Doping-induced change in the interlayer transport mechanism of Bi_{2}Sr_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{8+delta} near the superconducting transition temperature

We perform a detailed study of temperature, bias, and doping dependence of interlayer transport in the layered high temperature superconductor Bi_{2}Sr_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{8+delta}. We observe that the shape of interlayer characteristics in underdoped crystals exhibits a remarkable crossover at the superconducting transition temperature: from thermal activation-type above T_{c} to almost T-independent quantum tunneling-type below T_{c}. Our data provide insight into the nature of interlayer transport and indicate that its mechanism changes with doping: from the conventional single quasiparticle tunneling in overdoped to a progressively increasing Cooper pair contribution in underdoped crystals.     

Characterization of the current-induced resistive spots in superconducting \hbox {YBa}_{2} \hbox {Cu}_{3} \hbox {O}_{7} strips

For over a decade, ultrathin superconducting films have been developed for the detection of single photons at optical or near infrared frequencies, with competitive performances in terms of quantum efficiency, speed, and low dark count rate. In order to avoid the requirement of helium refrigeration, we consider here the use of high temperature materials, known to achieve very fast responsiveness to laser irradiation. We excite thin filaments of the cuprate \(\hbox {YBa}_{2} \hbox {Cu}_{3} \hbox {O}_{7}\) by rectangular pulses of supercritical current so as to produce either a phase-slip centre (PSC) or a normal hot spot (HS), according to the temperature and the current amplitude selected. That procedure provides information about the maximum bias current to be used in a particle detector, about the return current back to the quiescent state after excitation, and about the rate of growth and decay of a HS. We also measure the time of PSC nucleation. A unique feature of that approach is to provide the rate of heat transfer between the film and its substrate at whatever temperature, in the superconducting state, in the practical conditions of operation.     

Scanning Josephson tunneling microscopy of single-crystal Bi_{2}Sr_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{8+delta} with a conventional superconducting tip

We have performed both Josephson and quasiparticle tunneling in vacuum tunnel junctions formed between a conventional superconducting scanning tunneling microscope tip and overdoped Bi_{2}Sr_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{8+delta} single crystals. A Josephson current is observed with a peak centered at a small finite voltage due to the thermal-fluctuation-dominated superconducting phase dynamics. Josephson measurements at different surface locations yield local values for the Josephson I_{C}R_{N} product. Corresponding energy gap measurements were also performed and a surprising inverse correlation was observed between the local I_{C}R_{N} product and the local energy gap.     

Superconductivity in the doped topological insulator Cu{x}Bi{2}Se{3} under high pressure

We report a high-pressure single crystal study of the topological superconductor Cu{x}Bi{2}Se{3}. Resistivity measurements under pressure show superconductivity is depressed smoothly. At the same time the metallic behavior is gradually lost. The upper-critical field data B{c2}(T) under pressure collapse onto a universal curve. The absence of Pauli limiting and the comparison of B{c2}(T) to a polar-state function point to spin-triplet superconductivity, but an anisotropic spin-singlet state cannot be discarded completely.     

High-speed planar laser-induced fluorescence of the CH radical using the C^{ 2} \varSigma ^{ + } {-}X^{ 2} \varPi \left( {0,0} \right) band

The potential for kHz-rate or high-speed planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) of the Methylidyne (CH) radical using its \(C^{ 2} \varSigma ^{ + } {-}X^{ 2} \varPi\) (v′ = 0, v′′ = 0) band was investigated. We show that due to its strength and the excitation wavelength (~314 nm), which is conveniently generated by a dye laser operating with a red dye, the C–X(0,0) band is a good choice for CH LIF studies wherein suppression of background scattering is not required. While interference from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is small, that caused by hydroxyl (OH) can be significant. Nonetheless, the OH lines can be avoided, and we observe good CH image fidelity. Most importantly, we show that due to the favorable properties of the CH C–X band (i.e., good signal strength and convenient wavelength), it can be used for PLIF at kHz acquisition rates using a continuously pulsing laser system. This is demonstrated in laminar and turbulent CH₄-air flames with a laser system operating at 10 kHz and delivering ~0.2 mJ/pulse at 314 nm.     

A novel Sr_{3}Pb_{6}Ce_{2}Ti_{12}O_{36} ferroelectric thin film grown by pulsed laser ablation

Complex perovskite oxide ferroelectric thin films are of great technological interest because of their high dielectric constant and large tunability. In this paper, we report the structural and electrical properties of Sr \(_{3}\) Pb \(_{6}\) Ce \(_{2}\) Ti \(_{12}\) O \(_{36}\) (SPCTO) thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition. The role of oxygen pressure and substrate temperature on the microstructure, dielectric properties and leakage current mechanism of SPCTO thin films was investigated. Strong oxygen partial pressure dependence on the microcrystalline properties and leakage current conduction mechanism was observed. Both Raman spectra and C-V characteristics show a ferroelectric phase rather than paraelectric phase for the deposited thin films. Investigations on the leakage current showed that SPCTO thin films deposited at different oxygen pressure have different dominant conduction mechanism at various electric fields. The low field conduction mechanism is governed by Ohmic and space charge limited conduction mechanisms, whereas at high fields, the conduction process is dominated by Schottky emission mechanism. The dielectric constant as well as the tunability is found to increase with increase in the crystallite size.     

Stability of the Electron Cyclotron Resonance

We consider the magnetic AC Stark effect for the quantum dynamics of a single particle in the plane under the influence of an oscillating homogeneous electric and a constant perpendicular magnetic field. We prove that the electron cyclotron resonance is insensitive to impurity potentials.     

Fabrication and photoresponse of n-$$\hbox {WS}_{2}/$$p-V$$_{0.25}$$0.25W$$_{0.75}$$0.75Se$$_{2}$$2 van der Waals heterojunction

Excitation functions for \(\alpha \)-induced reactions on natural vanadium were measured in the energy range up to 20 MeV. The stacked-foil activation technique was used. The experimental results were compared with the theoretical calculations using EMPIRE-3.1, EMPIRE-3.2.2 and TENDL 2015, and with earlier experimental results. Thick target yields were calculated for the production of \(^{54}\hbox {Mn}\) and for the associated impurity \(^{52}\hbox {Mn}\).     

Evidence for a pseudogap in underdoped Bi{2}Sr_{2}CaCu{2}O{8+delta} and YBa2Cu3O6.50 from in-plane optical conductivity measurements

The real part of the in-plane optical self-energy data in underdoped Bi_{2}Sr_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{8+delta} (Bi-2212) and ortho II YBa2Cu3O6.5 contains new and important information on the pseudogap. Using a theoretical model approach, a major new finding is that states lost below the pseudogap Delta_{pg} are accompanied by a pileup of states just above this energy. The pileup along with a sharp mode in the bosonic spectral function leads to an unusually rapid increase in the optical scattering rate as a function of frequency and a characteristically sloped peak in the real part of the optical self-energy. These features are not found in optimally doped and overdoped samples and represent the clearest signature so far in the in-plane optical conductivity of the opening of a pseudogap.     

Superfluid density in a highly underdoped YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{6+y} superconductor

The superfluid density rho_{s}(T) identical with1/lambda;{2}(T) has been measured at 2.64 GHz in highly underdoped YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{6+y}, at 37 dopings with T_{c} between 3 and 17 K. Within limits set by the transition width DeltaT_{c} approximately 0.4 K, rho_{s}(T) shows no evidence of critical fluctuations as T-->T_{c}, with a mean-field-like transition and no indication of vortex unbinding. Instead, we propose that rho_{s} displays the behavior expected for a quantum phase transition in the (3+1)-dimensional XY universality class, with rho_{s0} proportional, variant(p-p_{c}), T_{c} proportional, variant(p-p_{c});{1/2}, and rho_{s}(T) proportional, variant(T_{c}-T);{1} as T-->T_{c}.     

Three Dimensionality and Orbital Characters of the Fermi Surface in (Tl,Rb)_{y}Fe_{2-x}Se_{2}

We report a comprehensive angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study of the tridimensional electronic bands in the recently discovered Fe selenide superconductor (Tl,Rb)_{y}Fe_{2-x}Se_{2} (T_{c}=32 K). We determined the orbital characters and the k_{z} dependence of the low energy electronic structure by tuning the polarization and the energy of the incident photons. We observed a small 3D electron Fermi surface pocket near the Brillouin zone center and a 2D like electron Fermi surface pocket near the zone boundary. The photon energy dependence, the polarization analysis and the local-density approximation calculations suggest a significant contribution from the Se 4p_{z} and Fe 3d_{xy} orbitals to the small electron pocket. We argue that the emergence of Se 4p_{z} states might be the cause of the different magnetic properties between Fe chalcogenides and Fe pnictides.     

Heterodyne detection with tilted C-axis epitaxial YBa{in2}Cu{in3}O{in7-8}

YBa{in2}Cu{in3}O{in7-8} thin films epitaxially grown on suitably prepared substrates, with a non-zero tilt angle between the film’s c-axis and its surface normal are fast and sensitive FIR detectors when biased with a constant current and cooled below the critical temperature of the superconductor. It is shown that these films are also suitable for heterodyne detection, where mixing experiments were carried out at 10 GHz and 100 GHz. Additionally, the difference frequency between two transverse modes of a metal guide laser in the far infrared regime at 432μm could be observed. This work was supported by the Bayerischer Forschungsverbund Hochtemperatursupraleitung (FORSUPRA) and by ARTAS GmbH, Zeitlarn.     

Preliminary studies of the Raman spectra of \hbox {Ag}_{2}\hbox {Te}\hbox { and }\hbox {Ag}_{5}\hbox {Te}_{3}

The theoretical calculations indicated that the monoclinic low-temperature phase of silver telluride $(\upbeta \hbox {-Ag}_{2}\hbox {Te})$ is a new binary topological insulator with highly anisotropic single Dirac cone surface. We obtained $\upbeta \hbox {-Ag}_{2}\hbox {Te}$ crystal ingots containing few grains by the Bridgman method. We also deposited thin films of tellurium, $\hbox {Ag}_{5}\hbox {Te}_{3}\hbox { and }(\hbox {Te+Ag}_{5}\hbox {Te}_{3})$ by thermal evaporation method. The Raman spectra of $\upbeta \hbox {-Ag}_{2}\hbox {Te}$ , tellurium and $\hbox {Ag}_{5}\hbox {Te}_{3}$ were measured at three excitation wave lengths: 633, 515 and 488 nm. The Raman active modes of $\upbeta \hbox {-Ag}_{2}\hbox {Te}$ , tellurium and $\hbox {Ag}_{5}\hbox {Te}_{3}$ are situated at frequencies below 300  $\hbox {cm}^{-1}$ while vibrations of other phases appear at higher frequencies.     

Analysis of the \frac{1} {2}^ - and \frac{3} {2}^ - heavy and doubly heavy baryon states with QCD sum rules

In this article, we study the $\frac{1} {2}^ -$ and $\frac{3} {2}^ -$ heavy and doubly heavy baryon states $\Sigma _Q \left( {\frac{1} {2}^ - } \right)$ , $\Xi '_Q \left( {\frac{1} {2}^ - } \right)$ , $\Omega _Q \left( {\frac{1} {2}^ - } \right)$ , $\Xi _{QQ} \left( {\frac{1} {2}^ - } \right)$ , $\Omega _{QQ} \left( {\frac{1} {2}^ - } \right)$ , $\Sigma _Q^* \left( {\frac{3} {2}^ - } \right)$ , $\Xi _Q^* \left( {\frac{3} {2}^ - } \right)$ , $\Omega _Q^* \left( {\frac{3} {2}^ - } \right)$ , $\Xi _{QQ}^* \left( {\frac{3} {2}^ - } \right)$ and $\Omega _{QQ}^* \left( {\frac{3} {2}^ - } \right)$ by subtracting the contributions from the corresponding $\frac{1} {2}^ +$ and $\frac{3} {2}^ +$ heavy and doubly heavy baryon states with the QCD sum rules in a systematic way, and make reasonable predictions for their masses.     

Hyperfine splitting constants in the optical transition \boldsymbol{{4{f}^{7}} {6{s}^{2}} \;{^{8}{\rm S}_{7/2}} \to {4{f}^{7}} {6{s}6{p}}\; {^{6}{\rm P}_{5/2}} \ {\rm of} \ {^{151-155}{\rm Eu}}} isotopes and hyperfine anomaly

Using the method of laser-induced fluorescence in an atomic beam we have measured the hyperfine splitting constants, A and B, of the ground and excited states of the optical transition 4f ⁷6s ^{2 8}S $_{1/2}\to 4f^{7}$ 6s6p ⁶P_5/2 (564.58 nm) for ^151???155Eu isotopes. For all isotopes, the magnetic dipole constants of the ⁶P_5/2 atomic level are determined to a precision better than 0.04%. The A and B constants for the ground state ⁸S_7/2 of the radioactive ^152,154,155Eu were obtained for the first time with a precision better than 0.5%. Our data along with previous ground state hyperfine structure measurements for the stable europium isotopes allow us to determine the hyperfine anomaly for mentioned Eu isotopes.     

Modeling of Spin Hamiltonian Parameters for Vanadyl-Doped {\bf\hbox{K}_2\hbox{SO}_4{-}\hbox{Na}_2\hbox{SO}_4{-}\hbox{ZnSO}_4} Glass

A full ligand-field energy matrix diagonalization treatment for 3d ¹ ions in tetragonal symmetry is developed on the basis of the two spin?Corbit coupling parameter model, and the contributions of the spin?Corbit coupling of the ligand ions to the optical and electron paramagnetic resonance spectra are included. Spin Hamiltonian parameters of the tetragonal ${\rm V}^{4+}$ center in $\hbox{K}_2\hbox{SO}_4 {-} \hbox{Na}_2\hbox{SO}_4{-}\hbox{ZnSO}_4$ glass are calculated from the complete energy matrix diagonalization and the perturbation theory methods. The results calculated by both methods are not only close to each other but also in good agreement with the experimental values. Furthermore, the compressed defect structure of the ${\rm (VO_6)^{8-}}$ cluster is discussed.     

Precursor diamagnetism above the superconducting transition in YNi_\mathsf{2}B_\mathsf{2}C

High-resolution SQUID magnetization measurements in a single crystal of YNi₂B₂C around the superconducting transition are reported. The diamagnetic magnetization -M _fl at constant field H as a function of temperature and isothermal magnetization curves -M _fl vs. H are used to derive insights on precursor phenomena approaching the bulk transition temperature K. The precursor diamagnetism is found strongly enhanced with respect to the conventional Ginzburg-Landau value for Gaussian fluctuations and the curves -M _fl vs. H exhibit an upturn with the field and hysteretic effects up to T ^* = 15.4 K. These results are interpreted in terms of a non-zero order parameter in superconducting droplets above the bulk T _c . These droplets are likely to be related to inhomogeneities resulting from small amount of boron to carbon substitutions.Received: 23 April 2003, Published online: 15 October 2003PACS: 74.40.+k Fluctuations (noise, chaos, nonequilibrium superconductivity, localization, etc.) - 74.20.De Phenomenological theories (two-fluid, Ginzburg-Landau, etc.) - 74.25.Ha Magnetic properties