On the maximum of the k-dependent susceptibility for fixed k and T > Tc

We study the maximum occuring in ${}_{\mathrm{x}}\text{(}\text{k}\text{, T)}$ for fixed k at a temperature T_max > T_c. We examine the predictions of both Ornstein-Zernike and ?-expansions for the position of this maximum. These are compared with the exact results fot the two-dimensional Ising model.     

Neutron scattering from intinerant ferromagnets just above Tc

Neutron scattering from itinerant ferromagnets at and just above T_c is studied on the basis of a simple band model with no short range order. Results are found for scattering line widths for small momentum and energy transfers which are substantially independent of band parameters. Some comparison with experiment is attempted.     

Dynamics of order parameter fluctuations in gapless superconductors below Tc

The dynamical pairfield susceptibility of gapless superconductors has been calculated using the theory of Gorkov and Eliashberg and improvements thereof. The result differs drastically from the usual Ginzburg-Landau theory and agrees qualitatively with recent experiments on the I–V characteristic of tunnel junctions with Al films.     

Comment on a possible correlation between Tc and the number of stable isotopes of superconducting elements

Recently a correlation between T_c and the number of naturally occuring isotopes N of the superconducting elements has been claimed. We propose that this merely reflects the connection between T_c and the valence: odd valence means odd Z and few stable isotopes.     

Magnetic field dependence on transition temperature Tc in cuprate superconductors

We investigate the magnetic field dependence on T_c in the high transition temperature superconductors. It is shown that phonon-enhanced spin fluctuations drive this superconductivity once more suggested by us [Phys. Rev. B 61 (2001) 4289]. We know magnetic field dependence on our transition temperature is in good correspondence with experimental data. It is elucidated that the external field is closely related to the local internal field in order to influence spin fluctuations.     

Enhancement of the superconducting critical temperature Tc of niobium by radiation damage

5 μm niobium foils were irradiated with 25 MeV oxygen ions at 20 K, 33 K and 145 K up to fluences of 1.3 × 10¹⁶cm^-2 corresponding to a damage rate decrease of 99%. T_c versusresistivity shows a minimum depending on the irradiation temperature. At high fluences and subsequent annealing T_c is enhanced compared to the unirradiated value and the transition is broadened by a factor of about 30.     

Manipulation of magnetic carriers for drug delivery using pulsed-current high Tc superconductors

An innovative method of manipulating magnetic carriers is proposed, and its feasibility for drug delivery and therapy is demonstrated experimentally. The proposed method employs pulsed-field solenoid coils with high-critical- temperature (T_c) superconductor inserts. Pulsed current is used to magnetize and de-magnetize the superconductor insert. The proposed method was demonstrated to be able to (1) move magnetic particles, ranging in size from a few millimeters to 10 μm, with strong enough forces over a substantial distance, (2) hold the particles at a designated position as long as needed, and (3) reverse the processes and retrieve the particles. We further demonstrated that magnetic particles can be manipulated in a stationary environment, in water flow, and in simulated blood (water/glycerol mixture) flow.     

Constraints on the mechanism of superconductivity for MgB2 from Tc and the total isotope effect

We examine the possible electron-phonon spectra that produce both T_c=39 K and an isotope coefficient β=0.32±0.01, with Eliashberg theory. We assess the viability of the conventional electron-phonon mechanism in light of these results, compared with ab initio calculations of the electron-phonon spectrum. Comparisons are made with similar considerations for low T_c materials.     

Calculation of Tc and the ratio 2Δ(0)/kBTc of MgB2 within a two-band model of superconductivity

Superconductivity in the MgB₂ superconductor is described within the framework of a two-band Eliashberg formalism. Different gaps are assumed to open on the different parts of the Fermi surface of this compound. Separation of the order parameter (OP) into two components is achieved by taking the Fourier transform of the OP using the momentum states of the σ- and π-bands of MgB₂. Expressions for the T_c and the ratio 2Δ_σ(0)/k_BT_c for this superconductor are obtained. Numerical values for these two properties are obtained for a range of values of the cut-off frequency of the phonons responsible for the superconductivity and for a range of values of the ratio between the two energy gaps. This was done for various values of the normalized partial densities of states on the σ-sheet of the Fermi surface.     

Physics of the pseudogap phase of high Tc cuprates, or, RVB meets umklapp

It is argued that the dominant feature of the phase diagram of the high T_c cuprates is the crossover to the pseudogap phase in the energy (temperature) region E(T^∗). We argue that this scale is determined by the effective anti-ferromagnetic interaction which we calculate to be J_eff=J_{superexchange}−xt where x is the hole percentage and t the hopping integral.     

Round-robin study of Tc measurement of superconducting “Nb3Ge” thin films

To determine the reproductibility in the measurement of T_c a round-robin experiment was conducted. The samples consisted of five high T_c “Nb₃Ge” thin films. The results of this experiment show that only the midpoint of the T_c curve is reproducible to within ≈±0.2 K.     

The role of apical halogen coordination on the Tc of superconducting cuprates in the effective hole model

An effective hole model describes quantitatively the aspects of the doping curves of cuprates (e.g. optimal T_c). When subtraction of holes to the apical O is made, the remaining effective holes in the CuO₂ plane scale quantitatively with T_c in a range up to the optimum. Here we investigate a similar effect of apical halogen in selected related materials. It is found that apical halogen analogs show generally similar phenomena to their apical O counterparts. However, their potentially large lattice parameters and different distances to the apical halogen provide unique opportunity to study the influence on pair formation of changing the plane dimensions, and T_c. In the effective hole model the number of holes at optimum is a function of the CuO₂ plane dimensions. These properties have the potential to achieve unusual superconductivity, as exemplified by the unusually high T_c of Sr₂CuO₂F_2+z. New work, especially in the absence of important data on hole counts and structural parameters, should be of interest in the light of the effective hole model.     

Possible Tc-X diagrams of superconductivity in binary systems

Elementary dependences T_c(X) whose superposition describes a number of complex experimental situations are shown to exist. The concept of superconductivity-state diagrams is introduced, nine main types of such diagrams are being presented.     

Spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction study of high Tc epitaxial YBCO thin films obtained by pulsed laser deposition

We report spectroscopic characterization of epitaxial YBCO thin films grown on LaAlO₃ by pulsed laser deposition. Raman spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry were used for film characterization and the results were correlated with X-ray diffraction measurements. The mentioned techniques allowed us to analyze crystallographic, micro-structural, and morphological properties of YBCO thin films. We also demonstrated that relatively low resolution Raman spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry are reliable techniques for a rapid and non-destructive characterization of epitaxial YBCO thin films.     

On oscillatory flux line profiles near T = Tc

It is shown, using the theory of Eilenberger and Büttner, that the deviation of the order parameter from the BCS value far from the axis of an isolated vortex is an exponentially damped function, not a weakly damped oscillatory function.     

The analysing powers iT11, T20, T21 and T22 in deuteron-deuteron elastic scattering between 6 and 11.5 MeV

The angular distributions of the analysing powers iT₁₁(θ), T₂₀(θ), T₂₁(θ) and T₂₂(θ) of the elastic scattering of polarized deuterons on deuterons have been measured at deuteron energies of 6.0, 8.0, 10.0 and 11.5 MeV. The vector component has small but non-zero values which change sign between 6.0 and 10.0 MeV. The tensor components have increasing values with increasing energy. The results are discussed in respect of resonances in ⁴He and a term scheme is proposed for a complete phase-shift analysis.     

Irradiation effect onTc of indium

Annealed and quench condensed indium films have been implanted with 150 keV-In ions. It is found thatT_c can be increased, even in the disordered films, to a maximum value of 4.54 K.     

The sublattice displacements and the elastic constants of A-15 compounds

The nature of the sublattice displacements in A-15 compounds has been discussed. Expressions have been derived for the elastic constants in terms of the force constants for these compounds. The numerical values of the force constants for Nb₃Sn have been evaluated.     

Comprehensive study of high-Tc interface superconductivity

Using ALL-MBE technique, we have synthesized different heterostructures consisting of an insulator La₂CuO₄ (I) and a metal La_1.56Sr_0.44CuO₄ (M) layer neither of which is superconducting by itself. The M-I bilayers were superconducting with a critical temperature T_c≈30-36 K. This highly robust phenomenon is confined within 1-2 nm from the interface and is primarily caused by the redistribution of doped holes across the interface. In this paper, we present a comprehensive study of the interface superconductivity by a range of experimental techniques including transport measurements of superconducting properties.     

The electronic structure and properties of the C15 compounds CeAl2, LaAl2 and YAl2

Results of self-consistent band calculations are reported for the C15 structured XAl₂ materials (X = Y, La, and Ce) using the local spin density functional formalism for assumed ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic states as well as the paramagnetic state. The X-atoms are found to be the dominant factor is determining the electronic structure near the Fermi energy and this is enhanced by the presence of f-bands close to (LaAl₂) or at (CeAl₂) the Fermi energy. In paramagnetic CeAl₂, the f-bands are about 1 eV wide and, although principally above the Fermi energy, extend down to accomodate the additional electron compared to LaAl₂. The ferromagnetic state is found not to be stable. By contrast, the antiferromagnetic state is found to be stable with a magnetic moment of 0.88μ_B per Ce atom in very good agreement with the maximum moment, 0.89μ_B found in the neutron measurements of Barbara et al. A significant narrowing of the f-bandwidth is observed in the antiferromagnetic state. The antiferromagnetic spin density ordering appears to be related to nesting features in this underlying Fermi surface in LaAl₂ (i.e., no 4f electron) rather than that of CeAl₂.