Superconductivity of vapour quenched beryllium and beryllium-based alloys

The properties of Be films, quench-condensed upon a³He cooled substrate, have been investigated by resistance and tunneling measurements. The superconducting transition temperature,T _c , of Be films increased with thickness and a thick film limit of 9.95 K could be estimated. Alloying with Al or Pb decreasedT _c. The ratios between energy gaps andT _c 's indicated that Be is a weak coupling superconductor, and no phonon induced structure could be traced in tunneling curves neither in pure Be nor in the Be based alloys. Resistance change during annealing as well as superconducting data indicated that the vapour quenched Be films were amorphous as deposited.     

Tc map and superconductivity of simple metals at high pressure

We calculate T_c map in region of weak electron–phonon coupling based on simple phonon spectrum. By using linear-response method and density functional theory, we calculate phonon spectra and Eliashberg functions of simple metals under pressure. Based on the evolutions of superconducting parameters of simple metals on the T_c map with increasing pressure, we find that there are two different responses to pressure for simple metals: (1) enhancing electron–phonon interaction λ such as for La and Li, (2) increasing phonon frequency such as for Pb, Pt. The λ threshold effect is found, which origins from the competition between electron–phonon interaction and electron–electron Coulomb interaction and is the reason why T_c of most superconductors of simple metals are higher than 0.1 K.     

High superconducting transition temperatures in the palladium-noble metal-hydrogen system

High superconducting transition temperatures, T_c, of 16.6, 15.6 and 13.6 K have been observed in Pd-(Cu, Ag and Au) alloys, charged with large amounts of H by means of ion implantation at liquid Helium-temperatures. A peculiar phase-transition indicates that weak phonon modes might be responsible for the high T_c-values. The difference between the maximum T_c-values can be described as a type of isotope effect T_c∞M ^?1/2.     

Fano interference between the E2 (17 cm−1) optical mode and one-phonon continuum scattering from β-AgI

Resonant interference between the E₂ (17 cm^?1) optical mode and the continuum of one-phonon partial density of states has been observed in β-AgI, and has been shown to follow Fano formalism. The temperature dependence of the coupling parameter q shows a substantial variation as T approaches T_c. A qualitative explanation of such behaviour is made in terms of phonon assisted activation of Frenkel defects, which increases more rapidly as the superionic transition temperature is approached.     

Ab initio prediction of superconductivity in molecular metallic hydrogen under high pressure

We present a first ab initio investigation of the electron-phonon coupling (EPC) of molecular metallic hydrogen with a Cmca structure based on the linear-response approach. This molecular metallic hydrogen with overlapping bands has an elastic instability at lower pressures (<300 GPa), but stabilizes dynamically under further compression as indicated by the absence of phonon softening, thus supporting the choice of Cmca structure as a good candidate for metallic hydrogen. Within the conventional BCS theory, the predicted critical temperature T_c is 107 K at 347 GPa, so indicating good candidacy for a high temperature superconductor. With increasing pressure, interestingly, the EPC parameter λ, hence, T_c increases, resulting from the increased electronic density of states at the Fermi level and EPC matrix element 〈I²〉, in spite of an enhanced average phonon frequency 〈ω²〉.     

Optical phonons in CuAlS2

The optical phonons at k=0 of CuAlS₂ have been investigated by Raman scattering, infrared reflectivity and absorption measurements from 50 to 1000 cm^-1 at T=300 K. Eleven of the thirteen expected optically active phonons have been observed and identified with respect to their symmetry types. The phonon frequencies appear in a range from 498 to 76 cm^-1 with predominant polar modes at 445 and 266 cm^-1. The dielectric dispersion for E ⊥ c and E ∥ c has been determined by Kramers-Kronig integrations.     

The sensitivity of the transition temperature to changes in α2 F(ω)

The transition temperature of a superconductor depends on α² F(ω), the spectral function of the effective interaction due to phonon exchange. We discuss how strongly the transition temperature is influenced by different frequency parts of α² F(ω). For this purpose the functional derivative δT _c /δα² F(ω) is calculated. It is shown that all frequency regions of α² F(ω) yield a positive contribution toT _c and that the most effective range covers frequencies, slightly above 2πT _c . The functional derivative is calculated numerically for several superconductors from their measured α² F(ω)-spectra. Finally, we discuss the change in transition temperature due to the softening of α² F(ω) which has been observed in amorphous superconductors.     

On the hydrodynamic theory of central peak in displacive structural phase transitions

A model involving nonlinear coupling between the overdamped phonon mode and temperature fluctuations is studied using the dynamic renormalization group method. It is shown that the behavior of the central peak in the dynamic form factor depends on the specific heat exponent α. For α < 0 and as T → T_c the central peak is found to merge with the over-damped phonon mode and the coupling goes to zero at T_c as (T ? T_c)^?α. An argument on the intensity of the central peak in the critical region in presented and it is concluded that the hydrodynamic coupling may not be the dominant mechanism of the central peak in SrTiO₃.     

A specific heat and magnetization study of highT c ceramic superconductors

From the temperature dependence of the specific heat of the semiconductor La₂CuO₄ and the high temperature superconductors La_1.8Sr_0.2CuO₄ (T _c =37.2 K) and YBa_1.9K_0.1Cu₃O_6.9 (T _c =91.5 K) in the range 1.5–30 K, a strong similarity of the lowfrequency part of their phonon density of states with a peak around 10 meV could be inferred. In the case of La_1.8Sr_0.2CuO₄ the thermodynamical critical field belowT _c has been determined and using the Rutger's formula and the BCS model, a Sommerfeld coefficient γ=9 mJ·mol^?1 K^?1 was obtained, which, taking into account recent results of band structure calculations leads to an electron-phonon enhancement factor γ=1.3, value compatible withT _c =36 K when using McMillan's formula forT _c . A systematic study of the magnetization offered evidence for strong flux trapping effects at higher fields and for Meissner shielding by superconducting Josephson currents in fields below 6 mT at 4.2 K.     

非晶态超导体的2△0/(kBTc)和声子谱参量

提出了能够很好地描述非过渡金属无序和非晶态超导体的2Δ₀/(k_BT_c)与声子谱参量之间关系的一个公式:2Δ₀(k_BT_c=4.95[1-(T₀<ω>^1/2)/A(1/(λω₀)+1/(20λ<ω>)+1/(20<ω>))]。计算了大量已知声子谱的非晶和无序超导体的能隙2Δ₀对T_c的比,结果表明在百分之几的范围内与实验值符合。指出了非过渡金属和合金的非晶态超导体,既可以是一个2Δ₀/(k_BT_c)值远大于BCS理论值(3.53)的强耦合超导体,也可以是一个2Δ₀/(k_BT_c)值比BCS理论值还要小得多的弱耦合超导体。 关键词：     

Effect of pressure on superconductivity in transition metal alloys

Measurements on twelve alloys of the series Zr-Nb-Mo show a close correlation ofdT _c /dp with thed-band structure of these alloys and suggest that thed-band is virtually rigid with respect to pressure. The results are not compatible with an empirical observation of McMillan thatT _c is governed only by a phonon factor Mω ².     

Brillouin scattering investigation of paraelectric KH2PO4 under applied uniaxial stress

The Brillouin scattering spectra of KH₂PO₄ under an applied uniaxial stress have been studied in the neighborhood of the ferroelectric transition. Dependence of shear acoustic phonon on the uniaxial stress is similar to dependence on electric field. The acoustic phonon is overdamped near T_c, but become underdamped under the applied shear stress. In the case of ΔT(= T — T_c) < ～ 0.05 K, application of stress caused a transition not to have any soft acoustic phonon.     

Functional derivative of Tc with α2(ω)F(ω) for an anisotropic superconductor

The functional derivative δT_c/δα²(ω)F(ω) of the critical temperature (T_c) with the electron-phonon spectral density (α²(ω)F(ω)) gives information on the effectiveness of various phonon modes in enhancing T_c. For an anisotropic superconductor, it is found that δT_c/δα²(ω)F(ω) goes negative at some small but finite phonon energy. This contrasts with the isotropic case for which it is well known that the functional derivative is positive everywhere. Thus, very low energy phonons reduce T_c in an anisotropic superconductor which is similar to the known effects of static impurities that wash out anisotropy and hence reduce T_c.     

Optical investigations of anisotropy of the conducting π-electron system in crystals of the organic superconductor (EDT-TTF)4[Hg3I8]1 − x

The polarized reflectance spectra of microcrystals of the new organic superconductor (EDT-TTF)₄[Hg₃I₈]_{1 ? x} (T _c = 8.1 K for x = 0.027; T _c = 7 K at 0.3 kbar for x = 0.019) have been investigated in the spectral region of 700–6000 cm^?1 (0.087–0.740 eV) at temperatures ranging from 10 to 300 K. A quantitative analysis of the spectra has been performed in the framework of the phenomenological Drude and Drude-Lorentz dispersion models, as well as in the framework of the theoretical “phase phonon” model that takes into account the interaction of free electrons with intramolecular vibrations. The effective mass of charge carriers m*, the width of the initial metallic π-electron band W, and the integral t of the electron transfer between the molecular π-orbitals of neighboring molecules have been determined. In the low-frequency range (700–1600 cm^?1), the vibrational structure associated with intramolecular vibrations of the EDT-TTF molecule has been revealed. It has been shown that the most intense feature (ω = 1330 cm^?1) of this structure is caused by the interaction of “quasi-free” electrons with intramolecular vibrations.     

AlB2 and MgB2: a comparative study of their electronic,phonon and superconductivity properties via first principles

ABSTRACT

Recently, the AlB₂-type compounds (such as AlB₂ and MgB₂) which exhibit Dirac Nodal Line (DNLs) semimetal on their electronic band structure and Phononic Weyl Nodal Straight Lines (PTWNLs) on their phonon spectrum, have received wide attentions on their novel properties. Up to date, no comparative studies have been investigated on their electronic structures, phonon spectrum, and electron phonon coupling (EPC) under the conditions of carrier doping and strain engineering. Here, we systemically investigate their above properties under carrier doping and strain engineering by first-principles calculations. The results show that the superconducting transition temperature T _c can be enhanced by electron doping and tensile strain. For AlB₂, the tensile strain of 6% can enhance T _c to 10.25?K and with the doping concentrate of 0.1 e^- per cell can enhance T _c reach to 9.89?K. Moreover, the physical quantities related to superconductivity of AlB₂ are more affected by carrier doping than MgB₂. Our results provide a theoretical reference to explore the correlation between electronic and phonon topological properties in AlB₂-type materials.     

57Fe Mössbauer study of Lu2Fe3Si5 iron silicide superconductor

With the advent of Fe–As based superconductivity it has become important to study how superconductivity manifests itself in details of ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy of conventional, Fe-bearing superconductors. To this end, the iron-based superconductor Lu₂Fe₃Si₅ has been studied by ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy over the temperature range from 4.4 K to room temperature with particular attention to the region close to the superconducting transition temperature (T_c=6.1 K). Consistent with the two crystallographic sites for Fe in this structure, the observed spectra appear to have a pattern consisting of two doublets over the whole temperature range. The value of Debye temperature was estimated from temperature dependence of the isomer shift and the total spectral area and compared with the specific heat capacity data. Neither abnormal behavior of the hyperfine parameters at or near T_c, nor phonon softening were observed.     

An57Fe Mössbauer effect study of the highT c superconductor GdBa2Cu3O7−y

Split source⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect spectroscopy has been performed between 4 K and 295 K on the superconducting perovskite GdBa₂Cu₃O_7?y. No evidence is seen for magnetic splitting at low temperatures as reported in some split absorder⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer experiments on this material. There is evidence for phonon mode softening, as observed for¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer spectra of some other highT _c superconductors.     

Temperature variation of phonon frequency distribution in the fast ion conductor lead fluoride

A weighted phonon frequency distribution has been measured in PbF₂ at temperatures 10, 302, 660 and 910 K, using a neutron scattering technique. At 10 K good agreement is found between the measured distribution and the phonon density-of-states calculated from the low temperature dispersion relation of PbF₂. At the higher temperatures, near the ionic conductivity transition temperature, T_c ～ 700 K, the optic modes are observed to broaden into a high energy tail consistent with strong anharmonicity or extensive disorder. A low energy peak arising from transverse acoustic modes remains well defined even at temperatures above T_c.     

Peculiarities of performance of the spin valve for the superconducting current

The spin valve effect for the superconducting current based on the superconductor/ferromagnet proximity effect has been studied for a CoO _x /Fe1/Cu/Fe2/Cu/Pb multilayer. The magnitude of the effect ΔT _c = T _c ^AP ? T _c ^P , where T _c ^P and T _c ^AP are the superconducting transition temperatures for the parallel (P) and antiparallel (AP) orientation of magnetizations, respectively, has been measured for different thicknesses of the Fe1 layer d _Fe1. The obtained dependence of the effect on d _Fe1 reveals that ΔT _c can be increased in comparison with the case of a half-infinite Fe1 layer considered by the previous theory. A maximum of the spin valve effect occurs at d _Fe1 ～ d _Fe2. At the optimal value of d _Fe1 almost full switching from the normal to the superconducting state when changing the mutual orientation of magnetizations of the iron layers Fe1 and Fe2 from P to AP is demonstrated.     

Superconductivity and normal electrical conductivity of amorphous lead films nucleated with molybdenum

Lead films vapor quenched onto nucleating monolayers of Mo or W exhibit strong lattice disorder and can be considered to be amorphous. The amorphous-to-crystalline transformation temperatureT _tr is indicated by a sharp drop of the electrical resistivity in the course of annealing.T _tr is found to be proportional tod ^–2 for Pb thicknessd smaller than 30 nm. The superconducting transition temperatureT _c is by 0.6 to 1 K smaller in the amorphous state than after crystallization. In both states,T _c is proportional tod ^–1. Prenucleation with about half a monolayer of Mo leads to quite the sameT _c depression as observed earlier by Strongin et al. on Pb films vapor quenched onto predeposited films of SiO, Ge or Al₂O₃. For comparison, experiments have been carried out with 2.5 nm Ge predeposits. As with Mo prenucleation, a well defined transformation temperatureT _tr of about the same value has been observed.T _c of bulk amorphous Pb can be extrapolated to be about 6.6 K.