nd_0.8Ba_0.2FeAsO_0.6F_0.4 is prepared with respect to the observation of distinct magnetization characteristics arising from both electron and hole doping. A magnetothermal phase diagram is given for the present iron oxypnictide system, based on the irreversibility fields (H_irr) and the upper critical fields (H_c2) obtained from magnetotransport measurements, as well as the lower critical fields (H_c1) evaluated by magnetization loops at various temperatures. High H_c2(0) are revealed at low temperature range, which is in consistent with the observations of comparatively high critical current (J_c) and the temperature dependent peak effect in the J_c vs H curves.     

Josephson effect in supercondutor/ferromagnetic semiconductor/superconductor junctions

Using a general expression for dc Josephson current, we study the Josephson effect in ballistic superconductor (SC)/ferromagnetic semiconductor (FS)/SC junctions, in which the mismatches of the effective mass and Fermi velocity between the FS and SC, spin polarization P in the FS, as well as strengths of potential scattering Z at the interfaces are included. It is shown that in the coherent regime, the oscillatory dependences of the maximum Josephson current on the FS layer thickness L and Josephson current on the macroscopic phase difference φ for the heavy and light holes, resulting from the spin splitting energy gained or lost by a quasiparticle Andreev-reflected at the FS/SC interface, are much different due to the different mismatches in the effective mass and Fermi velocity between the FS and the SC, which is related to the crossovers between positive (0) and negative (π) couplings or equivalently 0 and π junctions. Also, we find that, for the same reason, Z and P are required not to surpass different critical values for the Josephson currents of the heavy and light holes. Furthermore, it is found that, for the dependence of the Josephson current on φ, regardless of how L,Z, and P change, the Josephson junctions do not transit between 0 and π junctions for the light hole.     

The non-perturbative renormalization group in the ordered phase

We study some analytical properties of the solutions of the non-perturbative renormalization group flow equations for a scalar field theory with Z₂ symmetry in the ordered phase, i.e. at temperatures below the critical temperature. The study is made in the framework of the local potential approximation. We show that the required physical discontinuity of the magnetic susceptibility χ(M) at M=±M₀ (M₀ spontaneous magnetization) is reproduced only if the cut-off function which separates high and low energy modes satisfies to some restrictive explicit mathematical conditions; we stress that these conditions are not satisfied by a sharp cut-off in dimensions of space d<4.By generalizing a method proposed earlier by Bonanno and Lacagnina [Nucl. Phys. B 693 (2004) 36] to any kind of cut-off we propose to solve numerically the renormalization group flow equations for the threshold functions rather than for the local potential. It yields an algorithm sufficiently robust and precise to extract universal as well as non-universal quantities from numerical experiments at any temperature, in particular at sub-critical temperatures in the ordered phase. Numerical results obtained for the φ⁴ potential with three different cut-off functions are reported and compared. The data confirm our theoretical predictions concerning the analytical behavior of χ(M) at M=±M₀.Fixed point solutions of the adimensioned renormalization group flow equations are also obtained in the same vein, that is by solving the fixed points equations and the associated eigenvalue problem for the threshold functions rather than for the potential. We report high precision data for the odd and even spectra of critical exponents for different cut-offs obtained in this way.     

Partial equivalence of statistical ensembles and kinetic energy

The phenomenon of partial equivalence of statistical ensembles is illustrated by discussing two examples, the mean-field XY and the mean-field spherical model. The configurational parts of these systems exhibit partial equivalence of the microcanonical and the canonical ensemble. Furthermore, the configurational microcanonical entropy is a smooth function, whereas a nonanalytic point of the configurational free energy indicates the presence of a phase transition in the canonical ensemble. In the presence of a standard kinetic energy contribution, partial equivalence is removed and a nonanalyticity arises also microcanonically. Hence in contrast to the common belief, kinetic energy, even though a quadratic form in the momenta, has a nontrivial effect on the thermodynamic behaviour. As a by-product we present the microcanonical solution of the mean-field spherical model with kinetic energy for finite and infinite system sizes.     

Anomalies of the phonon properties in multiferroic BiFeO3 thin films near the magnetic phase transition temperature

Size, substrate, doping and magnetic field effects on the phonon properties in multiferroic BiFeO₃ thin films are studied based on a microscopic model. We obtain an anomaly near the magnetic phase transition temperature TN which can be attributed to the magnetoelectric nature of BiFeO₃ and strong anharmonic spin-phonon interaction. It is shown that due to crystal lattice distortion for dopants with ionic radius smaller than that of the host ions the phonon energy decreases (for example Tb or Ti), whereas for the opposite case (larger radius of the doping ions, for example Co or Ni) it increases. The phonon damping is always enhanced compared to the undoped thin film.     

Magnetic-field induced quantum critical points of valence transition in Ce- and Yb-based heavy fermions

The mechanism of how the magnetic field controls the critical end point of the first-order valence transition is clarified, which is essentially ascribed to charge degrees of freedom. It is shown that the quantum critical point is induced by applying the magnetic field, which explains a peculiar magnetic response in CeIrIn₅ and sharp contrast between X=Ag and Cd for YbXCu₄. Significance of the proximity of the first-order valence transition in the Ce- and Yb-based heavy fermions is pointed out.     

Magneto-resistance, thermal conductivity, thermo-electric power and specific heat of superconductor Gd0.95Pr0.05Ba2Cu2.94M0.06O7−δ (M=Fe, Ni, Zn and Mn)

In the present paper, we present thermal and electrical transport properties of pristine and co-doped samples of high temperature superconductors Gd_0.95Pr_0.05Ba₂Cu_2.94M_0.06O_7−δ. It is found that all the samples, except the Mn co-doped sample, show metallic behavior in the normal state. It is observed that the upper critical field has a correlation with the substituent site of the co-dopant. Thermal conductivity κ(T) of all the samples, except the one with Zn co-doping, exhibits a hump like structure around their respective transition temperatures. A negative sign of the measured thermo-power (S) in Gd-123 indicates that electron-like carriers dominate the heat transport in the pristine sample; whereas a sign reversal in S, as a consequence of the change of dominant carrier upon doping, is observed. Specific heat (C_P) measurements show a jump around the transition temperature (T_C) for the pristine sample, however, such a jump in C_P is strongly suppressed for the doped samples.     

Soft x-ray PHA measurement of the long pulse discharge in HT-7 tokamak

By analyzing the soft x-ray energy spectrum measured by the soft x-ray pulse height analysis (PHA) system, the electron temperature (Te) and the effective charge number (Zeff) of the ultra-long pulse discharge driven by lower hybrid wave (LHW) were obtained in the HT-7 tokamak. Moreover, the information of medium-Z impurities such as Ti, Cr, Fe, and Ni intrinsic to HT-7 tokamak can also be inspected. The accuracy of the electron temperature derived from the soft x-ray energy spectrum measurements is verified by comparing with the temperature measured by the Thomson scattering system for various plasmas and electron cyclotron emission diagnostic system for ohmic plasmas. The bulk electron temperature of about 1 keV and Zeff≈2 were achieved for long pulse plasma. The appreciable Kα lines of Ti, Cr, Fe and Ni metallic impurities released from the antennas of radio frequency wave and/or the first wall and Ar injected into plasma can be observed, and they kept stable during the long duration discharges. As a result, the longest pulse discharge with relatively high temperature of Te(0)∼1 keV, and ne(0)∼0.5×¹⁰¹⁹ m−3 has been achieved with a duration of 400 s in the HT-7 experimental campaign in 2008.     

Minimum shear viscosity over entropy density at phase transition?—A counterexample

The ratio η/s, shear viscosity (η) to entropy density (s), reaches its local minimum at the (second order) phase transition temperature in a wide class of systems. It was suspected that this behavior might be universal. However, a counterexample is found in a system of two weakly self-interacting real scalar fields with one of them condensing at low temperatures while the other remains in the symmetric phase. There is no interaction between the two fields. In our mean field analysis the resulting η/s is monotonically decreasing in temperature despite the second order phase transition.     

Charge dynamics and optical properties of layered cobaltates

We study the charge dynamics and electronic structure by optical spectroscopy technique. Here we focus on the following four issues: (1) the evolution of optical spectra with Na content; (2) the spectral features specific to different regions in the phase diagram; (3) the c-axis optical response for crystal at the A-type antiferromagnetic region; (4) the optical response of misfit-layered Bi₂M₂Co₂O_y (M=Ba, Sr, Ca) and Ca₃Co₄O_y single crystals.     

Magnetic ground state and spin waves in A(A = K, Rb or Cs)Fe1.5Se2

We present theoretical results on the ground state phase diagram, spin waves and dynamic structure factor on the J₁-J₂ model. In the reasonable physical parameter region corresponding to AFe_1.5Se₂, the A-collinear antiferromagnetic phase is stable. The spin wave spectra have two acoustic branches and four optical branches for this phase on the rhombus-ordered vacancy lattice, and each of them is twofold degenerate. However, they have one nondegenerate acoustic branch and two nondegenerate optical branches on the square-ordered vacancy lattice. To offer the theoretical guidance for the further experiments, we also discuss the magnetic excitation spectra and the inelastic neutron scattering pattern based on linear spin wave theory.     

Proximity effects in a superconductor/ferromagnet junction

A proximity effect in an s-wave superconductor/ferromagnet (SC/F) junction is theoretically studied using the second order perturbation theory for the tunneling Hamiltonian and Green's function method. We calculate a pair amplitude induced by the proximity effect in a weak ferromagnetic metal (FM) and a half-metal (HM). In the SC/FM junction, it is found that a spin-singlet pair amplitude (Ψ_s) and spin-triplet pair amplitude (Ψ_t) are induced in FM and both amplitudes depend on the frequency in the Matsubara representation. Ψ_s is an even function and Ψ_t is an odd function with respect to the Matsubara frequency (ω_n). In the SC/HM junction, we examine the proximity effects by taking account of magnon excitations in HM. It is found that the triplet-pair correlation is induced in HM. The induced pair amplitude in HM shows a damped oscillation as a function of the position and contains the terms of even and odd functions of ω_n as in the case of the SC/FM junction. We discuss that in our tunneling model the pair amplitude of even function of ω_n only contributes to a Josephson current.     

Intense laser effects on donor impurity in a cylindrical single and vertically coupled quantum dots under combined effects of hydrostatic pressure and applied electric field

Using the effective mass and parabolic band approximations and a variational procedure we have calculated the combined effects of intense laser radiation, hydrostatic pressure, and applied electric field on shallow-donor impurity confined in cylindrical-shaped single and double GaAs-Ga_1−xAl_xAs QD. Several impurity positions and inputs of the heterostructure dimensions, hydrostatic pressure, and applied electric field have been considered. The laser effects have been introduced by a perturbative scheme in which the Coulomb and the barrier potentials are modified to obtain dressed potentials. Our findings suggest that (1) for on-center impurities in single QD the binding energy is a decreasing function of the dressing parameter and for small dot dimensions of the structures (lengths and radius) the binding energy is more sensitive to the dressing parameter, (2) the binding energy is an increasing/decreasing function of the hydrostatic pressure/applied electric field, (3) the effects of the intense laser field and applied electric field on the binding energy are dominant over the hydrostatic pressure effects, (4) in vertically coupled QD the binding energy for donor impurity located in the barrier region is smaller than for impurities in the well regions and can be strongly modified by the laser radiation, and finally (5) in asymmetrical double QD heterostructures the binding energy as a function of the impurity positions follows a similar behavior to the observed for the amplitude of probability of the noncorrelated electron wave function.     

Point-contact study of the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn5

We have investigated the differential conductance spectra of the point contacts between the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn₅ and Pt. Many of them show a double-maximum structure that indicates the superconducting energy gap Δ. The Δ values derived using Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk model, however, varies from 0.47 to 0.77 meV, and yet they are within the scatter of the reported values. The evolution of Δ below T_c is slow as compared with that of BCS gap probably reflecting the unconventional superconductivity in CeCoIn₅.     

Ground-state properties of the one-dimensional extended Hubbard model at half filling

The density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG) technique is used to study the ground-state properties of the one-dimensional half-filled Hubbard model with on-site (nearest-neighbor) repulsive interaction U (V) and nearest-neighbor hopping t. We calculate the static spin structure factor to consider the spin degrees of freedom. We notice a striking difference of the static spin structure factor among the spin-density-wave, charge-density-wave (CDW), and bond-order-wave (BOW) phases. Based on the results, we identify the BOW-CDW transition at small (large) U value as continuous (of first order). We also calculate the double occupancy to consider the charge degrees of freedom. For large U, the double occupancy show a discontinuous jump at the BOW-CDW critical point and it implies first-order transition. With decreasing U, the jump becomes smaller and vanishes at the tricritical point U_t≈5.961t. This value is close to our previous estimation U_t=5.89t obtained with other quantities. Consequently, the results of static spin structure factor and double occupancy support the accuracy of our ground-state phase diagram.     

Nanoscale observations of the operational failure for phase-change-type nonvolatile memory devices using Ge2Sb2Te5 chalcogenide thin films

In this study, a phase-change memory device was fabricated and the origin of device failure mode was examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ (GST) was used as the active phase-change material in the memory device and the active pore size was designed to be 0.5 m. After the programming signals of more than 2×10⁶ cycles were repeatedly applied to the device, the high-resistance memory state (reset) could not be rewritten and the cell resistance was fixed at the low-resistance state (set). Based on TEM and EDS studies, Sb excess and Ge deficiency in the device operating region had a strong effect on device reliability, especially under endurance-demanding conditions. An abnormal segregation and oxidation of Ge also was observed in the region between the device operating and inactive peripheral regions. To guarantee an data endurability of more than 1×10¹⁰ cycles of PRAM, it is very important to develop phase-change materials with more stable compositions and to reduce the current required for programming.     

Specific heat of EuIn2P2 at high magnetic fields

We have carried out specific heat measurements on EuIn₂P₂ at high magnetic fields perpendicular to the c-axis in the hexagonal crystal structure in order to understand its thermal properties. The temperature dependence of the specific heat exhibits a clear λ-type anomaly due to a magnetic transition at , indicating that the magnetic transition is of second-order. The λ-type anomaly becomes markedly broader with increasing the magnetic field. This remarkable field-dependence is consistent with the results of previous magnetization measurements which suggest that Eu²⁺ magnetic moments align ferromagnetically perpendicular to the c-axis below T_C. In addition, a hump in the specific heat is observed around 7 K, which can be ascribed to the Zeeman splitting of the Eu²⁺ multiplet by internal magnetic fields.     

The static and dynamic properties of PuCoGa5 and NpCoGa5 investigated by neutron scattering experiments

Neutron scattering results on single crystals shed light on the static and dynamic properties of the superconductor () PuCoGa₅ and its isostructural but antiferromagnetic () homologue NpCoGa₅. By polarized neutron diffraction the magnetization density in the paramagnetic state of both compounds has been inferred. The microscopic magnetization of NpCoGa₅ is consistent with the orbital and spin components of a localized Np³⁺ magnetic moment. In the case of PuCoGa₅ the microscopic magnetization is small, temperature-independent and cannot be described as a localized Pu³⁺ magnetic moment. For NpCoGa₅ a dynamic magnetic signal has been observed by three-axis spectroscopy in the antiferromagnetically ordered state. The magnetic signal is strongest at the antiferromagnetic zone center and an energy transfer of about 5 meV. Magnetic fluctuations persist at this position in the paramagnetic state. The dynamic response is similar to the dynamic response observed in other actinide intermetallic compounds. This supports the possibility that magnetic fluctuations could also be present in the paramagnetic superconductor PuCoGa₅.     

CoO under pressure from first principles

Density functional theory and the generalized gradient approximation with correction for Hubbard energy was used to study the behavior of cobaltous oxide (CoO) under pressure. CoO undergoes an insulator-metal transition which is accompanied by a magnetic collapse. The antiferromagnetic phase of CoO transforms to nonmagnetic phase with the 6-7% reduction in the fractional volume. The magnetic collapse and the energy band gap closure are driven by the lost of correlation which results from the delocalization of 3d electrons. Delocalization process is due to the band broadening with compression. The Hubbard energy influences the transitions pressure. The lower Hubbard terms result in the lower values of transition pressure. The evolution of magnetic moment, energy band gap, and the bandwidth versus increasing pressure is analyzed. The results of calculations are compared to the existing theoretical and experimental data.