Observation of lateral long range order in superconducting FeTe thin films

<正>We find that the superconductivity in the thin films of the formerly believed non-superconducting parent compound FeTe is accompanied by an emergence of second order with a correlation length of 742 nm and 258 nm at 10 K and 300 K,respectively.The structural phase transition found in iron pnictide superconductors,in non-superconducting FeTe bulk samples,and in FeSe superconducting thin films is not observed in the superconducting FeTe thin films.The interplay between superconductivity and long range order may suggest the crucial role of competition between electronic localization and itinerancy which leads to strong quantum fluctuations in the FeTe system.     

Evidence for charged critical behavior in the pyrochlore superconductor RbOs2O6

We analyze magnetic penetration depth (lambda) data of the recently discovered superconducting pyrochlore oxide RbOs(2)O(6). Our results strongly suggest that in RbOs(2)O(6) charged critical fluctuations dominate the temperature dependence of lambda near T(c). This is in contrast with the mean-field behavior observed in conventional superconductors and the uncharged critical behavior found in nearly optimally doped cuprate superconductors. However, this finding agrees with the theoretical predictions for charged criticality and the charged criticality observed in underdoped YBa(2)Cu(3)O(6.59).     

Uniaxial pressure effects on CeIrIn5 and CeCoIn5 studied by low-temperature thermal expansion

We report low-temperature thermal expansion measurements on the tetragonal heavy-fermion superconductors CeMIn5 (M=Ir,Co) in magnetic fields up to 8 T which allow for the analysis of the uniaxial pressure effects on both normal-state and superconducting properties. Our study reveals that T(c) is strongly affected by at least two factors, the lattice anisotropy and the 4f-conduction-electron hybridization strength which is most sensitive to c-axis lattice distortions. Non-Fermi-liquid behavior caused by quantum-critical fluctuations is observed for both systems, most pronounced for CeCoIn5.     

Magnetic field dependence of the superconducting gap and the pseudogap in Bi2212 and HgBr2-Bi2212, studied by intrinsic tunneling spectroscopy

Intrinsic tunneling spectroscopy in high magnetic field (H) is used for a direct test of superconducting features in the quasiparticle density of states of pure Bi2212 and intercalated HgBr2-Bi2212 high- T(c) superconductors. We were able to distinguish with great clarity two coexisting gaps: (i) the superconducting gap, which closes as H-->H(c2)(T), and (ii) the c-axis pseudogap, which does not change either with H or with T. Strikingly different H dependencies, together with previously observed different temperature dependencies of the two gaps, speak against a superconducting origin of the pseudogap.     

Specific-heat measurements of the gap structure of the organic superconductors kappa-(ET)2Cu[N(CN)2]Br and kappa-(ET)2Cu(NCS)2

We present high resolution heat capacity measurements of the organic superconductors kappa-(ET)(2)Cu[N(CN)(2)]Br and kappa-(ET)(2)Cu(NCS)(2) in fields up to 14 T. We use the high field data to determine the normal state specific heat and hence extract the behavior of the electronic specific heat C(el) in the superconducting state in zero and finite fields. We find that in both materials for T/T(c) less or similar 0.3, C(el)(H=0) approximately T2 indicating d-wave superconductivity. The data are well described by a strong coupling d-wave model from our base temperature (T/T(c) approximately 0.1) right up to T(c). Our data help to resolve the controversy regarding the order parameter symmetry in these materials.     

Effect of equilibrium fluctuations on superfluid density in layered superconductors

Using a phenomenological approach based on the fluctuation-dissipation theorem we calculate suppression of superconducting currents due to phase fluctuations and find that, in contrast to a recent prediction, the effect of thermal fluctuations cannot account for linear temperature dependence of the superfluid density in high-T(c) superconductors at low temperatures. Quantum fluctuations are found to dominate over thermal fluctuations at low temperatures. Near T(c) sizable thermal fluctuations are found to suppress the critical current in the stack direction stronger than in the direction along the layers. The spectral density of voltage fluctuations at small frequencies is nonzero, in contrast to what may be expected from a naive interpretation of the Nyquist formula.     

Charge and spin inhomogeneity as a key to the physics of the high-Tc cuprates

We present a coherent scenario for the physics of cuprate superconductors, which is based on a charge-driven inhomogeneity, i.e. the “stripe phase”. We show that spin and charge critical fluctuations near the stripe instability of strongly correlated electron systems provide an effective interaction between the quasiparticles, which is strongly momentum, frequency, temperature and doping dependent. This accounts for the various phenomena occurring in the overdoped, optimally and underdoped regimes both for the normal and the superconducting phase.     

Electronic transport properties of topological insulator films and low dimensional superconductors

In this review, we present a summary of some recent experiments on topological insulators （TIs） and superconducting nanowires and fihns. Electron electron interaction （EEI）, weak anti-localization （WAL） and anisotropic magneto-resistance （AMR） effect fbund in topological insulator fihns by transport measurements are reported. Then, transport properties of superconducting films, bridges and nanowires and proximity effect in non-superconducting nanowires are described. Finally, the interplay between topological insulators and superconductors （SCs） is also discussed.     

Influence of collective effects and the d charge-density wave on electronic raman scattering in high-T(c) superconductors

Electronic Raman scattering in high-T(c) superconductors is studied within the t-J model. It is shown that the A(1g) and B(1g) spectra are dominated by amplitude fluctuations of the superconducting and the d charge-density-wave order parameters, respectively. The B(2g) spectrum contains no collective effects and its broad peak reflects vaguely the doping dependence of T(c), similarly to the pronounced peak in the A(1g) spectrum. The agreement of our theory with the experiment supports the picture of two different, competing order parameters in the underdoped regime of high-T(c) superconductors.     

Total suppression of superconductivity by high magnetic fields in YBa(2)Cu(3)O(6.6)

We have studied the variation of transverse magnetoresistance of underdoped YBCO(6.6) crystals, either pure or with reduced T(c) down to 3.5 K by electron irradiation, in fields up to 60 T. We find evidence that the superconducting fluctuation contribution to the conductivity is suppressed only above a threshold field H(c)'(T), which is found to vanish at T(c)' > T(c). In the pure YBCO(6.6) sample, H(c)' is already 50 T at T(c). We find that increasing disorder weakly depresses H(c)'(0), T(c)', and T(nu), the onset of the Nernst signal. Thus, these energy scales appear more characteristic of the 2D local pairing than the pseudogap temperature which is not modified by disorder.     

Superconductivity induced by longitudinal ferromagnetic fluctuations in UCoGe

From detailed angle-resolved NMR and Meissner measurements on a ferromagnetic (FM) superconductor UCoGe (T(Curie)～2.5 K and T(SC)～0.6 K), we show that superconductivity in UCoGe is tightly coupled with longitudinal FM spin fluctuations along the c axis. We found that magnetic fields along the c axis (H∥c) strongly suppress the FM fluctuations and that the superconductivity is observed in the limited magnetic-field region where the longitudinal FM spin fluctuations are active. These results, combined with model calculations, strongly suggest that the longitudinal FM spin fluctuations tuned by H∥c induce the unique spin-triplet superconductivity in UCoGe. This is the first clear example that FM fluctuations are intimately related with superconductivity.     

Effect of disorder outside the CuO2 planes on Tc of copper oxide superconductors

The effect of disorder on the superconducting transition temperature T(c) of cuprate superconductors is examined. Disorder is introduced into the cation sites in the plane adjacent to the CuO2 planes of two single-layer systems, Bi(2.0)Sr(1.6)Ln(0.4)CuO(6+delta) and La(1.85-y)Nd(y)Sr0.15CuO4. Disorder is controlled by changing rare earth (Ln) ions with a different ionic radius in the former, and by varying the Nd content in the latter with the doped carrier density kept constant. We show that this type of disorder works as weak scatterers in contrast to the in-plane disorder produced by Zn, but remarkably reduces T(c), suggesting novel effects of disorder on high-T(c) superconductivity.     

Density functional study of LaFeAsO(1-x)F(x): a low carrier density superconductor near itinerant magnetism

Density functional studies of 26 K superconducting LaFeAs(O,F) are reported. We find a low carrier density, high density of states, N(E(F)), and modest phonon frequencies relative to T(c). The high N(E(F)) leads to proximity to itinerant magnetism, with competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic fluctuations and the balance between these controlled by the doping level. Thus LaFeAs(O,F) is in a unique class of high T(c) superconductors: high N(E(F)) ionic metals near magnetism.     

Organic conductors and superconductors

This review attempts to present the most salient developments of research on organic conductors and superconductors during the past 10 years. A theoretical introduction treats instabilities of quasi-one-dimensional electron systems and associated precursor effects which are relevant to the experimental results on organic conductors. We then describe the characterization of quasi-one-dimensional organic conductors by their transport, optical and magnetic properties. Finally, two sections are devoted to the experimental investigation of the low temperature instabilities: lattice instability in TTF-TCNQ and related compounds, superconducting or antiferromagnetic instabilities in the (TMTSF) 2 X series. The importance of one-dimensional fluctuations is emphasized in both lattice and superconducting instabilities.     

On the effect of boundary conditions on I–V characteristics of HTSC tunnel junctions

The pairing potential distribution over the thickness of superconducting CuO₂ layers in cuprate HTSCs is determined within the Ginzburg–Landau (GL) theory using the microscopic justification of this theory by Gor’kov. It is found that the pairing potential in them is significantly suppressed due to the effect of non-superconducting interlayers, which results in a decrease in the critical temperature of these superconductors. The temperature dependences of the effective energy gap and current–voltage (I–V) characteristic of tunnel junctions of the “break junction” type made of these superconductors are calculated.     

Enhancement of the critical temperature of HgBa₂CuO(4+δ) by applying uniaxial and hydrostatic pressure: implications for a universal trend in cuprate superconductors

It is well known that the superconducting transition temperature (T(c)) of cuprate superconductors can be enhanced by varying certain structural and electronic parameters, such as the flatness of the CuO? planes or their doping level. We determine the uniaxial and hydrostatic pressure derivatives of T(c) in the structurally simple tetragonal compound HgBa?CuO(4+δ) near optimal doping. Our results provide experimental evidence for two further methods to enhance T(c): (i) reducing the area of the CuO? planes, and (ii) increasing the separation of the CuO? planar groups. T(c) is found to couple much more strongly to the ratio c/a of the lattice constants than to the unit cell volume. A comparison with prior results for structurally more complicated cuprates reveals a general trend of uniaxial pressure derivatives with T(c).     

Phase fluctuations and the pseudogap in YBa(2)Cu(3)O (x)

The thermodynamics of the superconducting transition is studied as a function of doping using high-resolution expansivity data of YBa(2)Cu(3)O (x) single crystals and Monte Carlo simulations of the anisotropic 3D- XY model. We directly show that T(c) of underdoped YBa(2)Cu(3)O (x) is strongly suppressed from its mean-field value (T(MF)(c)) by phase fluctuations of the superconducting order parameter. For overdoped YBa(2)Cu(3)O (x) fluctuation effects are greatly reduced and T(c) approximately T(MF)(c). We find that T(MF)(c) exhibits a similar doping dependence as the pseudogap energy, naturally suggesting that the pseudogap arises from phase-incoherent Cooper pairing.     

Organic conductors and superconductors

This review attempts to present the most salient developments of research on organic conductors and superconductors during the past 10 years. A theoretical introduction treats instabilities of quasi-one-dimensional electron systems and associated precursor effects which are relevant to the experimental results on organic conductors. We then describe the characterization of quasi-one-dimensional organic conductors by their transport, optical and magnetic properties. Finally, two sections are devoted to the experimental investigation of the low temperature instabilities: lattice instability in TTF-TCNQ and related compounds, superconducting or antiferromagnetic instabilities in the (TMTSF)₂X series. The importance of one-dimensional fluctuations is emphasized in both lattice and superconducting instabilities.     

高温超导体中的赝隙与超导位相涨落

高温超导体赝隙态与超导态之间的关系一直是研究的焦点.交流电导和能斯特（Nernst）效应测量相继探测到超导转变温度Tc0以上温区一定范围内存在磁通涡旋激发,利用力矩技术的磁化率测量则探测到超导涨落引起的弱抗磁性.这些发现都支持了高温超导体赝隙相中存在有限的超导序参量振幅和强烈的位相涨落的图像,说明Tc0处的相变是由库珀对之间长程位相关联的消失所驱动的.文章首先简短地介绍高温超导体的电子态相图和赝隙态,以及能斯特效应的原理和测量方法,然后对能斯特效应的测量结果作一评述性介绍,还讨论了相关的理论模型.     

Synthesis of a new alkali metal-organic solvent intercalated iron selenide superconductor with T(c)?≈?45?K

We report on a new iron selenide superconductor with a T(c) onset of 45?K and the nominal composition Li(x)(C(5)H(5)N)(y)Fe(2-z)Se(2), synthesized via intercalation of dissolved alkaline metal in anhydrous pyridine at room temperature. This superconductor exhibits a broad transition, reaching zero resistance at 10?K. Magnetization measurements reveal a superconducting shielding fraction of approximately 30%. Analogous phases intercalated with Na, K and Rb were also synthesized and characterized. The superconducting transition temperature of Li(x)(C(5)H(5)N)(y)Fe(2-z)Se(2) is clearly enhanced in comparison to those of the known superconductors FeSe(0.98) (T(c)?～?8?K) and A(x)Fe(2-y)Se(2) (T(c)?～?27-32?K) and is in close agreement with critical temperatures recently reported for Li(x)(NH(3))(y)Fe(2-z)Se(2). Post-annealing of intercalated material (Li(x)(C(5)H(5)N)(y)Fe(2-z)Se(2)) at elevated temperatures drastically enlarges the c-parameter of the unit cell (～44%) and increases the superconducting shielding fraction to nearly 100%. Our findings indicate a new synthesis route leading to possibly even higher critical temperatures for materials in this class: by intercalation of organic compounds between Fe-Se layers.