Interaction and localization effects in two-dimensional film of superconductor at T > Tc

The magnetic field and temperature dependence of the resistance of thin Al films have been investigated at T > T_c (T_c - superconducting transition temperature). The results are explained on the basis of localization and electron-electron interaction theory in two-dimensional disordered systems. The temperature dependence of inelastic scattering time and interaction constant for such films is found.     

The effect ofs-d exchange interaction on the nuclear spin relaxation in dilute alloys

The effect ofs-d exchange interaction on the relaxation rate of host nuclear spins has been investigated in dilute magnetic alloys. The leading logarithmic corrections to the Korringa relaxation rate have been calculated together with some lower order logarithmic terms to avoid a divergence at the Kondo temperature (T _k ). The obtained formulae are valid at and aboveT _k and in weak or strong magnetic fields (ω _i ?T or ω _i ?T, respectively, where ω _i is the Larmor frequency of the impurity spin). In second order of the perturbation theory our result reproduces that obtained by Giovannini and Heeger apart from a numerical factor of the order of unity and from some contribution of order (J/? _f )².     

Pseudogap-state superconductivity in a “hot-point” model: Gor’kov equations

The specific features of the superconducting state (with s and d pairing) are considered in terms of a pseudogap state caused by short-range order fluctuations of the “dielectric” type, namely, antiferromagnetic (spin density wave) or charge density wave fluctuations, in a model of the Fermi surface with “hot points.” A set of recurrent Gor’kov equations is derived with inclusion of all Feynman diagrams of a perturbation expansion in the interaction between an electron and short-range order fluctuations causing strong scattering near hot points. The influence of nonmagnetic impurities on superconductivity in such a pseudogap state is analyzed. The critical temperature for the superconducting transition is determined, and the effect of the effective pseudogap width, correlation length of short-range-order fluctuations, and impurity scattering frequency on the temperature dependence of the energy gap is investigated.     

Superconductivity in the pseudogap state in the hot spot model: The influence of impurities and the phase diagram

We analyze the peculiarities of the superconducting state (s- and d-wave paring) in the model of the pseudogap state induced by Heisenberg antiferromagnetic short-range order spin fluctuations. The model is based on the pattern of strong scattering near hot spots at the Fermi surface. The analysis is based on the microscopic derivation of the Ginzburg-Landau expansion with the inclusion of all Feynman diagrams of perturbation theory for the interaction of an electron with short-range order fluctuations and in the ladder approximation for the scattering by normal (nonmagnetic) impurities. We determine the dependence of the critical superconducting transition temperature and other superconductor characteristics on the pseudogap parameters and the degree of impurity scattering. We show that the characteristic shape of the phase diagram for high-temperature superconductors can be explained in terms of the model under consideration.     

Low-temperature transport properties of chemical solution deposited polycrystalline La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 ferromagnetic films under a magnetic field

Polycrystalline La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ (LSMO) films were prepared on SiO₂/Si (001) substrates by chemical solution deposition technique. Electrical and magnetic properties of LSMO were investigated. A minimum phenomenon in resistivity is found at the low temperature (<50 K) under magnetic fields from 0 T to 3 T. Kondo-like spin dependent scattering, which includes both spin polarization and grain boundary tunneling, was observed in the low-temperature electrical transport for the LSMO polycrystalline films. The temperature-dependent resistivity at low temperatures can be well fitted in the framework of elastic scattering, electron-electron (e-e) interaction, Kondo-like spin dependent scattering, and electron-phonon (e-ph) interaction.     

Effect of Fermi surface nesting on resonant spin excitations in Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe2As2

We report inelastic neutron scattering measurements of the resonant spin excitations in Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe(2)As(2) over a broad range of electron band filling. The fall in the superconducting transition temperature with hole doping coincides with the magnetic excitations splitting into two incommensurate peaks because of the growing mismatch in the hole and electron Fermi surface volumes, as confirmed by a tight-binding model with s(±)-symmetry pairing. The reduction in Fermi surface nesting is accompanied by a collapse of the resonance binding energy and its spectral weight, caused by the weakening of electron-electron correlations.     

Closed-form quantal description of inelastic heavy ion scattering

The amplitude for inelastic heavy ion scattering, given by the distorted-wave theory for excitation of low-lying collective states, is evaluated in closed form. Use is made of the Austern-Blair relation and of other approximations appropriate for strongly absorptive interaction to express the inelastic partial-wave amplitude entirely in terms of the elastic S-matrix elements in the initial and final channels. The resulting formulae display explicitly the various contributions to the transition amplitude, whose superposition gives rise to the variety of interference patterns observable in the angular distributions and excitation functions of inelastic heavy ion scattering. It is shown that, as for elastic scattering, the dominant mechanism in inelastic heavy ion collisions near and above the Coulomb barrier is diffractive scattering of Fresnel type.     

Influence of triplet states on the spectrum of collective spin-polaron excitations in a 2D kondo lattice

The normal and superconducting phases of the ensemble of spin polarons in a two-dimensional Kondo lattice have been considered under the conditions when the hopping integral is comparable to the s-d exchange interaction energy. The polaron excitation spectrum and the superconducting transition temperature have been found taking into account upper triplet states. The change in the concentration dependence of the critical temperature of the transition to the superconducting phase with the relation between the hopping integral and the integral of the s-d exchange coupling has been analyzed.     

Why could electron spin resonance be observed in a heavy fermion Kondo lattice?

We develop a theoretical basis for understanding the spin relaxation processes in Kondo lattice systems with heavy fermions as experimentally observed by electron spin resonance (ESR). The Kondo effect leads to a common energy scale that regulates a logarithmic divergence of different spin kinetic coefficients and supports a collective spin motion of the Kondo ions with conduction electrons. We find that the relaxation rate of a collective spin mode is greatly reduced due to a mutual cancellation of all the divergent contributions even in the case of the strongly anisotropic Kondo interaction. The contribution to the ESR linewidth caused by the local magnetic field distribution is subject to motional narrowing supported by ferromagnetic correlations. The developed theoretical model successfully explains the ESR data of YbRh₂Si₂ in terms of their dependence on temperature and magnetic field.     

The analysis of elastic and inelastic scattering of alpha particles using a folding potential

The elastic and inelastic scattering of alpha particles from Cd and Te isotopes are analysed in terms of a single folding model in which the scattering potential is approximated by folding an effectiveα-nucleon interaction into the mass distribution of the target nuclei. Excellent fits are obtained to the elastic scattering data. However, to obtain equally good fits to inelastic scattering data arbitrary adjustments of the effective interaction are required.     

Neutron scattering of iron-based superconductors

Low-energy spin excitations have been studied on polycrystalline LaFeAsO_1?xF_x samples by inelastic neutron scattering. The Q-integrated dynamical spin susceptibility χ″(ω) of the superconducting samples is found to be comparable to that of the magnetically ordered parent sample. On the other hand, χ″(ω) almost vanishes at x = 0.158, where the superconducting transition temperature T_c is suppressed to 7 K. In addition, χ″(ω) in optimally doped LaFeAsO_0.918F_0.082 with T_c = 29 K exhibits a spin resonance mode. The peak energy, E_res, when scaled by k_BT_c is similar to the value of about 4.7 reported in other high-T_c iron-based superconductors. This result suggests that there is intimate relationship between the dynamical spin susceptibility and high-T_c superconductivity in iron-based superconductors, and is consistent with a nesting condition between Fermi surfaces at the Γ and M points.     

Superconducting proximity effect in the presence of strong spin scattering

We report measurements of the four terminal temperature dependent resistance of narrow Au wires implanted with 100 ppm Fe impurities in proximity to superconducting Al films. The wires show an initial decrease in resistance as the temperature is lowered through the superconducting transition of the Al films, but then show an increase in resistance as the temperature is lowered further. In contrast to the case of pure Au wires in contact with a superconducting film, the resistance at the lowest temperatures rises above the normal state resistance. Analysis of the data shows that, in addition to contributions from magnetic scattering and electron-electron interactions, the temperature dependent resistivity shows a substantial contribution from the superconducting proximity effect, which exists even in the presence of strong spin scattering.     

Origin of Bragg-Coulomb high-Tc superconductivity Green''s function and diagram method for umklapp e-e scattering

The Green's function method and diagram technique for umklapp electron-electron scattering mediated by the screened Coulomb interaction in layered anisotropic conductors are examined. Gor'kov-type equations and their general solution for anomalous and normal temperature Green's functions are derived taking into account umklapp scattering of all orders. Explicit equations for dielectric and superconducting order parameters, including coexistent Bragg and BCS pairing, are found. The possibility of the first-order phase transition to the superconducting state is discussed. The theory elucidates the origin of Bragg-Coulomb high-T_c superconductivity, proposed by the authors.     

Anomalous magnetoresistivity of the superconducting Zr<Subscript>80</Subscript>Pt<Subscript>20</Subscript> system in quasicrystalline and amorphous states

The binary icosahedral Zr₈₀Pt₂₀ system has been synthesized during the crystallization of an initially amorphous alloy fabricated by melt quenching on the surface of a rotating copper wheel. The temperature and field dependences of the electrical resistivity and magnetoresistivity of the icosahedral and amorphous phases are studied and compared in a temperature range of 1.5–300 K and magnetic fields up to 8 T. Superconductivity has been detected for the first time in the icosahedral and amorphous phases of the Zr₈₀Pt₂₀ system. For both phases, the magnetoresistivity is positive and depends anomalously on the magnetic field. The anomalous behavior of magnetoresistivity is satisfactorily described by the theory of weak localization and electron-electron interaction in three-dimensional disordered systems, which takes into account electron scattering by superconducting fluctuations. The absolute values and temperature dependences of the electron-electron interaction constant and the times of inelastic scattering of conduction electrons are estimated for the icosahedral and amorphous phases of this binary system.     

Estimates of the s-d interaction in CdCr from superconducting transition temperature and magnetic susceptibility

Cr has a well developed magnetic moment in a Cd host and the superconducting transition temperature, T_c, is strongly depressed. We estimate a spin, S = 1.5 leading to a depression rate - $\text{dT}{}_{\mathrm{c}}\text{dc}\text{= 140 K/at.\%}$. The s-d interaction strength is estimated to 0.5–0.7 eV leading to a Kondo temperature in the milliKelvin range.     

Metal-insulator transitions between quantum Hall plateaus

Metal-insulator transitions between quantum Hall (QHE) plateaus due to inelastic scattering are discussed in a smooth random potential within the framework of semiclassical approximation. Inelastic scattering rates due to both electron-phonon and electron-electron interactions are calculated. The electron-phonon scattering rate is dramatically influenced by a strong magnetic field and is found to be linear in temperature for a wide range of temperatures, corresponding to an effective reduction of the Debye temperature. The electron-electron scattering rate is still proportional to the temperature squared. Applying these results to the temperature scaling exponent κ for the width of the transition region between QHE plateaus, we argue that is dictated by the inelastic scattering rate and the percolation length, instead of the localization length.     

Determination of inelastic critical scattering at a first order phase transition in the CDW structure of 1TTaS2 using Mössbauer diffraction

We report Mössbauer diffraction measurements of the temperature dependence of the elastic and inelastic intensities at the (100) Bragg reflection in 1TTaS₂. These measurements use a newly developed microfoil conversion electron (MICE) spectrometry. They cover the temperature range from 19°C to 100°C, bracketing the first order 1T₁ to 1T₂ phase transition in the charge density wave structure at 79°C. The elastic Bragg peak shows a discontinuity at the phase transition as reported by Moret and Colella. The inelastic scattering shows a significant peak near the phase transition. This peak is interpreted as inelastic critical scattering at this first order phase transition.