Granularity, microstructure, and flux creep in TlBa2Ca2Cu3O9+δ superconducting powder and silver-sheated tapes

Silver-sheathed TlBa₂Ca₂Cu₃O_9+δ (Tl-1223) tapes, with a transport critical current density, J_ct, of 6200 A/cm² at 75 K under zero magnetic field, were fabricated by the oxide-powder-in-tube (OPIT) method and characterized using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. The results of the magnetization and SEM study indicate that, in these tapes, individual grains are distributed randomly in orientation and weak links exist. However, strongly linked percolative current paths within the tape persisting in increasing fields, accompanied by strong intrinsic interplanar coupling, sustain a significant J_ct at high fields and lead to the plateau in the J_ct-H curve. Dislocation networks, which may act as effective pinning centers, are the common features observed in the tapes. To investigate the effects on flux pinning due to thermomechanical processing, magnetic relaxation at 1 and 2 T over 5–50 K was measured. The tape shows slightly lower normalized relaxation rates (S=-(1/M_o)dM/ dln t) than the cauliflower-like precursor powder. Analyses of the relaxation data obtained from the tape, after incorporating temperature dependence and field scaling, yield an expression for the effective pinning energy U_eff(J,T,H) = (U₁/H^0.54)[1-(T/ 72.5)²]⁴(J/J_i)^μ. This result was compared with the prediction of the collective flux-creep model, which suggests that Tl-1223 has a three-dimension-like (3D-like) vortex lattice. Presumably, a more plate-like powder morphology may result in improved texturing by the OPIT process. Tl_0.5Bi_0.5Sr₂CaCu₂O_7+δ ((Tl,Bi)-1212) powder with this morphology was therefore synthesized for comparison.     

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.     

Effects of 230 MeV Au irradiation on Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox

Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_x tapes were irradiated using 230 MeV Au¹⁴⁺ ions. Columnar defects were presumably produced due to irradiation. Zero-field-cooling (ZFC) magnetization increased up to a fluence of 1.6 × 10¹¹ Au⁺/cm², but field-cooling (FC) magnetization decreased, indicating the strong pinning effects resulting from the columnar defects. The critical current density as well as the irreversibility field, obtained from the hysteresis loops, were enhanced. Irreversibility fields are fitted by H_irr = A exp(−T/T_A). An effective activation energy for flux motion was obtained from the measurements of magnetization relaxation. The features of flux pinning as a result of the columnar defects were compared with those of point defects brought about by 120 MeV O⁷⁺ irradiation.     

Fabrication, microstructure and critical current density of screen-printed Ag-(Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox superconducting tapes

The influence of the sintering conditions on the microstructure and critical current density J_c has been studied on screen-printed Ag-(Bi, Pb)₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O_x tapes with a ceramics mono-layer core. Three kinds of fabrication processes, which consist of a combination of cold working (rolling and/or pressing) and sintering, are applied. Four times repetition of pressing and sintering after the pre-sintering produces the highest c-axis alignment and achieves J_c= 1.5 × 10⁴ A/cm² (77 K, 0 T). The J_c versus θ data with an angle θ between B and the c-axis elucidate the relation between the anisotropy ratio γ=J_c(Bc)/J_c(B|c and the half-height angular width Δθ of a peak for Bc. This is related to both grain alignment and the J_c value. An increase in J_c, which comes from an improvement for grain alignment, enhances γ and narrows Δθ. The J_c versus θ data are fitted to the expression J_c(B, θ)=J _c(B, 90°)/[(γ−1)|cos θ|ⁿ+1] by regarding both γ and n as adjustable parameters. Fabrication of screen-printed tapes with multilayers (1≤N≤5) is presented, where the critical current increases from 8.0 A to 30.2 A at 77 K and 0 T as N increases.     

Dy3Al5O12磁热性质研究

用量子理论计算了Dy₃Al₅O₁₂的晶场能谱、Zeeman劈裂能级和波函数. 在外磁场H_e为0<H_e<9 T, 温度为3<T<42 K 范围内, 计算了该晶体的磁矩、磁熵变, 计算结果与相关实验数据吻合较好. 该计算结果表明, Dy₃Al₅O₁₂内磁性离子间的交换作用非常微弱, 可以忽略. 从理论上给出了绝热退磁过程中温度变化ΔT与T的关系, 并与Gd₃Ga₅O₁₂晶体进行了比较, 发现不同外磁场下, Dy₃Al₅O₁₂和Gd₃Ga₅O₁₂的低温制冷性能在不同温区有差别. 在进行低温(T<10 K)制冷时, 若外磁场较低, 选择Dy₃Al₅O₁₂作为磁制冷材料较好; 若外磁场较高, 选择Gd₃Ga₅O₁₂作为磁制冷材料较好.     

Magnetic and transport properties of YBa2Cu3Oy superconductor foams

The recently reported superconducting YBa₂Cu₃O_y (Y123) foams are highly interesting and promising for variety of applications. In this report we present first magneto-transport measurements of the superconducting properties of these foams. The investigations reveal the superconducting properties being similar to those of bulk melt processed materials. The 123 foams reveal a T_c of 92 K and have a magnetization J_c of 40,000 A/cm² at 77 K and 0 T. The measurements of magnetic hysteresis versus field show a high anisotropy of the critical current density up to J_c^ab/J_c^c7.     

Anomalous magnetotransport phenomena in θ-(BEDT-TTF)2I3

Anomalous magnetotransport phenomena have been observed in θ-(BEDT-TTF)₂I₃ crystals at temperatures below 15 K. The magnetoresistance M : (1) is a linear function of the magnetic field H, (2) is not affected by the angle between the electric current and the magnetic field, (3) but depends on the magnetic field orientation with respect to the crystal axis. Magnetoresistance is expressed as M = (aH²_a + bH²_b + cH²_c)₀^-3/2/H in terms of H = (H_a, H_b, H_c), the zero field resistivity ₀, and parameters a, b, and c which are independent of temperature and magnetic field. We have found that b a > c. Magnetoresistance up to 40 is observed for H = 7T along the b-axis at T = 1.5K.     

Specific heat and anisotropic superconducting and normal-state magnetization of HoNi2B2C

The magnetization of single-crystal HoNi₂B₂C has been measured as a function of applied field (H) and temperature in order to probe the interplay between superconductivity and magnetism in this complex layered system. The normal-state magnetic susceptibility of HoNi₂B₂C is highly anisotropic with a Curie-Weiss-like temperature dependence for H applied perpendicular to the c-axis and with a much weaker temperature dependence for H applied parallel to the c-axis, indicating that the Ho⁺³ magnetic moments lie predominately in the tetragonal a−b plane below 20 K. High-field magnetization (2000 Oe), low-field magnetization (20 Oe) and zero-field specific heat all give an antiferromagnetic ordering temperature of T_N=5.0 K. Remarkably, in 20 Oe applied field both superconductivity (T_c=8.0 K) and antiferromagnetism (T_N=5.0 K) clearly make themselves manifest in the magnetization data. From these magnetization data a phase diagram in the H−T plane was constructed for both directions of applied field. This phase diagram shows a non-monotonic temperature dependence of H_c2 with a deep minimum at T_N=5 K. The high-field magnetization data for H applied perpendicular to the c-axis also reveal a cascade of three phase transitions for T < 5 K and H < 15 000 Oe, contributing to the rich H versus T phase diagram for HoNi₂B₂C at low temperatures.     

Anomalous magnetic behavior of the Co0.53Ga0.47 spin glass above the freezing temperature

We present here the detailed analysis of the magnetic behavior of the Co_0.53Ga_0.47 alloy, especially at temperatures above the freezing temperature T_f = 10 K. Low field static magnetization measurements were performed by using the SQUID magnetometer in the temperature range 5–65 K and magnetic fields up to 100 Oe. The temperature dependence of the field cooled susceptibility π_FC(T) at T > T_f has an anomaly, which is displayed in the double change of the curvature near T_s = 24 K. The data of magnetization M_FC in an external field H lie on a universal curve M_FC(H/T) at temperatures T_f < T < T_s. The plots of π^-1_FC(T) and non-linear magnetic susceptibility π^nl_FC(T^-3) are linear lines in the temperature range T_f−T_s. The strong deviation of π^-1_FC(T) and π^nl_FC(T^-3) from straight line, taking place at T T_s, indicates that T_s is an upper temperature limit of the classical superparamagnetic behavior with the constant cluster moment. The results suggest that such phenomena may be fairly universal for spin glasses.     

Magnetic properties of the Bi1.95Sr2.05−xLaxCuOy (Bi-2201) superconducting phase

We have investigated the reversible mixed-state magnetization M of three lanthanum substituted Bi_1.95Sr_2.05−xLa_xCuO_y (Bi-2201) ceramic samples having different critical temperatures T_c ranging from 20.0 to 35.5 K. As for the Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ (Bi-2212) phase, we found that anisotropy of Bi-2201 is large. A manifestation of this anisotropy is the field independent magnetization M^* observed at a temperature T^*. In the framework of the London model, and including thermal fluctuations of vortices, we found for the temperature dependence of the penetration depth λ_ab(T) = λ_ab(0)[1 − (T/T_c0)ⁿ]^−1/2, with n 1.7 and λ_ab (T = 0) 4000 Å. The estimated upper critical fields μ₀H_c2,c are of the order of 10 T. We observe a peculiar negative slope M/T at low temperature and sufficiently high external magnetic field. This feature seems to be a characteristic of the Bi-2201 phase. However, we do not know whether it is associated with the superconducting mixed-state. A small amount of magnetic impurities could also be responsible for this behavior. Finally, the behavior of the reversible magnetization of the Bi-2201 samples investigated, which are situated at the optimal and in the overdoped region, did not indicate any unusual temperature dependence for the upper critical field H_c2,c.     

Synthesis of YBa2Cu3O7−x superconducting thin films on LaAlO3 by means of PAMOCVD

High-T_c superconducting thin films have been deposited in situ by means of a plasma assisted metal-organic chemical vapour deposition (PAMOCVD) process on LaAlO₃. An EMCORE high-speed rotating disc reactor was used to deposit the films at a substrate temperature of 600°C to 800°C. The system is equipped with a (remote) 120 W microwave plasma generator. The oxidising plasma gas is N₂O and/or O₂ while Ar was used as the inert carrier gas for the different metal-organics. The influence of different process parameters (such as the temperatures of the metal-organics, substrate temperature, and plasma gas composition) on the superconductive properties and on the morphology of the films was investigated. Surface morphology and composition were studied by SEM/EDX or EPMA, and AC susceptibility measurements were used to investigate the superconductive properties (T_c and J_c). X-ray diffraction measurements indicated that single-phase YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x films were epitaxially grown with the 00l orientation perpendicular to the substrate surface. The critical temperature (T_c) of the films is about 90 K and the critical current density (J_c) is higher than 10⁶ A/cm² at 77 K and zero field.     

Ising spin glass on a D = 3 hierarchical lattice: Effects of tailed coupling distributions

Within a real-space renormalization-group framework, we approach the cubic lattice through a D = 3 diamond-like hierarchical lattice. The model is a standard, nearest-neighbor, Ising spin glass with coupling constants {J_ij} distributed according to the family of continuous probability distributions P_q(J_ij) ∝ 1/[1 + (q − 1)J_ij²/2J²]^{1/(q − 1)} (if 1 + (q − 1) J_ij²/2J² > 0, and zero otherwise; q ). Such distributions, which arise naturally in the treatment, within the recently proposed nonextensive thermostatistics, of anomalous diffusion, reproduce the usual, Gaussian case, for q → 1. Moreover, they present a second moment J_ij² proportional to (5 − 3q)⁻¹ for q < 5/3, diverging for q ≥ 5/3, but keeping a finite width at midheight. In the limit q → 3, P_q(J_ij) collapses with the abscissa, and so the width at midheight diverges. We compute the q-dependence of the spin-glass critical temperature T_c. We show numerically that T_c does not scale with J_ij^21/2 (contrary to the usual belief), but rather with the width at midheight of P_q(J_ij). Our results suggest that T_c vanishes as −1/q when q → −∞; furthermore, we verified that T_c diverges exponentially when q approaches 3 from below.     

Normal state magnetoresistance in stable magnetic fields up to 20 T in single crystalline La1.76Sr0.24CuO4

The in-plane normal state resistance R_n(T, H) in an overdoped La_2−xSr_xCuO₄ crystal (x = 0.24) has been measured in magnetic fields up to 20 T parallel to the c-axis. The R_n(T) curves in constant fields show a quadratic behavior in a wide range of temperature above T_c(H). Some characteristic features in R_n(H) are observed. In the low-field region R_n(H) increases with increasing H, reaches a maximum and then decreases with further increasing H. Possible origins for the observed unusual R_n(T, H) behavior are discussed.     

Anomalous temperature dependence of magnetization in polycrystalline Fe65Ni35 alloy

Magnetization at 0.3 and 140 Hz (0–10 Oe) and magnetic relaxation measurements were carried out in detail in the temperature range between 4.2 and 300 K for a polycrystalline Fe₆₅Ni₃₅ alloy. The typical temperature T_g and the magnetic field H_g which correspond to the anomalous temperature in χ-T curves and inflection field in σ-H curves, respectively, are summarized and a H-T diagram is obtained. A strong magnetic relaxation is observed along the H_g-T line. The temperature dependence of H_g is discussed by the thermal activation of 180° domain wall which is pinned strongly by the antiferromagnetic-like clusters below T_g. It is find that H _g is a linear function of T .     

Thermally activated flux dissipation in c-axis-oriented YBa2Cu3O7−δ ultrathin films

The resistive transitions of ultrathin YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (YBCO) films with thicknesses 75 and 200 Å were studied under magnetic fields. For the 75 Å film under a 5 T parallel magnetic field (Hbab-plane), no broadening of the resistive transition occurred. In the perpendicular magnetic field (H ab-plane), the broadening of the resistive transition of the 75 Å film is larger than that of the 200 Å thick film. The flux activation energy U was found to be linearly dependent on the temperature and logarithmically dependent on the magnetic field for both 75 and 200 Å films, which means the two samples have a two-dimensional vortex lattice. Furthermore, the activation energy U also increased with the film thickness, indicating that the magnetic correlation length in the c-axis direction l_c is larger than the 200 Å for bulk YBCO.     

Magnetic properties and domain structure of polycrystalline DyFe3

Magnetization σ vs. temperature T was measured from 80 to 700 K in polycrystalline DyFe₃ in a magnetic field H = 10 kOe. From σ = f(T), the Curie temperature was determined. Also, σ was measured vs. H from 0 to 70 kOe at 4.2 K. Magnetization at saturation σ₀ at 4.2 K and the magnetic moment of DyFe₃ were also determined. First observations of domain structure in DyFe₃ are reported. The mean domain with is determined in its dependence on the grain size . The magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant of polycrystalline DyFe₃ is determined as K₁ = -1.2×10⁷ erg/cm³.     

Tuning the multiferroic properties of Pb(Fe1/2Nb1/2)O3 by cationic substitution

A series of substituted lead iron niobate compounds with the general formula Pb²⁺_(1−x)A^Z_x(Fe_{{(1−(2−Z)x)/2}}Nb_{{(1+(2−Z)x)/2}})O₃ (0<x<0.6 and A=La³⁺, K⁺ or Sr²⁺) were prepared by a modified solid-state synthesis. The relative concentrations of Fe³⁺ and Nb⁵⁺ were adjusted to compensate the charge imbalance due to the aliovalent substitution. The dielectric constant and magnetic susceptibilities were studied as a function of temperature. The temperature of the dielectric maximum, T_M, of the substituted compounds decreased linearly with increasing concentration of the substituent ions. The magnetic measurements showed an antiferromagnetic transition at temperatures T_N1 due to the superexchange interactions mediated by Fe–O–Fe and an additional antiferromagnetic-type transition at T_N2. T_N1 linearly increased with the increasing concentration of Fe³⁺ ion at the B-site of ABO₃-type substituted compounds. T_M is shown to be directly dependent on the concentration of the ferroactive Nb⁵⁺ ions at the B-site and Pb²⁺ ions at the A-site.     

Dynamic contribution to the fishtail effect in a twin-free DyBa2Cu3O7−δ single crystal

Superconducting current densities j_s and dynamic relaxation rates Q d ln j_s/d In(dB_e/dt), where dB_e/dt is the sweep rate of the external magnetic field B_e, were measured as a function of temperature (5 K < T < 65 K) in magnetic fields up to 7 T on a twin-free DyBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ single crystal by means of a high-sensitivity capacitance torque magnetometer. Above 15 K, we observe a “fishtail” effect, i.e. a pronounced minimum in the j_s(B_e) curve at fields around B_e = 1 T. The relaxation rate Q shows an anomalous increase at low fields which is correlated to the minimum in the j_s(B_e) curve. Both the j_s versus B_e and Q versus B_e data are used as input parameters into the generalized inversion scheme developed by Schnack et al. [Phys. Rev. B 48 (1993) 13178] to calculate the true critical current density j_c which is by definition independent of relaxation effects. Interestingly, the j_c(B_e, T) curves derived in this way do not show a minimum. This points clearly to a dynamic contribution to the fishtail effect. The true critical current density j_c(B_e, T) decreases weakly with increasing B_e over the entire measured temperature and field range, as expected for single-vortex pinning. This indicates that the observed fishtail effect is not caused by a crossover from single-vortex pinning to pinning of flux bundles. The temperature dependence of j_c is in good agreement with the predictions of a model based on single-vortex pinning caused by spatial fluctuations in the charge-carrier mean free path.     

Effect of a magnetic field on MnAs0.88P0.12 below 80 K

MnAs_0.88P_0.12 has been studied by powder neutron diffraction in external magnetic fields up to 15.2 kOe and temperatures down to 4.2 K. MnAs_0.88P_0.12 takes the MnP type atomic arrangement and exists in para-, ferro- and different (essentially) helimagnetic states. The observation of a double 000^± satellite at 4.2 K < T 70 K adds further evidence to the chain of arguments for distinction between the helimagnetic states H'_a (4.2 K < T < T_S,1 ≈ 70 K) and H_a (T_S,2 ≈ 180 K < T < T_N = (243 ± 5) K). External magnetic fields at 4.2 K < T < 70 K evoke a new magnetic state, which is also characterized by a satellite doublet, and is tentatively designated H'_a,fan.     

Thermoelectric power and irreversibility field of (Hg,Tl)2Ba2Can−1CunOy (n=2–5) superconductors

We have measured the thermoelectric power, S, and the irreversibility field, H_irr, of the superconducting samples of (Hg,Tl)₂Ba₂Ca_n−1Cu_nO_y (n=2–5). S values for the (Hg,Tl)-22(n−1)n above their T_c's drastically increase with increasing n. Judging from the S values at room temperature, the n=2 and 3 samples are located in the overdoped region, the n=4 is in the almost optimally doped and the n=5 is in the underdoped region. H_irr values for the n=4 and 5 samples are higher than those for the as-synthesized and annealed n=3 samples. It is considered that the enhancement in H_irr is due not only to the increase of hole concentration but to the increase in the number of CuO₂ sheets.