Superconductivity in Sm-doped CaFe_2As_2 single crystals

In this article,the Sm-doping single crystals Ca_(1-x)Sm_xFe_2As_2(x = 0 ~0.2) were prepared by the Ca As flux method,and followed by a rapid quenching treatment after the high temperature growth.The samples were characterized by structural,resistive,and magnetic measurements.The successful Sm-substitution was revealed by the reduction of the lattice parameter c,due to the smaller ionic radius of Sm~(3+)than Ca~(2+).Superconductivity was observed in all samples with onset T_c varying from 27 K to 44 K upon Sm-doping.The coexistence of a collapsed phase transition and the superconducting transition was found for the lower Sm-doping samples.Zero resistivity and substantial superconducting volume fraction only happen in higher Sm-doping crystals with the nominal x 0.10.The doping dependences of the c-axis length and onset T_c were summarized.The high-T_c observed in these quenched crystals may be attributed to simultaneous tuning of electron carriers doping and strain effect caused by lattice reduction of Sm-substitution.     

Superconductivity in Undoped CaFe_2As_2 Single Crystals

Single crystals of undoped CaFe_2As_2 are grown by an FeAs self-flux method,and the crystals are quenched in ice-water rapidly after high-temperature growth.The quenched crystal undergoes a collapsed tetragonal structural phase transition around 80 K revealed by the temperature-dependent x-ray diffraction measurements.Superconductivity below 25 K is observed in the collapsed phase by resistivity and magnetization measurements.The isothermal magnetization curve measured at 2K indicates that this is a typical type-Ⅱ superconductor.For comparison,we systematically characterize the properties of the furnace-cooled,quenched,and post-annealed single crystals,and find strong internal crystallographic strain existing in the quenched samples,which is the key for the occurrence of superconductivity in the undoped CaFe_2As_2 single crystals.     

Superconducting anisotropy and vortex pinning in CaKFe_4As_4 and KCa_2Fe_4As_4F_2

The vortex pinning determining the current carrying capacity of a superconductor is an important property to the applications of superconducting materials.For layered superconductors,the vortex pinning can be enhanced by a strong interlayer interaction in accompany with a suppression of superconducting anisotropy,which remains to be investigated in iron based superconductors(FeSCs)with the layered structure.Here,based on the transport and magnetic torque measurements,we experimentally investigate the vortex pinning in two bilayer FeSCs,CaKFe₄As₄(Fe1144)and KCa₂Fe₄As4F₂(Fe12442),and compare their superconducting anisotropyγ.While the anisotropyγ≈3 for Fe1144 is much smaller thanγ≈15 in Fe12442 around Tc,a higher flux pinning energy as evidenced by a higher critical current density is found in Fe1144,as compared with the case of Fe12442.In combination with the literature data of Ba_0.72K_0.28Fe2As₂ and Nd Fe As_O0.82F_0.18,we reveal an anti-correlation between the pinning energy and the superconducting anisotropy in these Fe SCs.Our results thus suggest that the interlayer interaction can not be neglected when considering the vortex pinning in Fe SCs.     

NMR and NQR studies on transition-metal arsenide superconductors LaRu_2As_2,KCa_2Fe_4As_4F_2,and A_2Cr_3As_3

We report ~(75)As-nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) and nuclear quadrupole resonance(NQR) measurements on transition-metal arsenides LaRu_2As_2, KCa_2Fe_4As_4F_2, and A_2Cr_3As_3. In the superconducting state of La Ru_2As_2, a Hebel–Slichter coherence peak is found in the temperature dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T1 just below Tc, which indicates that LaRu_2As_2 is a full-gap superperconducor. For KCa_2Fe_4As_4F_2, antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations are observed in the normal state. We further find that the anisotropy rate RAF= Tc1/Tab1 is small and temperature independent,implying that the low energy spin fluctuations are isotropic in spin space. Our results indicate that KCa_2Fe_4As_4F_2 is a moderately overdoped iron-arsenide high-temperature superconductor with a stoichiometric composition. For A_2Cr_3As_3(A = Na, K, Rb, Cs), we calculate the electric field gradient by first-principle method and assign the ~(75)As-NQR peaks to two crystallographically different As sites, paving the way for further NMR investigation.     

Optical study of charge dynamics in CaCo_2As_2

We present an infrared spectroscopy study of charge dynamics in CaCo_2As_2 single crystal. In this material, the optical conductivity can be described by two Drude components with different scattering rates(1/τ): a broad incoherent background and a narrow Drude component. By monitoring the temperature dependence, we find that only the narrow Drude component is temperature-dependent and determines the transport properties. Especially a Fermi liquid behavior of carriers is revealed by the T~2 behavior in the dc resistivity ρ_n and scattering rate 1/τ_n, indicating a coherent nature of quasiparticles in the narrow Drude subsystem.     

Negative Magnetoresistance in Antiferromagnetic Topological Insulator EuSn_2As_2

The measurements of magnetization,longitudinal and Hall resistivities are carried out on the intrinsic antiferromagnetic(AFM) topological insulator ElSn_2 As_2.It is confirmed that our ElSn_2 As_2 crystal is a heavily hole doping A-type AFM metal with the Neel temperature T_N=24 K,with a metamagnetic transition from an AFM to a ferromagnetic(FIM) phase occurring at a certain critical magnetic Held for the different Held orientations.Meanwhile,we also find that the carrier concentration does not change with the evolution of magnetic order,indicating that the weak interaction between the localized magnetic moments from Eu~(2+)4f~7 orbits and the electronic states near the Fermi level.Although the quantum anomalous Hall effect(AHE) is not observed in our crystals,it is found that a relatively large negative magnetoresistance (-13%) emerges in the AFM phase,and exhibits an exponential dependence upon magnetic Held,whose microscopic origin is waiting to be clarified in future research.     

Magnetoresistivity and filamentary superconductivity in nickel-doped BaFe_2As_2

We present magnetotransport studies on a series of BaFe_(2-x)Ni_xAs_2(0.03 ≤ x ≤ 0.10) single crystals. In the underdoped(x = 0.03) non-superconducting sample, the temperature-dependent resistivity exhibits a peak at 22 K, which is associated with the onset of filamentary superconductivity(FLSC). FLSC is suppressed by an external magnetic field in a manner similar to the suppression of bulk superconductivity in an optimally-doped(x = 0.10) compound, suggesting the same possible origin as the bulk superconductivity. Our magnetoresistivity measurements reveal that FLSC persists up to the optimal doping and disappears in the overdoped regime where the long-range antiferromagnetic order is completely suppressed, pointing to a close relation between FLSC and the magnetic order.     

激光制冷中能级间距的选择

激光制冷问题的核心是材料的选择。荧光中心能级的间距是其中的一个关键指标。确定合理的能级间距有助于选择合适的激光制冷材料。能级间距决定了对激光制冷至关重要的两个因素:量子效率和无辐射跃迁速率。如果单纯地从制冷功率的角度来看,能级间距越大量子效率越高,也越有利于荧光制冷。但当能级间距宽到某一值后,制冷功率基本上保持不变。如果从热一光转换效率的观点来考察激光制冷的效率问题,能级间距宽度的合理取值就应该小得多。如果在选择激光制冷材料时,确定制冷功率具有第一位的重要性,那么,能级间距选择在5000cm^-1左右的宽度是比较合适的、这不仅可以确定较大的热－光转换效率,同时也基本上保证了很高的制冷功率。     

Long-Time Magnetic Relaxation in Antiferromagnetic Topological Material EuCd_2As_2

Magnetic topological materials have attracted much attention due to the correlation between topology and magnetism. Recent studies suggest that EuCd_2As_2 is an antiferromagnetic topological material. Here by carrying out thorough magnetic, electrical and thermodynamic property measurements, we discover a long-time relaxation of the magnetic susceptibility in EuCd_2As_2. The(001) in-plane magnetic susceptibility at 5 K is found to continuously increase up to ~10% over the time of ~14 hours. The magnetic relaxation is anisotropic and strongly depends on the temperature and the applied magnetic field. These results will stimulate further theoretical and experimental studies to understand the origin of the relaxation process and its effect on the electronic structure and physical properties of the magnetic topological materials.     

Ultra-broadband modulation instability gain characteristics in As_2S_3 and As_2Se_3 chalcogenide glass photonic crystal fiber

Based on the designed As_2Se_3 and As_2S_3 chalcogenide glass photonic crystal fiber(PCF) and the scalar nonlinear Schrdinger equation,the effects of pump power and wavelength on modulation instability(MI) gain are comprehensively studied in the abnormal dispersion regime of chalcogenide glass PCF.Owing to high Raman effect and high nonlinearity,ultra-broadband MI gain is obtained in chalcogenide glass PCF.By choosing the appropriate pump parameter,the MI gain bandwidth reaches 2738 nm for the As_2Se_3 glass PCF in the abnormal-dispersion region,while it is 1961 nm for the As_2S_3 glass PCF.     

Study of glass transition kinetics of As_2S_3 and As_2Se_3 by ultrafast differential scanning calorimetry

Ultrafast differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) was employed to investigate the glass transition kinetics of As_2S_3 and As_2Se_3 . By using the Arrhenius method, a fragility index of～22 can be estimated in both As_2S_3 and As_2Se_3 .However, when the scanning rate is more than 200 K·s~(-1), non-Arrhenius behavior can be observed in such "strong" liquids where the Vogel–Fulcher method is more accurate to describe the glass transition kinetics. The fragilities of As_2S_3 and As_2Se_3 glasses are thus extrapolated as 28.3±1.94 and 23.7±1.80, respectively. This indicates that, As_2Se_3 glass has a better structural stability and it is a better candidate for device applications.     

Two-coupled structural modulations in charge-density-wave state of SrPt_2As_2 superconductor

Transmission electron microscopy(TEM) study of SrPt2As2 reveals two incommensurate modulations appearing in the charge-density-wave(CDW) state below TCDW≈ 470 K. These two structural modulations can be well explained in terms of condensations of two-coupled phonon modes with wave vectors of q1= 0.62a*on the a*–b*plane and q2=0.23a*on the a*–c*plane. The atomic displacements occur along the b-axis direction for q1and along the c-axis direction for q2, respectively. Moreover, the correlation between q1and q2can be generally written as q1=(q2+ a*)/2 in the CDW state, suggesting the presence of essential coupling between q1and q2. A small fraction of Ir doping on the Pt site in Sr(Pt1-xIrx)2As2(x ≤ 0.06) could moderately change these CDW modulations and also affect their superconductivities.     

一维自旋轨道模型中自旋-轨道能隙产生机理分析

讨论考虑洪特耦合的两带赫伯德模型得到的一维自旋轨道模型中自旋-轨道能隙的产生.运用SU(4)赝费米子表象下的平均场理论,计算求得价键序参数、准粒子激发谱能隙和自旋、轨道密度-密度关联函数随系统耦合参数变化的结果.随洪特耦合相互作用由零开始增强,系统激发谱能隙逐渐打开,并且系统在参数取值为J₁/J₂=1/3处由具有阻错的无序状态相变到自旋铁磁有序和轨道反铁磁有序的状态.     

The q-Deformed Energy Gap Equation in SLq(2) Superconductive Thermodynamic Model

The q-deformed energy gap equations in SL_q(2) superconductive thermodynamic model are derived by using quantum group method.     

Raman scattering studies on the collapsed phase of CaCo_2As_2

In this work,Raman scattering measurements have been performed on the collapsed phase CaCo_2As_2 crystals.At least 8 Raman modes were observed at room temperature though CaCo_2As_2 is structurally similar to other 122 compounds like BaFe_2As_2.Two Raman modes are assigned to the intrinsic A_(1g)and B_(1g)of this material system respectively.The other ones are considered to originate from the local vibrations relevant to cobalt vacancies.Careful polarized measurements allow us to clearly resolve the four-fold symmetry of the B_(1g)mode,which put strong constraints on possible point group symmetries of the system with Co vacancies.The temperature-dependent measurements demonstrate that the anomalies in both frequency and width of the B_(1g)mode occur around Neel temperature T_N.The anomalies are considered to be related to the gap opening near the magnetic transition.The study may shed light on the structural and magnetic changes and their correlations with superconductivity in 122 systems.     

An Energy Gap for Yang-Mills Connections

Consider a Yang-Mills connection over a Riemann manifold M = M ⁿ , n ≥ 3, where M may be compact or complete. Then its energy must be bounded from below by some positive constant, if M satisfies certain conditions, unless the connection is flat.     

Material Studies in a High Energy Spark Gap

The chemical interactions and physical processes occurring in a high energy spark gap with different combinations of gases, electrodes, and insulators were studied. The electrodes studied were graphite and a tungsten-copper composite; the insulators were Lexan and Blue Nylon; and the gases were N2 and SF6. The gas composition was monitored with a mass spectrometer. Spectroscopic techniques were used to observe the arc channel. The electrode surfaces were studied with several surface analysis techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, Auger electron spectroscopy, and X-ray fluorescence. The breakdown voltage distribution was examined for different material combinations. The plasma chemistry processes involving the gas, electrode, and insulator materials were found to affect the voltage self-breakdown distribution. The detailed surface analysis gave information about the nature of the chemical processes. The presence of Blue Nylon seemed to have a more adverse effect than Lexan and graphite seemed to have a narrower voltage distribution than the tungsten-copper composite.     

Magnetism variation of the compressed antiferromagnetic topological insulator EuSn_2As_2

We report a comprehensive high-pressure study,up to 21.1 GPa,on the antiferromagnetic topological insulator EuSn_2As_2 achieved through synchrotron X-ray diffraction,Raman scattering,electrical resistance,magnetic resistance,and Hall transport measurements in combination with first-principles calculations.The Néel temperatures determined from resistance are increased from (24±1) to (77±8) K under pressure,which is a result of enhanced magnetic exchange couplings between Eu~(2+)ions yielded by our first-principles calculations.The negative magnetoresistance of EuSn_2As_2 persists to higher temperatures accordingly.However,the enhancement of the observed Néel temperatures deviates from the calculations above 10.0 GPa.In addition,the magnitude of the magnetoresistance,Hall coefficients,and charge carrier densities show abrupt changes between 6.9 and 10.0 GPa.The abrupt changes likely originate from a pressure-induced valence change of Eu ions from a divalent state to a divalent and trivalent mixed state or are related to the structural transition revealed by Raman scattering measurements.Our results provide insight into magnetism variation in EuSn_2As_2 and similar antiferromagnetic topological insulators under pressure.     

The Binding Energy, Spin－Excitation Gap, and Charged Gap in the Boson－Fermion Model

In this paper, by applying a simplified version of Lieb‘s spin-reflection-positivity method, which was recently developed by one of us [G.S. Tian and J.G. Wang, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 35 (2002) 941], we investigate some general properties of the boeon-fermion Hamiltonlan, which has been widely used as a phenomenological model to describe the real-space pairing of electrons. On a mathematically rigorous basis, we prove that for either negative or positive couping V, which represents the spontaneous decay and recombination process between boson and fermion in the model, the pairing energy of electrons is nonzero. Furthermore, we also show that the spin-excitation gap of the boson-fermion Hamiltonian is always larger than its charged gap, as predicted by the pre-palred electron theory.     

The Binding Energy, Spin-Excitation Gap, and Charged Gap in the Boson-Fermion Model

In this paper, by applying a simplified version of Lieb ‘s spin-refleetion-positivity method, which was recentlydeveloped by one of us [G.S. Tian and J.G. Wang, J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 35 (2002) 941], we investigate some generalproperties of the boson-fermion Hamiltonian, which has been widely used as a phenomenological model to describe thereal-space pairing of electrons. On a mathematically rigorous basis, we prove that for either negative or positive couplingV, which represents the spontaneous decay and recombination process between boson and fermion in the model, thepairing energy of electrons is nonzero. Furthermore, we also show that the spin-excitation gap of the boson-fermionHamiltonian is always larger than its charged gap, as predicted by the pre-paired electron theory.