Pressure Effects in the Raman Spectra of La 2−x Sr x CuO 4

Micro-Raman measurements under hydrostatic pressures up to 6 GPa have been carried out on high-quality La 2 m x Sr x CuO 4 polycrystalline compounds with Sr concentration up to x =0.45. The zz scattering polarization has been investigated, where two strong modes due to La/Sr and the apex oxygen, and (in the low Sr concentrations) the soft mode at ～100 cm m 1 are observed. The frequency of the strong modes increases almost linearly with pressure for the Sr concentrations studied. Modifications in the increment rate d y /d p and the phonon width have been detected depending on the amount of doping. For x =0.45 a considerable increase in the width of both strong phonons with pressure was found, which must reflect a separation into phases, since this concentration is close to the solubility limit. The relative intensity of the strong phonons was investigated in connection with its correlation to the transition temperature.     

Introduction of bismuth into the highT c superconductor La2−x Sr x CuO4−y

Novel high-T _c superconductors La_2–x Bi _x Sr _x–x CuO_4–y have been isolated and studied. The influence of the experimental conditions of synthesis on the superconductivity has been especially studied for the composition La_1.7Bi_0.1Sr_0.2CuO_4–y ; it is shown thatT _c decreases as oxygen is introduced into the matrix, likely due to the partial oxidation of Bi(III) to Bi(V). The highT _c value observed for one sample (T _c 42 K), as compared withT _c 38 K of La_1.8Sr_0.2CuO_4–y suggests that bismuth is also a potential candidate for improving the superconducting properties in these oxides.     

μSR and NMR investigations on electronic and magnetic state aroundx=0.12 in La2−x Sr x CuO4 and La2−x Ba x ;CuO4

The muon spin rotation ( ⁺SR) and NMR measurements provides clear evidences of the antiferromagnetic order of Cu-moment below 35 K for La_2–x Ba _x CuO₄ and below 15 K for La_2–x Sr _x CuO₄ in the narrow range ofx where the high-T _c superconductivity (SC) is suppressed remarkably. The results suggest that the freezing of spin fluctuations of Cu-moment is relevant to the local suppression of SC under an change of the electronic state coupled with the lattice instability.     

Modeling of a structural phase transition in La2−x SrxCuO4

The structural, vibrational, and elastic properties of La₂CuO₄ are calculated using a model for calculating the energy of the crystal based on interionic potentials with the multiparticle Jahn-Teller contribution included explicitly. The microscopic reasons for the structural instability of the La₂CuO₄ lattice relative to rotations of the oxygen octahedra are investigated. A structural phase transition from the orthorhombic phase (space group D _2h ¹⁸ ) into the tetragonal phase (space group D _4h ¹⁷ ) under hydrostatic compression of an La_2−x Sr_xCuO₄ crystal is modeled. The (P,x) structural phase diagram for La_2−x Sr_xCuO₄ is constructed. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 1096–1102 (June 1999)     

Ultrasonic studies of the high Tc superconductor (La1−xSrx)2CuO4−δ

We synthesized (La_1−xSr_x)₂CuO_4−δ crystals with 0 ≦ x ≦ 0.4 by the sintering method, and obtained several samples with good homogeneity, high onset superconducting transition temperature T_c ≲ 38 K and narrow transition width ΔT_c. For the sample with the maximum T_c among them, ultrasonic measurements were performed. In the curve of the sound velocity change ΔV_s(T) versus temperature T, there was observed an anomalously large decrease of sound velocity as T decreases in the range 150 K < T < 240 K. Furthermore, in the plots of the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient α(T) as a function of T, there were observed a broad and large peak located at T ∼ 100 K and a small peak located at T ∼ 200 K. These results show the existence of an optical mode of the energy ℏω_op/k_B ∼ 100 K and, probably, also of that of ∼ 200 K. On the basis of these experimental results of elastic properties, we suggest the origin of high T_c of this material.     

Fermi surface evolution in the ensemble of spin-polarized quasiparticles in La2 − x Sr x CuO4

For the spin-fermion model, it has been shown that the concept of spin polarons makes it possible to reproduce fine details of the Fermi surface evolution in the nodal direction of La_{2 ? x} Sr _x CuO₄ occurring with changes in the doping level x. The physics here is determined by the spin-correlated hopping of charge carriers and by the doping dependence of the inverse magnetic correlation length.     

Behavior of positive muons in highT c superconductors La2−x Sr x CuO4

An unambiguous determination of the ⁺ location in the highT _c LaSrCuO superconductor is made through zero-field spin relaxation in the paramagnetic phase and its crystal axis dependence by using single crystalline samples. The temperature dependence of the relaxation rates has a maximum between 80 and 150 K, indicating the existence of the onset of quantum diffusion at low temperature.     

Elastic and inelastic scattering of π mesons on 7Li nuclei

Within the diffraction theory of multiple scattering, the differential cross sections for elastic and inelastic pion scattering on a ⁷Li nucleus are calculated for the case where the final nucleus is either in the ground or in the first excited state. The nuclear wave function is set to that in the αt cluster model. The sensitivity of the calculated observables to variations in the type of the wave functions for the alpha-particle and the triton cluster and for their relative motion is investigated. Various multiplicities of scattering and rescattering on the clusters constituting the ⁷Li nucleus are taken into account, and their contributions to the cross section are revealed. The results of the calculations are compared with experimental data at E _π=143, 164, and 194 MeV.     

Observation of magnetic order of Cu-moment aroundx=0.12 in La2−x Ba x CuO4 and La2−x sr x CuO4 by μ+SR

Zero field positive muon spin rotation method ( ⁺SR) is applied on La_2–x Sr _x CuO₄ around forx=0.12 at which the high-T _c superconductivity (SC) is suppressed. The magnetically ordered state of Cu-moments, which is not a spin glass state but an antiferromagnetic like state, appears below 15 K for 0.105x0.120. The magnetic phase boundary is very similar to the one of the La_2–x Ba _x CuO₄ in which the structural transition from the low temperature orthorhombic (LTO) phase to the low temperature tetragonal (LTT) phase is observed aroundx=0.12. The present study suggests that there is no big difference of the electronic state of the CuO₂ plane between the La-Ba system and the La-Sr system and that the magnetic ordering of Cu-moments plays an important role for the suppression of the high-T _c SC aroundx=0.12 in both of the systems, although the LTO-LTT structural transition has not been observed yet in the La-Sr system.     

NQR study of spin-freezing in superconducting La2−x Sr x CuO4: the example ofx = 0.06

Nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR)¹³⁹La and⁶³Cu spin-lattice relaxation rateT ₁ ^t-1 measurements in a La_1.94Sr_0.06CuO₄ single crystal are described. Slowing-down of Cu²⁺ spin fluctuations is evidenced through a dramatic increase of¹³⁹ T ₁ ^?1 on cooling. While the onset of diamagnetism occurs atT _c = 8 K,¹³⁹ T ₁ ^?1 has a peak atT _g ? 5 K, when the characteristic frequency of magnetic fluctuations reaches the NQR frequencyv _Q ? 9 MHz. In agreement with a number of previous studies, these results show that the so-called “cluster spin-glass” phase persists in the superconducting regime. Issues concerning the coexistence of the two phases are discussed.     

Magnetic and piezoelectric properties of the Bi1 − x La x FeO3 system near the transition from the polar to antipolar phase

The crystal structure, piezoelectric and magnetic properties of the Bi_{1 ? x} La _x FeO₃ solid-solution system near the structural transition between the rhombohedral and orthorhombic phases (0.15 ≤ x ≤ 0.2) have been investigated. The regions of existence of the polar rhombohedral and orthorhombic phases have been determined, and the sequence of structural transitions as a function of the lanthanum ion concentration and temperature has been studied. The maximum piezoelectric signal is found for the solid solution with the composition x = 0.16, which has a single-phase rhombohedral structure. The relation between the type of crystal structure distortions and the increase in the magnetization upon the concentration-driven structural transition from the polar to antipolar phase has been established.     

On-line phase transition in La1− x Sr x MnO3 (0.28 ≤ x ≤ 0.36) perovskites through ultrasonic studies

La_{1? x} Sr _x MnO₃ perovskite manganite materials with different compositions (x?=?0.28, 0.31 and 0.36) have been prepared employing solid-state reaction technique. On-line evaluation of ultrasonic velocities and longitudinal attenuation of the above samples has been done over a wide range of temperatures using the transmission method. The observed anomalies in velocities, attenuation and elastic moduli reveal the occurrence of lattice softening and hardening near Curie temperature. The observed dramatic hardening in sound velocities and softening in attenuation are correlated with the phase transition, i.e. ferromagnetic to paramagnetic. The increase in magnitude of maximum velocity with change in Sr content at T _c indicates the existence of linear magnetostriction effect. The elastic moduli study elucidates the observations made from the above-mentioned studies. The variation in the ultrasonic velocities, longitudinal attenuation and its derived parameters help us to understand the competitions between ferromagnetism and paramagnetism.     

Thermoelectric properties of the Nd2−x Ce x CuO4−y system

The temperature dependence of the Seebeck coefficient (in region 300–900 K) and the lattice constants of Nd_2–x Ce_xCuO_4–y (x=0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15) with different oxygen content were measured. The value of S is always negative and it decreases with both Ce content and oxygen non-stoichiometry. At a certain concentration of Ce and oxygen in the material, the Seebeck coefficient becomes temperature-independent.The authors would like to thank Professor J. Horák of University of Chemical Technology, Pardubice for helpful discussions.     

Quasi-two-dimensional transport properties of the layered superconductor Nd2−xCe x CuO4+δ

The temperature dependences of resistivities ρ_ab in the ab plane and ρ_c along the c axis have been studied for single-crystal Nd_{2 ? x} Ce_xCuO_{4 + δ} (x = 0.12, 0.15, 0.17, 0.20) films with (001) and (1 $\bar 1$ 0) orientations. The superconducting transition temperature and anisotropy coefficient are shown to be maximal in optimally annealed samples (the oxygen content is close to the stoichiometric content, δ → 0). A combination of the metallic behavior of the ρ_ab(T) dependence and the nonmetallic behavior of the ρ_c(T) dependence for the optimally annealed samples is an intrinsic property of the substance and an indication of the fact that the system is quasi-two-dimensional. This layered quasi-two-dimensional system is an Anderson dielectric with a strongly anisotropic localization radius (R _loc ^ab ? R _loc ^c ). An increase in the oxygen content and, hence, in the degree of disorder in the Nd_{2 ? x} Ce_xCuO_{4 + δ} system is found to decrease the resistivity anisotropy coefficient. Thus, a disorder-induced Anderson transition takes place in this quasi-two-dimensional system.     

Coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism in single crystalline highT c superconductor La2−x Sr x CuO4 revealed by the muon spin relaxation method

The positive muon (⁺) spin relaxation method under zero external field is applied to probe magnetic ordering in the superconducting phase of a high quality single crystal of La_2–x Sr _x CuO₄ (0.10<x<0.15). A series of well characterized crystals with nearly complete flux exclusion were found to exhibit a magnetic ordering with transition temperature depending onx with a peak atx=0.11. Possible explanations are given.     

Dielectric studies of phase transitions in the ferroelectric CdTiO3 and the Sr1−x CdxTiO3 solid solution

Temperature dependences of the permittivity and of the dielectric hysteresis loops in ceramic samples of nominally pure CdTiO₃ and a Sr_1?x Cd_xTiO₃ solid solution were studied. At 76.5±0.5 K, CdTiO₃ was established to undergo a ferroelectric phase transition close to the tricritical point. The temperature dependence of spontaneous polarization of CdTiO₃ is described within the Landau theory of phase transitions with the critical order parameter exponent ≈0.25. The phase diagram of the Sr_1?x Cd_xTiO₃ solid solution was drawn in (T, x) coordinates, and the critical concentration x _c =0.002, above which an induced polar state sets in the solid solution, was determined.     

Theory for the Gaussian Component of the 63Cu Nuclear Spin-Echo Decay Rate 1/T 2G in La2−x Sr x CuO4

We report calculations of the Gaussian component of the ⁶³Cu nuclear spin-echo decay rate 1/T _2G employing the theory for spin susceptibility as derived within the t-J model starting from carrier-free La₂CuO₄ and right up to optimally doped superconducting layered copper oxide La_2?x Sr _x CuO₄. The theory reproduces the temperature and doping behavior of the experimental data for 1/T _2G. A quantitative agreement with experimental 1/T _2G data in doped La_2?x Sr _x CuO₄ compounds is obtained with account of both the spin–spin and “fermion”–“fermion” correlations.     

Growth mechanism, microstructure and transport properties of Sr1−x La x CuO2 (x=0.10−0.15) thin films

Sr_1−x La _x CuO₂ (x=0.10−0.15) thin films with an infinite-layer type structure were grown on BaTiO₃ buffered (001) SrTiO₃ substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The evolution of the growth front was monitored, in-situ, by high-pressure reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED), while the surface morphology was analyzed by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM), ex-situ. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to determine the evolution of the film structure with deposition and cooling parameters, as well as to study the type and level of epitaxial strain in the Sr_1−x La _x CuO₂ films. The RHEED data showed that the Sr_1−x La _x CuO₂ films grow on BaTiO₃/SrTiO₃ following a 2D or Stranski-Krastanov mechanism, depending on the La doping level. The transition point (critical thickness d _c) from layer-by-layer like (2D) to island (3D) growth depends on the film stoichiometry: decreasing the La doping concentration x from 0.15 to 0.10, the critical thickness d _c increases from ∼45 nm to ∼75 nm. In order to induce superconductivity, the Sr_1−x La _x CuO₂ films were cooled down under reduction conditions. The as-deposited films showed semiconducting or metallic behavior, the resistivity decreasing with increasing La concentration. Post-deposition vacuum annealing resulted in a superconducting transition onset (but no zero resistance down to 4.2 K) only for some of the x=0.15 Sr_1−x La _x CuO₂ films.