Electron-phonon scattering in potassium at high magnetic fields

We have measured the temperature dependence of both the zero-field resistivity and the transverse magnetoresistance of polycrystalline potassium wires (?(300 K)/?(4.2 K)=140 to 6000) in fieldsH?35 kG and at temperaturesT?4.2 K. Our principal findings are: 1) The presence of a large magnetic fieldH=35 kG does not alter the temperature dependence of ? from that observed atH=0; below 4.2 K theT-dependent part of the resistivities,_?T (H=0) and_?T (H=35 kG), fit well to the function exp (?Θ*/T) with the same Θ*=23K. 2) Deviations from Matthiessen's rule are significantly reduced in a strong field so that the magnitude of_?T (H=0) approaches that of_?T (H=35 kG) as sample purity decreases. 3) The slope of the high-field linear magnetoresistance increases slightly (?8%) from 1.5 K to 4.2 K. We attribute the exponential temperature dependence of_?T (H) to the freezing out of electron-phonon umklapp processes as has been shown for the zero-field resistivity. The reduction in deviations from Matthiessen's rule at high fields can be understood within semiclassical theory, but the latter cannot explain the failure of_?T (H) to saturate at high fields. A proposal by Young that electron-phonon umklapp scattering may contribute aT-dependent high-field linear magnetoresistance in potassium is considered.     

Surface superconductivity and twinning-plane superconductivity in aluminum

The critical supercooling field H _sc is measured in aluminum single crystals and twinned bicrystals in a temperature range slightly below T _c0 (T _c0 ? 0.055 K < T < T _c0), where T _c0 is the critical superconducting transition temperature. It is found that, even in this small temperature range, the H _sc(H _c) dependence, which is considered to be identical to the H _c3(H _c) dependence for single crystals, is substantially nonlinear. The H _sc(H _c) dependences of the twinned bicrystals and single crystals are shown to be significantly different. The qualitative features of the phase diagram of the twinned aluminum bicrystals coincide with those of the phase diagram of twinning-plane superconductivity obtained earlier for tin in [1]. These findings allow the conclusion that the phenomenon of twinning-plane superconductivity also exists in face-centered cubic crystal lattices.     

Superconducting Properties of Indium Nanostructured in Pores of Thin Films of SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Microspheres

Samples of a superconducting indium nanocomposite based on a thin-film porous dielectric matrix prepared by the Langmuir–Blodgett method are obtained for the first time, and their low-temperature electrophysical and magnetic properties are studied. Films with thickness b ≤ 5 μm were made from silicon dioxide spheres with diameter D = 200 and 250 nm; indium was introduced into the pores of the films from the melt at a pressure of P ≤ 5 kbar. Thus, a three-dimensional weakly ordered structure of indium nanogranules was created in the pores, forming a continuous current-conducting grid. Measurements of the temperature and magnetic field dependences of the resistance and magnetic moment of the samples showed an increase in the critical parameters of the superconductivity state of nanostructured indium (critical temperature T_c ≤ 3.62 K and critical magnetic field H_c at T = 0 K H_c(0) ≤ 1700 Oe) with respect to the massive material (T_c = 3.41 K, H_c(0) = 280 Oe). In the dependence of the resistance on temperature and the magnetic field, a step transition to the superconductivity state associated with the nanocomposite structure was observed. A pronounced hysteresis M(H) is observed in the dependence of the magnetic moment M of the nanocomposite on the magnetic field at T < T_c, caused by the multiply connected structure of the current-conducting indium grid. The results obtained are interpreted taking into account the dimensional dependence of the superconducting characteristics of the nanocomposite.     

Non-planar spin texture driven dissipation in a ferromagnet-superconductor bilayer

We report the observation of a pronounced dip in the in-plane magnetic field (H_∥) dependence of the critical current density J_c(H) and a peak in resistance R(H) of a NbN-HoNi₅ bilayer at temperatures below the magnetic ordering temperature (T_Curie ≈ 3.5 K) of HoNi₅, which is lower than the onset temperature (≈9 K) of superconductivity in the NbN layer. The extrema in J_c(H) and R(H) appear at fields much below the upper critical field of NbN. We attribute these features to a coupling between localized out-of-plane moments present in the magnetic film and Pearl vortices of the superconducting layer. A spin re-orientation transition of the localized moments by H_∥ breaks this coupling, leading to the observed excess dissipation.     

Superconductivity in the graphite-potassium intercalation compound C8K

Superconducting properties of pseudo-single crystals of C₈K were investigated by low frequency a.c. magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity measurements. The measured values of T_c were between 128 and 198 mK for 13 samples. Measurements of the superconducting transition in a magnetic field revealed a remarkable anisotropy, such that if θ is defined as the angle between the applied magnetic field and the layer plane, type II superconductivity was observed for 0° ≦ ∣ θ ∣ ? 25° and type I superconductivity for 25° ? ∣ θ ∣≦ 90°. The angular dependences of H_c2 and H_c3 were fairly well-explained by the effective mass model.     

Superconductivity of (Sn1−z Pbz)1−x InxTe alloys

The temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity of (Sn_1?z Pb_z)_1?x In_xTe alloys with different concentrations of lead (z=0–0.60) and indium (x=0.03–0.20) were studied at temperatures T=0.4–4.2 K in magnetic fields from zero to H=15 kOe. A resistivity drop of no less than three-four orders of magnitude was observed in this range of alloy compositions. Application of a magnetic field above a critical level resulted in a recovery of the sample resistivity to the original value. The observed resistivity drop is identified with a superconducting transition. The critical parameters of the superconducting transition (T _c and H _c2) were determined at the drop to one half the normal resistivity level. Experimental dependences of the critical supercon-ducting-transition temperature T _c and of the second critical magnetic field H _c2 on the contents of lead (z) and indium (x) were measured. The data obtained confirm a strong localization of the In impurity states and are evidence of the extrinsic nature of superconductivity in the class of materials under study. It was established that as the Pb content in (Sn_1?z Pb_z)_1?x In_xTe increases, T _c and H _c2 decrease as the Fermi level E _F (fixed in the In impurity resonance band) leaves the Δ extremum and the superconductivity breaks down when E _F leaves the LΣ saddle point in the valence-band energy spectrum.     

Observation of a transition from BCS to HTSC-like superconductivity in Ba1 − x KxBiO3 single crystals

The temperature dependences of the upper critical field B _c2(T) and surface impedance Z(T) = R(T) + iX(T) have been measured in Ba_{1 ? x} K_xBiO₃ single crystals with transition temperatures 6 ≤ T _c ≤ 32 K (0.6 > x > 0.4). A transition from the BCS to an unusual type of superconductivity has been revealed: B _c2(T) curves of the crystals with T _c > 20 K have positive curvature (as in some HTSCs), and those of the crystals with T _c < 15 K described by the usual Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg (WHH) formula. The R(T) and X(T) dependences of the crystals with T _c ≈ 32 K and T _c ≈ 11 K in the temperature range T ? T _c are linear (as in HTSCs) and exponential (BCS), respectively. The experimental results are discussed using the extended saddle point model by Abrikosov.     

Die kritischen Felder von supraleitenden Indium-Blei-Legierungen

Resistance and magnetization measurements have been made onα-phase Indium Lead alloys in a longitudinal magnetic field. The results have been analyzed in terms of the Ginzburg-Landau-Abrikosov-Gorkov theory and the parameter? of the alloys has been determined. Alloys with concentrations greater than 4.2 at % Pb are superconductors of the second kind. The temperature variation of? depends on the mean free path and is somewhat less pronounced for the more dilute alloys. This behaviour is not adequately described by the recent theories. The phenomena of surface superconductivity and its critical fieldH _c3 are in good agreement with the theory ofSaint-James andde Gennes except for the constantC ₀=H _c3/H _c2 which for all the alloys studied is about 10% higher than the theoretical value 1.694. Electrolytic deposition of Cu on the surface reducesH _c3 and givesC _cu=1.15 and excludes the alternative explanation of surface filaments. The concentration dependences ofT _c andγ show irregularities at 7 at % Pb. They can be explained by the touching of the Fermi surface with the Brillouin zone boundary.     

Effect of temperature and magnetic field on the evolution of a vortex structure of the granular YBa2Cu3O7 − δ high-temperature superconductor

The temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity ρ(T) _{H = const} have been measured in external magnetic fields H _ext (0 ≤ H _ext ≤ 1420 Oe) at temperatures ranging from 70 to 273 K for samples of the granular YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 ? δ} high-temperature superconductor (HTSC). Cooling of the samples to the minimum temperature T _min (70 K) has been performed in external magnetic fields (FC mode) and in the absence of a magnetic field (ZFC mode). Moreover, the dependences ρ(T) _{H = 0} for samples cooled in the FC mode have been measured in a zero field. The curves ρ(T)H = const have been converted into isotherms of the magnetore-sistance ρ(H _ext) _{T = const}. A comparative analysis of the specific features in the behavior of the curves ρ(H) _{T = const} for samples with different “magnetic prehistories” has made it possible to elucidate the nature and mechanisms of the influence of the particular scenario of the magnetic treatment of granular HTSCs on the behavior of their galvanomagnetic properties. The temperature dependences of the critical magnetic fields of superconducting grains (H _c1g , H _c2g ) and Josephson weak links (H _c2J ) have been determined, and the H-T phase diagrams of granular YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 ? δ} HTSCs have been recovered.     

Spin correlations in Ni-Mn-Ga

Results of measuring small-angle neutron scattering and neutron depolarization in a Ni_49.1Mn_29.4Ga_21.5 single crystal in the temperature range 15<T<400 K and in the range of magnetic fields 0<H<4.5 kOe are presented. The characteristic temperatures of the alloy were found to be as follows: T _C=373.7 K and the martensite transition temperature T _m=301–310 K. The magnetic critical scattering at T _C and the scattering at T<T _C were adequately described by the relationship I _m=A(q ²+κ²)^?2 (q is the transferred wave vector and R _c=1/κ is the correlation radius), and the temperature dependences of the A and R _c scattering parameters were determined. Left-right asymmetry was observed at 150<T< T _m in the scattering of neutrons polarized along or opposite to the applied field. This asymmetry was due to the inelastic magnetic interaction of neutrons in the sample. The magnetization of the alloy at T _m, critical scattering at T?T _C, anomalies in scattering, and the softening of magnetic excitations at 150 <T<T _m are discussed.     

Scaling behavior of the Hall coefficient of Si:P at the metal-insulator transition

Measurements of the Hall coefficient R _H (T, B) of Si:P with P concentration N between 3.54 and 7.0·10¹⁸ cm^?3 are reported for the temperature range 0.04 K ≤ T ≤ 4K and in magnetic fields up to 7 T. Even far above the metal-insulator transition (MIT), a sign change of the temperature coefficient similar to the behavior of the conductivity σ(T) in moderate fields is not observed in R _H (T). Field and temperature dependence of R _H both increase as the MIT (at the critical concentration N _c = 3.52 · 10¹⁸ cm^?3) is approached. A careful extrapolation to T → 0 and B → 0 indicates that R _H ^?1 scales to zero as R _H ^?1 ～| N ? N _c ^μH with μ _H = (0.44 ± 0.04) in agreement with previous results.     

Superconductivity in graphite-potassium intercalation compound C8K

The critical temperature T_c, and the angular and temperature dependences of the upper critical field H_c2 in highly oriented pseudo-single crystals of C₈K have been studied by using a magnetic susceptibility measurement. The magnetic susceptibility abruptly changes around 139 mK at zero field. The angular dependence of H_c2 shows a very large anisotropy.     

Nature of the quantum spin correlations through the superconducting-normal phase transition in electron-doped superconducting Pr0.88LaCe0.12CuO4

We use neutron scattering and specific heat measurements to relate the response of the spin fluctuations and static antiferromagnetic (AF) order to the superconductivity in the electron-doped high-transition-temperature superconductor, Pr_.88LaCe_.12CuO_4−δ (PLCCO) (T_c=24 K), as the system is tuned via a magnetic field applied beyond the upper critical field (H_c2) and driven into the normal state. The strength of the collective magnetic excitation commonly termed “resonance” decreases smoothly with increasing field and vanishes in the normal state, paralleling the behavior of the superconducting condensation energy. The suppression of superconductivity is accompanied by a smooth reduction in the very low energy spin fluctuations, and the concomitant emergence of static AF order. Our results suggest an intimate connection between the resonance and the superconducting condensation energy.     

Low-temperature thermal conductivity of terbium-gallium garnet

Thermal conductivity of paramagnetic Tb₃Ga₅O₁₂ (TbGG) terbium-gallium garnet single crystals is investigated at temperatures from 0.4 to 300 K in magnetic fields up to 3.25 T. A minimum is observed in the temperature dependence κ(T) of thermal conductivity at T _min = 0.52 K. This and other singularities on the κ(T) dependence are associated with scattering of phonons from terbium ions. The thermal conductivity at T = 5.1 K strongly depends on the magnetic field direction relative to the crystallographic axes of the crystal. Experimental data are considered using the Debye theory of thermal conductivity taking into account resonance scattering of phonons from Tb³⁺ ions. Analysis of the temperature and field dependences of the thermal conductivity indicates the existence of a strong spin-phonon interaction in TbGG. The low-temperature behavior of the thermal conductivity (field and angular dependences) is mainly determined by resonance scattering of phonons at the first quasi-doublet of the electron spectrum of Tb³⁺ ion.     

Nuclear spin-lattice relaxation in the mixed state of superconducting niobium

Pulsed NMR measurements of the spin-lattice relaxation timeT ₁ have been carried out in niobium metal, in order to investigate the elementary excitation spectrum in the superconducting mixed state. The dependences ofT ₁ on temperature, external field, and mean free path were determined. The results below ～5°K were in agreement with the theory of field-induced gapless superconductivity. The best fit was obtained with a scale factor 0.35±0.2, in agreement with recent ultrasonic attenuation results. Anomalously fast relaxation was observed above ～5°K, which could not be interpreted in terms of the present theory of thermal vortex fluctuations.     

Persistence of superconductivity in magnetically ordered SmRh4B4

Measurements of the thermal conductivity and the electrical resistivity between 50 mK and 4 K in zero magnetic field and in fields exceeding the superconducting critical field H_c2 indicate the persistance of bulk superconductivity in magnetically ordered SmRh₄B₄.     

Electrical and Magnetic Properties of Pb and In Nanofilaments in Asbestos near the Superconducting Transition

Bulk nanocomposites based on superconducting metals Pb and In embedded into matrices of natural chrysotile asbestos with the nanotube internal diameter d ~ 6 nm have been fabricated and studied. The low-temperature electrical and magnetic properties of the nanocomposites demonstrate the superconducting transition with the transition critical temperature T_c ≈ (7.18 ± 0.02) K for the Pb–asbestos nanocomposite (this temperature is close to T_{c bulk} = 7.196 K for bulk Pb). The electrical measurements show that In nanofilaments in asbestos have T_c ~ 3.5–3.6 K that is higher than T_{c bulk} = 3.41 K for bulk In. It is shown that the temperature smearing of the superconducting transition in the temperature dependences of the resistance R(T) ΔT ≈ 0.06 K for the Pb–asbestos and ΔT ≈ 1.8 K for the In–asbestos are adequately described by the fluctuation Aslamazov–Larkin and Langer–Ambegaokar theories. The resistive measurements show that the critical magnetic fields of the nanofilaments extrapolated to T = 0 K are H_c(0) ~ 47 kOe for Pb in asbestos and H_c(0) ~ 1.5 kOe for In in asbestos; these values are significantly higher than the values for the bulk materials (H\(H_{\rm{c}}^{\rm{bulk}}\) = 803 Oe for Pb and \(H_{\rm{c}}^{\rm{bulk}}\) = 285 Oe for In). The results of the electrical measurements for Pb?asbestos and In–asbestos agree with the data for the magnetic-field dependences of the magnetic moment in these nanocomposites.     

Current-conducting properties of paper consisting of multiwall carbon nanotubes

Electrical conductivity σ(T) of the paper consisting of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is studied in the temperature range 4.2-295 K, and its magnetoresistivity ρ(B) at various temperatures in magnetic fields up to 9 T is analyzed. The temperature dependence of the paper electrical conductivity σ(T) exhibits two-dimensional quantum corrections to the conductivity below 10 K. The dependences of negative magnetoresistivity ρ(B) measured at various temperatures are used to estimate the wavefunction phase breakdown length L _φ of conduction electrons and to obtain the temperature dependence L _φ = constT ^?p/2, where p ≈ 1/3. Similar dependences of electrical conductivity σ(T), magnetoresistivity ρ(B), and phase breakdown length L _φ(T) are detected for the initial MWCNTs used to prepare the paper.     

Electron transport,penetration depth,and the upper critical magnetic field in ZrB<Subscript>12</Subscript> and MgB<Subscript>2</Subscript>

We report on the synthesis and measurements of the temperature dependences of the resistivity ρ, the penetration depth λ, and the upper critical magnetic field H_c2, for polycrystalline samples of dodecaboride ZrB₁₂ and diboride MgB₂. We conclude that ZrB₁₂ behaves as a simple metal in the normal state with the usual Bloch-Grüneisen temperature dependence of ρ(T) and with a rather low resistive Debye temperature T_R = 280 K (to be compared to T_R = 900 K for MgB₂). The ρ(T) and λ(T) dependences for these samples reveal a superconducting transition in ZrB₁₂ at T_c = 6.0 K. Although a clear exponential λ(T) dependence in MgB₂ thin films and ceramic pellets was observed at low temperatures, this dependence was almost linear for ZrB₁₂ below T_c/2. These features indicate an s-wave pairing state in MgB₂, whereas a d-wave pairing state is possible in ZrB₁₂. In disagreement with conventional theories, we found a linear temperature dependence, of H_c2(T) for ZrB₁₂ (H_c2(0) = 0.15 T).