Superconductivity and pseudogap states studied by microwave conductivity measurements of λ-(BEDT-TSF)2GaCl4

We have investigated the microwave response at 45 GHz in an organic superconductor λ-(BEDT-TSF)₂GaCl₄ with T_c = 4.8 K. We determine the μ₀H_c2–T phase diagram from microwave loss and find that the superconducting state is in the pure limit (l/ξ_GL  10). Although the real part of the complex conductivity (=σ₁ + iσ₂) does not show a coherence peak just below T_c, the London penetration depth completely saturates at low temperatures down to T/T_c = 0.2, which may provide an evidence for a conventional s-wave pairing. In the metallic state below about 50 K, (parallel to the c-axis) deviates downward from , while σ₂, which should be zero in a conventional metal, increases exponentially toward T_c. In spite of the fact that the Hagen–Rubens limit is well satisfied as far as the dc conductivity is concerned, a Drude model is unable to explain the large positive σ₂. In order to explain such anomalies in the metallic state, we propose a possible existence of so-called a pseudogap near a Fermi level. The anomalous increase of the positive σ₂ may be attributed to an appearance of pre-formed electron pairs in the pseudogap state. This appearance can be regarded as a precursor to the superconducting transition. Such a precursory phenomenon has been observed also in the isostructural FeCl₄ salt with the anomalous metallic states, which shows a negative σ₂ in contrast to the GaCl₄ salt. Just the opposite of ground states in between the GaCl₄ and FeCl₄ salts may result in the contrasting anomalous metallic states with different precursory phenomena with opposite signs of σ₂.     

Cu NMR study of the superconducting thiospinel Cu1.5Rh1.5S4

The ⁶³Cu NMR Knight shift K and spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T₁ have been measured to study the thiospinel superconductor Cu_1.5Rh_1.5S₄ from a microscopic viewpoint. K is negative and has a weak dependence on temperature, and the hyperfine coupling constant H_hf^d is estimated to be −52.4 kOe/μ_B. 1/T₁ is proportional to the temperature in the normal state. In the superconducting state, 1/T₁ takes a coherence peak just below T_c, and decreases exponentially well below T_c, from whose temperature dependence the superconducting energy gap has been proved to be close to 2Δ = 3.52k_BT_c given by the BCS theory.     

Microscopic measurements in La-NQR of the ternary carbide superconductor LaNiC2

¹³⁹La-NQR measurements have been carried out in the ternary carbide superconductor LaNiC₂. The nuclear quadrupole frequency and the asymmetry parameter of ¹³⁹La in LaNiC₂ were estimated to be about 1.9 MHz and 0, respectively. In the normal state, the nuclear spin relaxation rate (1/T₁) in the ¹³⁹La NQR signal was proportional to temperature (T) in zero external field above the superconducting transition temperature (T_c) or in an external field larger than the superconducting critical field, which means the system is in the Fermi-liquid state. In the superconducting state, on the other hand, 1/T₁ decreases no more linearly with T, but decreases rapidly exponentially as exp (−Δ/k_BT) at low T with an appreciable enhancement just below T_c. The value of the superconducting energy gap, 2Δ, was estimated to be 3.34k_BT_c, compared with 3.52k_BT_c of the BCS-value. This result strongly suggests that the superconductivity in LaNiC₂ is of a conventional BCS type.     

Temperature dependence of the critical current in YBa2Cu3O7−δ and Bi2Sr2Ca1Cu2O8 Josephson junctions

We have studied the stationary Josephson effect on YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (T_c=90 K) and Bi₂Sr₂Ca₁Cu₂ O₈ (T_c=80 K and 87 K for two samples of different origin) ceramic based junctions. The temperature dependence of the critical current near T_c has been found as I_c≈(T_c-T) for the Y-Ba-Cu-O samples indicating that they should be classified as S-N-I-N-S type junctions. The I-V curves of the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu samples show the typical behaviour of S-I-S structures. Using Ambegaokar-Baratoff's theory for Bi₂Sr₂Ca₁Cu₂O₈, the temperature dependence of the superconducting state gap Δ(T) was calculated and it was evaluated that 1.452Δ(0)/k_BT_c3.5.     

Trapping mechanism of superconductivity suppression induced by Pr substitution in the Ho1−xPrxBa2Cu3O7−δ system

Pr concentration dependence of the superconducting transition temperature T_c in the Ho_1−xPr_xBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ system is determined from measurements of DC electrical resistance. This dependence coincides with that for the parallely studied Y_1−xPr_xBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ reference system. Both systems have the same value of the critical concentration x_c=0.58, in accordance with nearly equal ionic radii of Ho³⁺ and Y³⁺ ions. It has been shown that the T_c(x) curve can be described with a single mechanism based on a decreasing number of sheet holes trapped by Pr^IV-ions, if one takes also into account that the number of these ions changes with x.     

Upper critical fields of ferromagnet/superconductor layered structures

The temperature dependence of the upper critical fields, both perpendicular H_c2 and parallel H_c2 to layer planes of ferromagnet/superconductor bi- and multilayers, is theoretically investigated. The secular equation of the superconducting order parameter for determining the phase diagram (H, T) is obtained by solving exactly the linearized Usadel equations in the multimode method taking into account the material parameter values. For the bilayers system, the influence of the boundary resistivity on the critical fields, and the dimensional crossover behavior of H_c2(T) are studied in details. For the multilayered structure, the effects of the π-phase state on both the superconducting transition temperature T_c and the upper critical fields (H_c2, and H_c2) are also considered. The nonmonotonic T_c behaviors are predicted. The interplay between 0- and π-phases leading to the strong oscillations of T_c as well as the temperature dependence of the zero temperature critical fields on the ferromagnetic layer thickness are investigated theoretically.     

Quantum critical point, scaling and universality in high Tc(CaxLa1−x)(Ba2−c−xLac+x)Cu3Oy

Using charge transport in sintered ceramic samples it is observed that at all doping, including non superconducting overdoped samples, there exists a temperature in which below it dR/dT < 0. This suggests that either the quantum critical point is not necessarily inside the superconducting dome or that the CuO₂ plane is never overdoped. Data relating experimental Cooper pair density, conductivity and T_c suggest that Homes’ relation might need a more specific definition of the conductivity σ.     

Structurally tuned superconductivity in heavy-fermion CeMIn5 (M=Co, Ir, Rh)

We discuss systematic trends in the high-temperature physical properties of the heavy Fermion superconductors (HFS) CeCoIn₅ (T_c=2.3 K, γ=300 mJ/molK²), CeIrIn₅ (T_c=0.4 K, γ=750 mJ/molK²), and CeRhIn₅ (P_c=16 kbar, T_c=2.1 K, γ=400 mJ/molK²) in terms of crystalline-electrical-field effects(CEF). We suggest the possibility that the interplay between the symmetry of the CEF ground-state (or low-T CEF scheme of levels) and the f–s hybridization could generate spin fluctuations relevant to the superconducting pairing mechanism in these materials. This hypothesis may provide insight into the fact that some crystal structures appear to favor superconductivity. Further, CeMIn₅ (M=Co, Ir, Rh) appear to be structural relatives of the cubic heavy Fermion superconductor CeIn₃, but with much higher T_c's. We argue that structural layering inherent in the tetragonal CeMIn₅ crystal structure determines the magnetic and electronic anisotropy responsible for the enhanced T_c's. We also describe similarities and differences between these compounds and the high-T_c cuprates.     

Dynamical spin susceptibility of the d–p model in the over doping region

Dynamical spin susceptibility χ^s(q,ω) of the d–p model in the over doping region is investigated by using the auxiliary boson technique. It includes higher order terms of the 1/N-expansion within the random phase approximation (RPA) of the local vertex, where frequency dependence of the quasi-particle interaction is taken into account. The incommensurate spin fluctuation is obtained due to the nesting effect in the low energy region (ωω^*), whereas the commensurate one in the high energy region (ωω^*), the characteristic energy ω^* is estimated to be about 30 meV. Both of the spin–lattice relaxation rate 1/T₁ and the spin–spin relaxation rate 1/T_g monotonically increase as T decreases, while the spin Knight shift K is almost independent of T.     

Influence of fluctuations on thermal conductivity of high-Tc YBa2Cu3O7−δ superconductor

To study a behavior of the thermal conductivity near T_c specific heat and thermal diffusivity of the YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ high-T_c ceramics were simultaneously measured. Close to T_c = 92.30 K the thermal diffusivity and the thermal conductivity discovered minima and the specific heat – maximum. Quantitative analysis of the influence of thermodynamical fluctuations showed the same power laws with Gaussian exponent equal to 0.5 and existing of crossover from the 3D Gaussian to 3D XY critical behavior in the specific heat and thermal conductivity at the approach to T_c. To explain the minimum in thermal conductivity at T_c we propose a mechanism of scattering of phonons on the superconducting fluctuations.     

Influence of the Tl- and Hg-content on magnetic and transport properties of the Pb, Sr-doped Tl-1223 and Hg-1223 superconductors

The effects of the thallium and mercury content x on the as-sintered and post annealed samples of M_xPb_0.4Sr_1.6Ba_0.4Ca₂Cu₃O_8+δ {M: Tl (0.32≤x≤0.74) or Hg (0.18≤x≤0.68)} have been studied by magnetization and transport measurements. For Tl-1223 we have found the optimum Tl doping level to be x=0.53 regarding the grain properties, the content of superconducting phase, the first penetration field H_pl^wl, the transport (J_c^tr), magnetic intergrain (J_c^M) and intragrain (J_c^g) critical current densities. The critical temperature T_c of the as-sintered Tl-1223 sample decreased with increasing Tl content. Post-annealing in oxygen improved the T_c for Tl contents of x≥0.53 and had generally positive effects on the critical current densities. The intergrain properties of the Hg-1223 samples were much worse than those of the Tl-based superconductors.     

Carbon solubility and superconductivity in MgB2

Successful replacement of B by C in the series MgB_2−xC_x for values of x upto 0.3 is reported. Resistivity and ac susceptibility measurements have been carried out in the samples. Solubility of carbon, inferred from the observed change in the lattice parameter with carbon content indicates that carbon substitutes upto x=0.30 into the MgB₂ lattice. The superconducting transition temperature, T_c measured both by zero resistivity and the onset of the diamagnetic signal shows a systematic decrease with increase in carbon content upto x=0.30, beyond which the volume fraction decreases drastically. The temperature dependence of resistivity in the normal state fits to the Bloch–Gruneisen formula for all the carbon compositions studied. The Debye temperature, θ_D, extracted from the fit, is seen to decrease with carbon content from 900 to 525 K, whereas the electron–phonon interaction parameter, λ, obtained from the McMillan equation using the measured T_c and θ_D, is seen to increase monotonically from 0.8 in MgB₂ to 0.9 in the x=0.50 sample. The ratio of the resistivities between 300 and 40 K versus T_c is seen to follow the Testardi correlation for the C substituted samples. The decrease in T_c is argued to mainly arise due to large decrease in θ_D with C concentration and a decrease in the hole density of states at N(E_F).     

Origin of intrinsic Josephson coupling in the cuprates and its relation to order parameter symmetry: An incoherent hopping model

Experiments on the cuprate superconductors demonstrate that these materials may be viewed as a stack of Josephson junctions along the direction normal to the CuO₂ planes (the c-axis). In this paper, we present a model which describes this intrinsic Josephson coupling in terms of incherent quasiparticle hopping along the c-axis arising from wave-function overlap, impurity-assisted hopping, and boson-assised hopping. We use this model to compute the magnitude and temperature T dependence of the resulting Josephson critical current j_c(T) for s- and d-wave superconductors. Contrary to other approaches, d-wave pairing in this model is compatible with an intrinsic Josephson effect at all hole concentrations and leads to j_c(T) T at low T. By parameterizing our theory with c-axis resistivity data from YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (YBCO), we estimate j_c(T) for optimally doped and underdoped members of this family. j_c(T) can be measured either directly or indirectly through microwave penetration depth experiments, and current measurements on Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ and La_2−xSr_xCuO₄ are found to be consistent with s-wave pairing and the dominance of assisted hopping processes. The situation in YBCO is still unclear, but our estimates suggest that further experiments on this compound would be of great help in elucidating the validity of our model in general and the pairing symmetry in particular.     

Systematic thermopower measurements of the thallium cuprates Tl(Ba,Sr)2Cam−1CumO2m+3−δ and Tl2Ba2Cam−1CumO2m+4+δ

The thermoelectric power (TEP) S versus temperature has been systematically investigated for several series of the superconducting cuprates Tl(Ba,Sr)₂Ca_m−1Cu_mO_2m+3−δ (m = 2, 3) and Tl₂Ba₂Ca_m−1Cu_mO_2m+4+δ (m = 1, 2, 3). The consideration of the S(T_c) curves allows two important points to be found evidence for. The first one deals with the fact that all these superconducting thallium cuprates are systematically overdoped whatever T_c, and whatever the number of Cu or Tl layers; no underdoped superconducting cuprate could be obtained. The second point shows that there exist two classes of Tl cuprates: the weakly overdoped cuprates that exhibit a T_{c max} ≥ 100 K (all the triple copper layer cuprates and the 2212 cuprates) and those which can be heavily doped that exhibit a T_{c max} ≤ 90 K (the 2201 and the 1212 cuprates). The different behavior of thallium cuprates compared to YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ and to bismuth cuprates is discussed.     

Thermodynamics of vortices in layered superconductors and the dependence of Tc on anisotropy

Data on multilayered superconductors such as YBa₂Cu₃O₇PrBa₂Cu₃O₇ show a strong dependence of T_c on anisotropy. In particular, the ratio T_cτ, where τ is the effective XY coupling constant, is found to vary by much more than the theoretical XY limit of 2.4. Layered superconductors allow for an additional anisotropy due to the core energy E_c of vortices perpendicular to the layers. It is shown that if E_c is large, such that the anisotropy is larger than exp(-E_cT_c), T_c is near a fluxon transition which is described by fluctuations of flux loops parallel to the layers. In the latter case T_cτ can vary by more than 2.4, accounting for the data.     

A new 9 K superconducting organic salt composed of the bis (ethylenedithio) tetrathiafulvalene (ET) electron-donor molecule and the tetrakis (trifluoromethyl) cuprate (III) anion, [Cu(CF3)4]

We report the discovery of a second, higher-T_c superconducting organic charge-transfer salt derived from the electron-donor molecule BEDT-TTF (or ET), the novel organometallic anion [Cu(CF₃)₄]⁻, and the neutral solvent molecule 1, 1, 2-trichloroethane (TCE). We have very recently reported that this charge-transfer system yields a new superconducting phase salt, _L- (ET)₂Cu(CF₃)₄·TCE, with inductive onset T_crmc=4.0 K at ambient pressure. This phase salt ( denotes a particular packing arrangement of the ET organic donor molecules) is electrocrystallized in the habit of hexagonal plates. Crystals possessing a needle-like habit electrocrystallize simultaneously with these plates, and we find these needles to be a distinctly different superconducting phase with diamagnetic onset T_c=9.2±0.1 K at ambient pressure. On the basis of our experiments, we denote this new superconducting phase as _H−(ET)₂Cu(CF₃)₄·(TCE)_x,X<1.     

Thermal transport in the oxygenated magnetic superconductor, Eu1.5Ce0.5RuSr2Cu2O10+δ

The thermal conductivity and thermopower are reported for a hole doped Eu_1.5Ce_0.5RuSr₂Cu₂O_10+δ sample that has been annealed at 1100 K under an oxygen pressure of 54 atm. At T_c=45 K superconductivity and weak ferromagnetism coexist (T_m=180 K). Weak features in the thermopower, S(T), and thermal conductivity, κ(T), are observed both at T_m and at T^*=140 K. The thermopower begins to decrease sharply toward zero at T_c, and there is an extremely sharp increase of about 30% in the thermal conductivity at T_c. This “first order” transition may be related to the sudden appearance of a spontaneous vortex phase at T_c. A small shoulder is observed in κ(T) in the temperature range T=5–13 K.     

High critical current density YBa2Cu3O7−δ tapes prepared by the surface-oxidation epitaxy method

YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (YBCO) films with high critical current density (J_c) were successfully fabricated on nickel tapes buffered with epitaxial NiO. NiO was prepared on the textured nickel tape by the surface-oxidation epitaxy (SOE) method. We have reported so far a critical temperature (T_c) of 87 K and J_c=4–6×10⁴ A/cm² (77 K, 0 T) for the YBCO films on NiO/Ni tapes. To enhance the superconducting properties of the YBCO films on the SOE-grown NiO, depositions of thin oxide cap layers such as YSZ, CeO₂, and MgO on NiO were investigated. These oxide cap layers were epitaxially grown on NiO and provided the template for the epitaxial growth of YBCO films. Substantially improved data of T_c=88 K and J_c=3×10⁵ A/cm² (77 K, 0 T) and 1×10⁴ A/cm² (77 K, Hc, 4 T) were obtained for YBCO film on NiO, by using a MgO cap layer with a thickness of 50 nm. The method described in this paper is a simple way to produce long YBCO tape conductors with high-J_c values.     

Pressure–temperature studies on conductivity of TlX(X=Cl,Br,I) compounds:: I: phase diagram. II: ionic mobility

We have measured the conductivity σ of TlX(X=Cl, Br, I) compounds up to 5.3 GPa and between 300–823 K. The σ–T dependence for all compounds can be divided into three distinct regions: (i) low temperature (LT), <400 K, with unusual negative σ–T dependence, (ii) intermediate temperature (IT), 400<650 K, with positive σ–T dependence and (iii) high temperature (HT), T>650 K, with positive σ–T dependence. The σ–T isobars were used to construct the T–P solid phase diagram for each compound. The LT region data indicate a new meta-stable phase in the 1.0–3.5 GPa range. The LT→IT transition is characterized by an inverse σ–T dependence followed by normal Arrhenius behavior up to and including the HT region. The extrapolation to 1 atm of the P-dependent boundary between IT and HT regions above 3 GPa for each compound in the P–T plot yields a value close to its respective normal (1 atm) T_melt suggesting a solid order–disorder transition type paralleling -AgI behavior. The abrupt drop in conductivity in the LT region for P between 2.5–4.1 GPa of all compounds is at variance with the Arrhenius behavior observed for unperturbed ion migration implying the appearance of a second factor overriding the Arrhenius temperature dependence. Normal Arrhenius σ–T dependence prevails in both IT and HT regions with Q_c values of 85–100 kJ mol⁻¹ and 50–75 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. The higher conductivities at 0.4 GPa for TlBr and TlI relative to their 1 atm data and the increasing σ with P are in strong contrast to the normal σ-P behavior of TlCl. The dependence of activation volume ΔV^‡ on T for TlCl, i.e. ΔV^‡>0, shows abnormally high values with a maximum at 500 K for P<3.0 GPa but reasonable ΔV^‡ values appear above 3.0 GPa. The ΔV^‡–T dependence for both TlBr and TlI with ΔV^‡<0 is incompatible with an ion transport mechanism suggesting an electronic conduction process and implying an ionic–metallic transition at higher pressures. These contrasting conductivity features are discussed and interpreted in terms of electronegativity differences and bonding character rather than structure.     

Microscopic theory of atomic and electronic stretched exponential relaxation in high temperature superconductors

Measured dimensionless room-temperature conductivity relaxation stretching fractions β in YBCO are in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions, which in 1995 identified two magic fractions, β=3/5 and β=3/7. Thus, relaxation studies provide an absolute measure of “ideality” in these complex materials, independent not only of composition x but even of crystal structure. The relaxation stretching fractions β associated with T_c itself, reported in 2000, are also explained by the magic fraction β=3/5 predicted by microscopic theory. One can infer that the interactions responsible for high-temperature superconductivity are short range, non-magnetic, and primarily associated with resonant trapping centers in semiconductive layers.