Correlation between the electric-field effect and weak-link type in YBa2Cu3−x Oy and YBa2Cu3−x Oy /Agx high-T c superconducting ceramics

An experimental study is reported of the effect of an electric field E⩽120 MV/m and of temperature T on the critical current I _c and I-V characteristics of yttrium-based high-T _c superconducting ceramics. The materials studied were copper-deficient ceramics, YBa₂Cu_3−x O_y (D samples), and YBa₂Cu_3−x O_y/Ag_x ceramics [S samples with silver present in amounts equal to the copper deficiency (0⩽x⩽0.4)]. It has been established that in D samples at 77 K, the electric field increases I _c and reduces substantially R for I>I _c, whereas in S samples no field effect is observed. Measurements of the I _c(T) dependence near the critical temperature showed that they can be described for all samples by a relation of the type I _c =const(1−T/T _c )^α, where α≈1 for the D samples, and α≈2 for the S samples. The results obtained suggest that the electric-field effect correlates with the existence in the ceramic of SIS-type weak links at grain boundaries. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 1195–1198 (July 1998)     

Vortex pinning in YBa2Cu3O7?x films

Evidence that pinning on linear or planar defects dominates the vortex dynamics in YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x (YBCO) films is provided by complex impedance measurements at temperature 8 K<T<T _c and magnetic field 0<B<6 T. Below the vortex lattice melting transition B_g(T) but above a threshold field B_p≈8(1-T/T _c ) T, the inductance of vortices increases as B², much less rapidly than predicted for collective pinning of vortices by point defects. Above the vortex melting line, critical scaling persists over the region B_g(T<B<B^*(T) where the vortex correlation length ξ exceeds a characteristic length scale ξ^*≡ξ(B=B^*)≈450?. The value of ξ^* is not sensitive to Al-doping in the Cu sites in the lattice and is close to the size of twin domains in the film. The nature of the observed crossovers is discussed in terms of available theoretical models for a glass-liquid transition at B_g.     

Crystal structures of high-T c oxides

A comprehensive review of structure work on high-T _c oxides as reported during the years 1987 and 1988 is given. Thirteen structures are refined from X-ray single-crystal and/or neutron powder diffraction data:I. (Ba_1–x ,K _x )BiO₃ (T _c =30 K),II. (La_2–x , Sr _x )CuO₄ (T _c =40 K),III. (Nd, Ce, Sr)₂CuO₄ (T _c =28 K),IV. (Nd_2–x , Ce _x )CuO₄ (T _c =24 K),V. YBa₂Cu₃O₇ (T _c =90 K),VI. YBa₂Cu₄O₈ (T _c =80 K),VII. Y₂Ba₄Cu₇O₁₄ (T _c =40 K),VIII. Pb₂Sr₂NdCu₃O₈ (T _c =70 K),IX. TlBa₂CaCu₂O₇ (T _c =103 K),X. TlBa₂Ca₂Cu₃O₉ (T _c =120 K),XI. Tl₂Ba₂CuO₆ (T _c =90 K),XII. Tl₂Ba₂CaCu₂O₈ (T _c =112 K),XIII. Tl₂Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀ (T _c =125 K). Except forI (perovskite type),II (K₂NiF₄ type) andIV (Nd₂CuO₄ type) they represent new structure types. Structure data, bond distances, structure drawings and calculated X-ray powder diffraction patterns are given for each compound. Structural features and correlations with superconductivity are discussed. The review contains 301 citations.     

μ− SR studies of oxide-superconductorsSR studies of oxide-superconductors

The negative muon spin rotation method (μ⁻ SR) has been applied to studies of electronic states at oxygen sites of oxide superconductors YBa₂Cu₃O₇, Nd_2−x Ce _x CuO_4−δ (x=0.15, oxygen reduced), LiTi₂O₄ and related oxide-insulators La₂CuO_4−δ, CuO, Cu₂O. The paramagnetic shifts of μ⁻ trapped at oxygen nuclei in these polycrystalline powder samples have been measured at 300 K. All the measured shifts are positive. In copper-oxides the paramagnetic shifts are of the order 10⁻³, while in LiTi₂O₄ is very small (8.4±3.34×10⁻⁵). In YBa₂Cu₃O₇, a fast μ⁻ spin relaxation timeT ₂ ^* (∼ 200 ns) has been observed; the reason for this is unknown and further studies are now in progress.     

Oxygen defects relaxation in high-temperature YBa2Cu3O7 superconductors

The temperature dependences of normal state static magnet susceptibility χ(T) for high-temperature YBa₂Cu₃O₇ superconductors (T _c ≤ T ≤ 400 K) measured for the same sample before and after 22 years of storage are compared. It is shown that during longime storage of a maximally doped sample, its electronic system is more in equilibrium than it was in the initial state, while a similar underdoped sample decomposed completely. Comparing the χ(T) curves for YBa₂Cu₃O₇, we draw conclusions as to the nature of the Curie contribution and the fluctuation-induced contribution to the magnetic susceptibility of the investigated sample, and the experimental procedure for determining T _c.     

Transverse fieldμ + SR investigations of rare earth substituted 1-2-3 compoundsSR investigations of rare earth substituted 1-2-3 compounds

Transverse field studies (0.3 T) in HoBa₂Cu₃O₇, DyBa₂Cu₃O₇ and ErBa₂Cu₃O₇ (x=6.40. 6.45, 6.53, 7) were undertaken with the aim of detecting a possible 4f-moment inducedμ ⁺ Knight shift which could elucidate the nature of the magnetic coupling among the 4f-moments and a possible interference with superconductivity. AboveT _c no shift could be detected in any of the systems except in HoBa₂Cu₃O₇ where a split signal appears involving a positive and a negative shift. Unexpected shifts may be present belowT _c .     

Superconductivity and magnetic order in CaLaBaCu3O z

X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, magnetization and Mossbauer studies of a⁵⁷Fe probe, in CaLaBa(Cu_1−x Fe _x )₃O _z withz=7, 6.5 andx=0.00 to 0.05 have been performed. Forz=7,T _c drops from 74 K forx=0.00 to 35 K forx=0.05. In CaLaBa(Cu_1−x Fe _x )₃O _z withz=7, 10% of the iron is magnetically ordered withH _eff=530 K kOe andT _N=400 K, even though the sample is superconducting. In the oxygen poor, non-superconducting samples (z=6.5) 20% of the iron is magnetically ordered withH _eff=340 kOe andT _N=340 K. Since the iron reflects the magnetic order of the Cu(2) ions, this may show that perhaps two inequivalent Cu(2) sites exist in CaLaBa(Cu_1−x Fe _x )₃O₇, ones of which is magnetically ordered. The experimental observations may be interpreted in terms of the special crystal structure which can allow superconductivity and magnetism to coexist, probably in separate Cu(2) planes.     

Comparative analysis of the effect of La and Co on the superconductivity and energyband spectrum of YBa2Cu3Oy for different oxygen contents

Temperature dependences of the resistivity and Seebeck coefficient of Y(Ba_1−x La_x)₂Cu₃O_y and YBa₂Cu_3−x Co_xO_y samples (x=0–0.25) have been measured under maximum sample saturation with oxygen, as well as following their anneal in an oxygen-deficient atmosphere. The T _c (x) dependences for as-prepared samples were found to pass through a maximum at x=0.05, which persists after annealing for Y(Ba_1−xLa_x)₂Cu₃O_y and disappears for YBa₂Cu_3−x Co_xO_y. A phenomenological model of the band spectrum in normal phase has been used to determine the parameters of the conduction band and of the carrier system, and to analyze their variation with the dopant type and content, as well as with annealing. Despite the differences observed in the T _c (x) dependence, the critical temperatures for all the sample series studied were found to correlate with the conduction-band effective width. The mechanism of the effect of impurities on the band-structure parameters and the reasons for the different influence of annealing on the properties of Y(Ba_1−x La_x)₂Cu₃O_y and YBa₂Cu_3−x Co_xO_y are discussed. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 389–394 (March 1997)     

139La and63Cu-NQR of high-T c oxide superconductors

Nuclear quadrupole resonances (NQR) of¹³⁹La in La_2−xM_xCuO₄ (M=Ba, Sr) and⁶³Cu in YBa₂CU₃O₇ have been investigated with substitution of Cu by magnetic impurities. For La-system, the strong enhancement of the nuclear relaxation rate, 1/T ₁ atT _c ^*≈10 K (suggesting the occurrence of magnetic instability with hole-doping), is suppressed by 3D-antiferromagnetism induced by magnetic impurities. In the superconducting region, fluctuations of Cu moments at low temperatures remain extremely fast as at high temperatures. For Y-system, Fe-ions are substituted for both Cu(1) and Cu(2) sites, But Co-ions are preferentially substituted to Cu1 sites. The peaks in the relaxation rate of Cu indicate the appearance of magnetic ordering without destroying superconductivity for the 0.5%-Fe doped sample.     

Transport properties of a and c axis oriented (Y1?xCax)Ba2Cu3Oy thin films

Anisotropy and Hall effect measurements have been performed in calcium-doped, i.e., overdoped YBa₂Cu₃O_y ((Y_1−xCa_x)Ba₂Cu₃O_y) thin films witha andc axis orientations. In highly overdoped films (x=0.4), the anisotropy of the normal resistivity decreases and a drastic change in Hall conductivity in the mixed state is observed. The change in Hall conductivity in the overdoped region is consistent with recent experimental results for La_2−xSr_xCuO₄ films and seems to be common in highT _c superconductors.     

Mössbauer absorption in some high Tc superconductors:170Yb in YbBa2Cu3O7−x,166Er in ErBa2Cu3O7−x,and57Fe in YBa2Cu3O7−x

For the high T_c compound YbBa₂Cu₃O_7−x, Mossbauer absorption measurements show that magnetic ordering occurs within the Yb³⁺ sublattice at 0.35K (μ_sat=1.7μ_B). For ErBa₂Cu₃O_7−x the Er³⁺ sublattice orders at 0.7K (μ_sat=4μ_B). Measurements on⁵⁷Fe diluted into YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x shows that no ordered magnetic moments exist within the Cu sublattices down to at least 4.2K. Instituto de Fisica, Porto-Alegre, Brasil (supported by CNPq)     

Fluctuation of rare-earth atom magnetic moments in superconducting ceramics (Ho,Er)-Ba-Cu-O studied by μSR

Zero field muon spin relaxation measurements of the ceramic high-T_c superconductors HoBa₂Cu₃O_7-σ, O_c≃93 K) and ErBa₂Cu₃O_7-σ (T_c≃95 K) reveal the sharp difference between the behaviours of the muon spin relaxation rate at temperatures below 20K. This fact may be explained by assumption that the frequency of fluctuations of Er magnetic moments exceeds by far the fluctuation frequency of Ho in 1-2-3 compounds.     

Measurements of the London penetration depth in Bi-based high-T c compounds

The muon spin relaxation was measured in the high-T _c superconductors Bi₂Sr_1.3Ca_0.7 CuO_6.15, Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ and Bi₂Pb _x Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀. We present our method to determine the London penetration depth perpendicular toc-axis λ_⊥ (0) taking also contributions from the anisotropic magnetization and nuclear dipoles to the muon frequency spectrum into account.     

Pressure effect onT c and resistivity: Localization in YBa2Cu3O x oxides

We have studied the effect of hydrostatic pressures up to 20 Kbar on the temperature dependence of the resistivity (T) and the effect of quasihydrostatic pressure up to 200 Kbar on the lattice parameters of YBa₂Cu₃O _x for different oxygen concentrations (x=6.95–6.2). Pressure produces a decrease of resistivity in normal state, an increase ofT _c , and a suppression of semiconducting-like resistivity (T) at lowx. The dependence of dT _c (x)/dP onx is nonmonotonic; the record values of dT _c /dP=(1.0±0.1) K/Kbar are observed forx=6.7 and 6.8. The derivative dln/dP atT=293 K differs by the factor 1.8 between superconducting and nonsuperconducting compounds. The compressibility and its pressure derivative alonga, b andc-directions in YBa₂Cu₃O _x have been determined. The most remarkable variation is alongc-direction. A nonmonotonic dependence of dk _c (x)/dP onx has been observed.The results are discussed in the context of localized effects in disordered oxygen-deficient YBa₂Cu₃O _x .     

Inhomogeneous state of the electron system in the Sr14 ? x Ca x Cu24O41 superconducting cuprate: 63Cu-17O NMR study

Charge fluctuations in quasi-one-dimensional hole-doped Sr₁₄Cu₂₄O₄₁ (Ca-0) and Sr₂Ca₁₂Cu₂₄O₄₁ (Ca-12) spin-ladder cuprates have been studied with the use of ⁶³Cu-¹⁷O NMR. Spin-echo decay rates ¹⁷(1/T ₂) and ⁶³(1/T ₂) have been measured in the temperature range of T = 10–300 K. The variation of ¹⁷(1/T ₂) and ⁶³(1/T ₂) in the Ca-0 compound is monotonic in the entire temperature range of the NMR study. In the Ca-rich compound, pronounced peaks have been observed in the decay rates ¹⁷(1/T ₂) and ⁶³(1/T ₂) at temperatures of 25 and 50 K, respectively. This result indicates the presence of collective low-frequency (τ_c ∼ T ₂) charge density fluctuations in superconducting Ca-12 with an activation energy of E _A = 100(10) K. The fluctuations gradually slow down as the temperature decreases. The amplitude of the charge density fluctuations is only 0.01–0.02 hole per site. ¹⁷O-⁶³Cu spin-echo double-resonance (SEDOR) experiments in Sr_{14 − x} Ca _x Cu₂₄O₄₁ oxides with x = 0 and 12 have been performed depending on the temperature and orientation of single crystals in a magnetic field. The constants of an indirect heteronuclear ¹⁷O-⁶³Cu interaction of nuclear spins mediated by conduction electrons have been measured. The estimates of the indirect interaction constants for nearest neighbors O1-Cu and O2-Cu, as well as SEDOR experiments with selective excitation of separate sections of ¹⁷O and ⁶³Cu NMR spectra, provide convincing evidence of the microscopically inhomogeneous spatial distribution of spin density developing in a crystal. Original Russian Text ? Yu.V. Piskunov, V.V. Ogloblichev, S.V. Verkhovsky, 2007, published in Pis’ma v Zhurnal éksperimental’noĭ i Teoreticheskoĭ Fiziki, 2007, Vol. 86, No. 11, pp. 850–855.     

Structural studies and T c dependence in La2−x Dy x Ca y Ba2Cu4+y O z type mixed oxide superconductors

A new series of mixed oxide superconductors with the stoichiometric composition La_2−x Dy _x Ca _y Ba₂Cu_4+y O _z (x=0.0 − 0.5, y=2x) has been studied for structural and superconductiong properties. Our earlier studies on La_2−x (Y/Er) _x Ca _y Ba₂Cu_4+y O _z series, show a strong dependence of T _c on hole concentration (p _sh). In the present work, the results of the analysis of the neutron diffraction measurements at room temprerature on x=0.3 and 0.5 samples are reported. It is interesting to know that Ca substitutes for both La and Ba site with concomitant displacement of La onto Ba site. Superconductivity studies show that maximum T _c is obtained for x=0.5, y=1.0 sample (T _c ∼ 75 K), for La_1.5Dy_0.5Ca₁Ba₂Cu₅O _z (La-2125).     

Effect of Zr,Ti substitutions onT c in superconducting YBa2Cu3O7−δ system

Zr and Ti have been substituted in the system Y_1−x M _x Ba₂Cu₃O_7−δ(M=Zr, Ti,x=0.05,0.1). We find that theT _c value is unchanged, ∼90K for Zr substitutions up to 10% and in the case of Ti substitutions theT _c drops significantly. These changes may arise from their site preference.     

Y1-xCaxBa2Cu3-xMxO7-δ (M=Fe,Ni)体系的超导电性

本文报道,通过对Y_1-xCa_xBa₂Cu_3-xMxO_7-δ(M=Fe,Ni)体系样品的晶体结构、氧含量、正常态电阻率与温度的关系,以及超导转变温度等测量,并与YBa₂Cu_3-xMxO_7-δ(M=Fe,Ni)体系进行比较,发现Y_1-xCa_xBa₂Cu_3-xFe_xO_7-δ体系的T_c显著地高于相应x值的YBa₂Cu_3-xFe_xO_7-δ体系,而Y_1-xCa_xBa₂Cu_3-xNi_xO_7-δ体系则相反,T_c低于仅Ni替代的体系,表明Ca和Fe同时替代时两者引起的载流子浓度(n_H)变化相互补偿,抑制了仅Fe替代时引起的n_H和T_c急剧下降;而作Ca和Ni同时替代时主要的不是两者引起载流子浓度变化的相互补偿,Ca和Ni替代效应之间的关联较弱。作者认为,对Y_1-xCa_xBa₂Cu_3-xFe_xO_7-δ体系属于CuO₂平面外的元素替代,这时载流子浓度是决定Tc的主要因素;而对Y_1-xCa_xBa₂Cu_3-xNi_xO_7-δ体系,由于Ni²⁺离子主要占据Cu(Ⅱ)位,它导致磁拆对效应,Ni²⁺离子的拆对效应是引起T_c下降的直接原因。 关键词：     

Comparative studies of the NMR of thulium in Tm123 and Tm124 compounds: Evidence for structural and electronic phase separation

The nuclear magnetic relaxation of ¹⁶⁹Tm in TmBa₂Cu₃O_6+x (x=0.1–1.0, Δ x=0.1) and TmBa₂Cu₄O₈ is studied at temperatures below 5 K. In all the samples, the Tm spin-lattice relaxation proceeds via intrinsic paramagnetic centers (PCs) like Cu²⁺ or copper-oxygen spin-polarized clusters. The experimental data for TmBa₂Cu₃O_6+x support the idea of the structural (chemical) micro-phase separation in oxygen-deficient 123 compounds. Apparently, the samples with x⩾0.4 contain hole-poor nonsuperconducting regions, enriched with PCs, and hole-rich (PC-poor) superconducting regions. The volume fraction f _n of the PC-rich phase reaches a maximum value of 0.85 at x=0.4 and decreases monotonically with increasing x (f _n=0.5, 0.3, and 0.25 at x=0.5, 0.6, and 0.7, respectively). The Tm spin-lattice relaxation in the underdoped TmBa₂Cu₄O₈ compound indicates that this sample, in contrast to oxygen-deficient TmBa₂Cu₃O_6+x , has a homogeneous composition. However, the Tm spin-spin relaxation measurements reveal two sorts of the Tm nuclear spins in Tm124, having different NMR spectra and different relaxation times T ₂. The latter result is evidence of electronic phase separation in CuO₂ phases. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 64, No. 5, 365–370 (10 September 1996) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.     

Effect of 3d metal ion doping on the structure and superconductivity of (Tl0.5Pb0.5)Sr2CaCu2O7

(Tl_0.5Pb_0.5)Sr₂Ca(Cu_2−xM_x)O₇ (M=Co, Ni and Zn) have been synthesized and investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements. X-ray diffraction patterns show that all studied samples contain the nearly single ‘1212’ phase. They crystallize in a tetragonal unit cell with a=3.8028-3.8040 Å and c=12.0748-12.1558 Å. In (Tl_0.5Pb_0.5)Sr₂Ca(Cu_2−xM_x)O₇ system (M=Co or Ni), the superconducting critical temperature T_c decreases linearly with both Co and Ni concentrations and the rate of T_c decrease is around −6.5 and −7.0 K/at%, respectively. For (Tl_0.5Pb_0.5)Sr₂Ca (Cu_2−xZn_x)O₇ system, the dependence of T_c on the Zn dopant concentration deviates from a linear behavior and the Zn substitution suppresses T_c much less (−2.5 K/at%) than the Co and Ni substitutions. The suppression in T_c in Co and Ni doped samples are attributed to the magnetic pair-breaking mechanism and the reduction in the carrier concentration. The suppression of T_c in Zn doped samples is not caused by the reduction in carrier concentration which should remain constant, but rather due to nonmagnetic pair-breaking mechanism induced by disorder as well as the filling of the local Cu d_x²−y² state due to the full d band of Zn ions.