Multi-band nature of superconducting anisotropy in PrFeAsO1−δ single crystal

We investigated the magnetic torque of superconducting PrFeAsO_1−δ single crystal using the torque magnetometer at temperatures from 2 K to 200 K in magnetic field of 30 kG. The torque curve tends to have a singular shape compared to other superconductors. The analyses of the PrFeAsO_1−δ torque curves by the single-band and the multi-band Kogan model yield 3 < γ_λ < 5 in 30 kG. With the aid of the multi-band Kogan model, however, we obtain γ_ξ = 0.79 ± 0.01 and γ_λ = 19 ± 3 in 30 kG at 20.5 K. The smallness of γ_ξ(<1) thus obtained is due to the multi-band nature of the iron pnictide.     

Low-energy excitations and stripes in superconducting cuprate La1.87Sr0.13CuO4

The conductivity and dielectric permittivity spectra of single-crystalline La_1.87Sr_0.13CuO₄ are directly measured with the electric field polarized perpendicular to the CuO planes (E∥c) covering the frequency range 10-40 cm⁻¹ and temperatures 5-300 K. We observe in the superconducting state a well pronounced excitation with strongly temperature dependent parameters. We suggest that the excitation is caused by the transverse Josephson plasma mode that appears due to the different strengths of Josephson coupling between the superconducting charge stripes in the neighboring and next-nearest neighboring copper-oxygen planes of La_1.87Sr_0.13CuO₄. A strongly enhanced low-frequency (below 15 cm⁻¹) absorption is seen in the superconducting state that is assigned to delocalized quasiparticles of as yet unknown origin.     

Effect of oxygen pressure on microstructure and magnetic properties of strontium hexaferrite (SrFe12O19) film prepared by pulsed laser deposition

The effects of oxygen pressure during deposition on microstructure and magnetic properties of strontium hexaferrite (SrFe₁₂O₁₉) films grown on Si (100) substrate with Pt (111) underlayer by pulsed laser deposition have been investigated. X-ray diffraction pattern confirms that the films have c-axis perpendicular orientation. The c-axis dispersion (Δθ₅₀) increases and c-axis lattice parameter decreases with increasing oxygen pressure. The films have hexagonal shape grains with diameter of 150-250 nm as determined by atomic force microscopy. The coercivities in perpendicular direction are higher than those in in-plane direction, which shows the films have perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The saturation magnetization and anisotropy field for the film deposited in oxygen pressure of 0.13 mbar are comparable to those of the bulk strontium hexaferrite. Higher oxygen pressure leads to the films having higher coercivity and squareness. The coercivity in perpendicular and in-plane directions of the film deposited in oxygen pressure of 0.13 mbar are 2520 Oe and 870 Oe, respectively.     

Search for magnetic fields due to anyons in high-T c superconductors

We have searched for anomalous internal magnetic fields in highT _c materials which are predicted to occur in anyon and flux phase models of superconductivity. The magnitude, anisotropy and temperature dependence of the observed fields inc-axis oriented samples of sintered YBa₂CuO₃O₇ and of thick-film Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ are consistent with a conventional nuclear dipolar origin. An upper limit of ≲0.08 mT is set for any anomalous magnetic fields along thec-axis atμ ⁺ sites in bulk CuO₂ superconductors.     

Magnetic structures and magnetocrystalline anisotropy in bulk and thin film Fe3Pt

Magnetic structures and magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) of tetragonal phase Fe₃Pt with an L1₂ atomic ordering in bulk and thin film are investigated by means of the first-principles full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave method. The results obtained predict that the tetragonal phase, in which the tetragonal distortion with (c/a) = 0.95 makes an asymmetry of magnetic properties along the c-axis (out-of-plane) and a-axis (in-plane), has an out-of-plane MCA. In addition, from the thin film calculations, the presence of surface is found to strongly enhance the out-of-plane MCA.     

Reversible magnetization and irreversibility line of tri-layer superconductor Ba2Ca2Cu3O6(O,F)2 with Tc∼108 K

We report magnetization measurements of grain-aligned Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O₆(O,F)₂ with T_c?108 K. The interlayer distance of the material is the shortest among known tri-layer superconductors. Unexpectedly, the magnetization data show that the coupling strength between CuO₂ layers is rather weak. A direct reflection of the weak coupling is highly suppressed irreversibility line, i.e. a broad reversible region in H-T plane. The decoupling field obtained from the irreversibility line is less than 0.1 T, which is comparable with that of quasi two-dimensional superconductor Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ. Comparison of data with the Hao-Clem model gives characteristic parameters [ξ_ab(0) and λ_ab(0)] and the critical fields [H_c(0) and H_c2^c(0)]. A large value of penetration depth, λ_ab(0)=240 nm reflects a small carrier concentration in CuO₂ planes, and explains the reason of the weak interlayer coupling.     

Time series of ac conductivities of terbium nitrate crystals at low temperatures

Time series of ac conductivities are measured at 2 kHz along three crystal directions in terbium nitrate crystal below 50 K. The anisotropy is found in the structure of the fluctuation observed in the time series of the conductivities. The bursts with non-periodic oscillations are found in only the measurements of the time series of the ac conductivities for one direction perpendicular to the c-axis (c2-axis). The anisotropy is seen in probability distribution functions and power spectral ones derived from the time series of the conductivities. The characteristic behaviors are found in the time series of the conductivity for the one crystal direction perpendicular to the c-axis. Asymmetric non-Gaussian line shape of the probability distribution function is seen for the c2-axis. Chaotic behavior is also found in the function of the correlation exponent to the embedding dimension derived from the time series of the conductivities.     

Intrinsic Josephson tunneling for basic studies of high-temperature superconductors

High-temperature superconductors (HTS) are highly anisotropic with layers of CuO₂ separated by layers of charge reservoirs. The superconducting CuO₂ planes are weakly coupled by Josephson tunneling of Cooper pairs in the c-axis direction. It may be possible to use the intrinsic tunneling to realize a stack of intrinsic Josephson junctions at the surface of a single crystal (or epitaxial film) of HTS. These will form excellent tools in the study of superconducting properties of HTS.     

Effect of transparency on Josephson junction between s+g-wave superconductors

In this paper, a dc Josephson junction between borocarbide superconductors has been studied theoretically. The s+g-wave pairing symmetry which is observed in rare earth complex of borocarbides has a huge anisotropy and is an interesting form of unconventional superconductivity. We calculate the Josephson current in a superconductor--insulator--superconductor (SIS) Josephson junction with s+g-wave superconducting pairing symmetry. In our planar junction c-axis is parallel to an interface with finite transparency but ab-planes of two tetragonal superconductors are misorientated by angle α. We obtain that the Josephson current is strongly dependent on mis-orientation between the left and the right ab-planes. An insulator sandwiched between two superconductors which acts as a potential barrier is demonstrated by a transparency coefficient. The effects of the potential barrier and the mis-orientation on the current are studied analytically and numerically. Occurrence of 0--π transition in this s+g-wave junction is investigated in this paper. A comparison between d-wave Josephson junction and s+g-wave one is also made in the present paper.     

Magnetic torque analysis including vortex core contributions for Ba(Fe,Co)2As2 single crystal

Superconducting torque measurements for a Ba(Fe,Co)₂As₂ iron arsenic superconductor have been carried out to obtain anisotropy in 1 kG at 10 K as well as in 10 kG at 22 K. We found that the anisotropy in penetration depth γ_λ and the anisotropy in coherence length γ_ξ in the multi-band Kogan analysis are modest or almost isotropic. Theoretical calculation suggests the anisotropy of carrier mass γ_λ is approximated as 3 in BaFe₂As₂ system. The γ_λ value changes from 1 to 3 obtained by the torque analyses, and is in good agreement with the theoretical prediction. The torque curve was also analyzed by our new torque theory, which takes into account the vortex core contribution properly. We conclude that our Ba(Fe,Co)₂As₂ single crystal is almost isotropic in marked contrast with high-T_c cuprates.     

Strongly oriented BST films on La0.9Sr1.1NiO4 electrodes deposited on various substrates for integration of high capacitances on silicon

In this study, we demonstrate the successful oriented growth of Ba_0.6Sr_0.4TiO₃(h 0 0)/La_0.9Sr_1.1NiO₄(0 0 l) stacks by pulsed laser deposition on SiO₂/Si for application in integrated capacitances. We show that for specific deposition conditions the La_0.9Sr_1.1NiO₄ layer spontaneously grows along its c-axis both on SiO₂/Si and on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates, serving as a template for the subsequent oriented growth of Ba_0.6Sr_0.4TiO₃ (BST). Moreover, as the resistivity of the La_0.9Sr_1.1NiO₄ layer is ∼1 mΩ cm, it also fulfills the function of bottom electrode for integration of perovskite-based capacitors on silicon. This holds the promise of integrating epitaxial BST with very high dielectric constant compared to polycrystalline BST films. Still, preliminary capacitance measurements on Al/BST/La_0.9Sr_1.1NiO₄/SiO₂/Si capacitors indicate that the stack deposition needs further optimization.     

Residual surface stress measurements in YBa2Cu3Ox superconductors

XRD and residual surface stress (sin² ψ) measurements were carried out on YBa₂Cu₃O_x superconductors with varying oxygen stoichiometry (6.3 < x < 7.0). Slopes of the surface strain versus sin² ψ were plotted against oxygen content for certain reflections. Compressional surface stress has been found along the c-axis, while a tensile surface stress has been observed along the ab-plane. Both surface stresses were found to vary slightly with oxygen content. These findings qualitatively agree with a very small hydrostatic pressure effect on T_c for fully oxygenated YBa₂Cu₃O_x (x = 7) compared to oxygen deficient material at the surface.     

Iron isotope effect on Tc in optimally-doped (Ba,K)Fe2As2 (Tc = 38 K) and SmFeAsO1−y (Tc = 54 K) superconductors

We report the iron isotope effect on a transition temperature (T_c) in an optimally-doped (Ba,K)Fe₂As₂ (T_c = 38 K) and SmFeAsO_1−y (T_c = 54 K) superconductors. In order to obtain the reliable isotope shift in T_c, twin samples with different iron isotope mass are synthesized in the same conditions (simultaneously) under high-pressure. We have found that (Ba,K)Fe₂As₂ shows an inverse iron isotope effect α_Fe = −0.18 ± 0.03 while SmFeAsO_1−y shows a small iron isotope effect α_Fe = −0.02 ± 0.01, where the isotope exponent α is defined by T_c ∼ M^−α (M is the isotopic mass). The results show that α_Fe changes in the iron-based superconductors depending on the system. The distinct iron isotope effects imply the exotic coupling mechanism in the iron-based superconductors.     

Laser-induced voltage characteristics of Bi2Sr2Co2Oy thin films on LaAlO3 substrates

We report the laser-induced voltage (LIV) effects in c-axis oriented Bi₂Sr₂Co₂O_y thin films grown on (0 0 1) LaAlO₃ substrates with the title angle α of 0°, 3°, 5° and 10° by a simple chemical solution deposition method. A large open-circuit voltage with the sensitivity of 300 mV/mJ is observed for the film on 10° tilting LaAlO₃ under a 308 nm irradiation with the pulse duration of 25 ns. When the film surface is irradiated by a 355 nm pulsed laser of 25 ps duration, a fast response with the rise time of 700 ps and the full width at half maximum of 1.5 ns is achieved. In addition, the experimental results reveal that the amplitude of the voltage signal is approximately proportional to sin 2α and the signal polarity is reversed when the film is irradiated from the substrate side rather than the film side, which suggests the LIV effects in Bi₂Sr₂Co₂O_y thin films originate from the anisotropic Seebeck coefficient of this material.     

Gigantic uniaxial pressure effect in single crystals of iron-based superconductors

In order to elucidate the anisotropic pressure effect on superconductivity in an iron-based superconductor, magnetization measurements have been performed in Ba(Fe_0.92Co_0.08)₂As₂ single crystals under uniaxial pressures applied along the c-axis. Gigantic T_c suppression, dT_c/dP_//c = −15 K/GPa, was observed when the anisotropic deformation with the a-expansion and c-compression was induced by the c-pressure, which should be compared with dT_c/dP < +1 K/GPa in the isotropic pressure case. This suggests that the a-axis (c-axis) compression has a positive (negative) contribution to T_c.     

Superconductivity of powder-in-tube Sr0.6K0.4Fe2As2 wires

Nb-sheathed Sr_0.6K_0.4Fe₂As₂ superconducting wires have been fabricated using the powder-in-tube (PIT) method for the first time and the superconducting properties of the wires have been investigated. The transition temperature (T_c) of the Sr_0.6K_0.4Fe₂As₂ wires is confirmed to be as high as 35.3 K. Most importantly, Sr_0.6K_0.4Fe₂As₂ wires exhibit a very weak J_c-field dependence behavior even the temperature is very close to T_c. The upper critical field H_c2(0) value can exceed 140 T, surpassing those of MgB₂ and all the low temperature superconductors. Such high H_c2 and superior J_c-field performance make the 122 phase SrKFeAs wire conductors a powerful competitor potentially useful in very high field applications.     

Crossover from negative to positive magnetoresistance in superconductor/ferromagnet composites thick films

Thick films of ((Bi, Pb)₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O_x)_0.95/(LaSr_0.7Mn_0.3O₃)_0.05 [(Bi-2223)_0.95(LSMO)_0.05] composites were fabricated on (0 0 1)-oriented LaAlO₃ substrates by a simple melting–quenching–annealing method and their structural, morphological and magnetoelectrical properties carefully studied. Analysis of the X-ray diffraction patterns suggested a highly oriented growth along the c-axis of LSMO. This preferred orientation, with the crystal c-axis being perpendicular to the plane of the substrate, was considered to be indicative of a textured growth mode. Electrical and magnetic measurements showed the presence of ferromagnetism and superconductivity in the composite at temperatures above room temperature and below T∼50 K, respectively. A clear crossover from negative to positive magnetoresistance was observed at ∼80 K in a magnetic field as strong as 5 T.     

The preparation of c-axis epitaxial Bi-2212 films on STO(1 0 0) by sol-gel method

Bi₂Sr₂Ca₁Cu₂O_8+δ (Bi-2212) films were grown on (1 0 0) oriented SrTiO₃ (STO) substrate using sol-gel spin-coating method. The effects of heat treatment conditions and coating times on the phase formation and surface morphology were investigated using thermal analysis, optical microscope, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electronic microscopy. Mixed phases were formed from 820 to 840 °C, and Bi-2212 single phase was obtained at 830 °C for 3 h. c-axis epitaxial films with smooth surfaces were obtained by drying at 600 °C and coating for 5 times.     

One-dimensional electronic order in underdoped surface of YBa2Cu3Oy studied by STM

We have performed low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) experiments on the cold-cleaved surface of YBa₂Cu₃O_y single crystals to study the nanoscale electronic order in high-T_c superconductors. STM images measured at low-bias voltage below ∼50 meV show the one-dimensional (1D) electronic modulation along the Cu-O bonds (parallel to the b-axis). The 1D electronic modulation does not have long-range order and the periodicity along the a-axis varies within the range ∼2a-4a depending on the position on the surface, indicating the glassy electronic order in the underdoped CuO₂ plane.     

Structural, magnetic and electric properties of HoMnO3 films on SrTiO3(001)

HoMnO₃ films were grown on pure and Nb-doped SrTiO₃ (001) substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The films grew epitaxially with the c-axis along the substrate normal. Varying the deposition temperature between 650 and 850 °C did not significantly affect the structural and magnetic properties of the films, whereas growth in oxygen partial pressures below 0.01 mbar lead to a degradation of the structural properties. Some of the films had a ferromagnetic-like magnetic phase transition at about 45 K, probably related to Mn₃O₄ precipitates; this magnetic response was isotropic. The Ho sublattice was found to be paramagnetic down to 5 K, but showing a pronounced anisotropy with the c-axis being the hard axis. The films showed a distinct dielectric anomaly at 16 K that depended on voltage and slightly on frequency in the range between 1 kHz and 1 MHz. The magnetoelectric effect was large with an in-plane field of 8 T suppressing the dielectric anomaly completely.