Magnetization and transport characteristics of layered high-temperature superconductors with different anisotropy parameters

The magnetization of a layered high-temperature superconductor with different anisotropy parameters has been calculated using the Monte Carlo method in the framework of a modified three-dimensional Lawrence–Doniach model with actual boundary conditions. The penetration of a magnetic flux into a bulk sample from the boundary has been simulated, and the curves of magnetization reversal of a high-temperature superconductor by an external magnetic field have been calculated for different anisotropy parameters γ and types of defects in the sample. It has been found that there are significant differences in the magnetization curves and transport properties of superconductors with different anisotropy parameters γ. The influence of tilted columnar defects on the critical current has been analyzed. A decreasing dependence of the critical current on the tilt angle of defects with respect to the c axis has been obtained. It has been shown that, as the anisotropy parameter increases, this dependence weakens and, for a specific value of γ, disappears. An explanation of the mechanism responsible for the disappearance of the dependence has been proposed.     

Magnetization of thin films of ferromagnetic superconductors

The magnetization of thin films of ferromagnetic superconductors is theoretically studied. The symmetric and antisymmetric magnetic orders appear in the films depending on the thickness of the films. The magnetization for the symmetric order monotonically increases with decreasing temperature. However, the magnetization curves for the antisymmetric order has a sharp peak near the magnetic phase transition temperature in a weak external magnetic field.     

Magnetization reversal in an ordered array of ferromagnetic nanodots

The magnetization reversal in an array of Fe nanodots etched from the continuous iron film by a focused Ga⁺ ion beam has been studied. The size of the dots is 600 nm, and the interdot distances are equal to 3.8 μm, 900 nm, and 700 nm. The energy of the dipole-dipole interaction between the nanodots is estimated for arrays with different periods. It is demonstrated that the mechanisms of magnetization reversal are different in arrays of nanodots with strong and negligible dipole-dipole interactions.     

Dry-etching processes for high-temperature superconductors

Patterning of thin films and multilevel structures of high-temperature superconductors is a key technology for microelectronic applications. We performed a comparative study of Ion Beam Etching (IBE) and Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) processes for YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ thin films. The RIE process with a pure chlorine plasma yielded small etching rates, caused by chemical modifications of the sample surface which result in a passivation layer reducing the chemical etching rate. Using IBE, microstructures down to the 1 μm regime could be fabricated without reducing the critical temperature T_c and the critical current density J_c of the material. Etching rates up to 40 nm/min could be achieved without deteriorating the properties of the superconducting film by cooling the sample effectively during the etching process. The influence of the etching process on J_c was investigated by imaging the spatial distribution of the critical current along the patterned microstructures using Low-Temperature Scanning Electron Microscopy (LTSEM).     

On the theory of layered high-temperature superconductors

Assuming that charge carriers form a Fermi liquid state, we study a model for layered high-temperature superconductors with unretarded intralayer and interlayer pairing. Guided by band structure calculations and inverse photoemission experiments, we adopt a tight binding band with nearest and next-nearest neighbors hopping within the sheets and weak interlayer hopping. The gap equations are solved numerically, without imposing a cutoff energy, characteristic to phonon mediated superconductivity. On this basis we calculate the gap parameters,T _c , the tunneling conductance, infrared absorption and the coherence length for various band fillings =1/2–x by introducing excess holes of concentrationx. Assuming the interlayer coupling strength to be smaller than the intralayer one, our main results are as follows:T _c is dominated by the intralayer properties, reaching a maximum atx0.3, where strong coupling features appear. In the presence of interlayer pairing, the gap becomes anisotropic perpendicular to the layers, and standard BCS-behavior is modified. In particular the BCS-square root singularity in the density of states and in the tunneling conductance is replaced by van Hove singularities characterizing the anisotropic gap. In particular, we investigate the anisotropy of the tunneling conductance for specular and diffuse tunneling for a junction parallel or perpendicular to the layers, infrared absorption, as well as the coherence length, parallel and perpendicular to the layers.     

Magnetization reversal processes in FeSm thin films

We have investigated the in-plane magnetization reversal in FeSm thin films and discovered that it can be controlled through an induced anisotropy. For films with an induced easy direction, reversal is ultra fast and can be characterized approximately using the Fatuzzo model. In films with no pronounced induced easy axis, the reversal is much slower and can be described using a logarithmic model. We have also investigated the short time (1–50 s) dependence of the remanent coercivity and fitted to logarithmic equations. For films with no pronounced easy axis, the time dependence of the coercivity correlates with the film thickness, indicating that the switching volume scales with thickness. For films with an induced easy direction, the time dependence of the coercivity is essentially constant, independent of film thickness, indicating no scalable switching volume.     

Role of zinc and nickel impurities in high-temperature superconductors

The local changes produced in the electronic structure and their effect on the physical properties of the superconducting and normal phases when zinc and nickel are substituted for copper are examined on the basis of a multiband p-d model. It is shown that strong electronic correlations suppress the S=1 configuration of Ni²⁺ and cause the superposition of the S=1/2 and S=0 states of nickel. The change in the density of states in p-and n-type systems is studied, and the peculiarity of Zn impurity for p-type systems and Ni impurity for n-type systems is shown. The universal dependence of the T _c on the residual resistance in lightly doped superconductors and deviations from it in optimally doped systems are discussed. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 596–600 (April 1999)     

Magnetization reversal of ferromagnetic nanoparticles under inhomogeneous magnetic field

We investigated remagnetization processes in ferromagnetic nanoparticles under inhomogeneous magnetic field induced by the tip of magnetic force microscope (MFM) in both theoretical and empirical ways. Systematic MFM observations were carried out on arrays of submicron-sized elliptical ferromagnetic particles of Co and FeCr with different sizes and periods. It clearly reveals the distribution of remanent magnetization and processes of local remagnetization of individual ferromagnetic particles. Modeling of remagnetization processes in ferromagnetic nanoparticles under magnetic field induced by MFM probe was performed on the base of Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation for magnetization. MFM-induced inhomogeneous magnetic field is very effective to control the magnetic state of individual ferromagnetic nanoparticles as well as to create different distribution of magnetic field in array of ferromagnetic nanoparticles.     

Magnetization reversal of sub-micron ferromagnetic tunnel junctions in external magnetic fields

Sub-micron sized magnetic tunnel junctions are fabricated by electron beam lithography. Magnetoresistance measurements were done at crossed easy- and hard-axis fields and the critical switching curves for 3 different sub-μm junctions are discussed. Single domain like switching according to the Stoner and Wohlfarth model can be achieved, but Néel coupling effects and AAF stray field effects have to be controlled.     

Single particle tunneling and photoemission spectra in anisotropic layered high-temperature superconductors

We explore the effects of an anisotropic order parameter on the single particle tunneling conductance and on angular integrated and angular resolved photoemission spectra. Adopting a tight-binding model band structure, extendeds-wave pairing and the BCS strategy, we calculate the tunneling conductance for specular and diffuse transmission and the coherent part of the photoemission spectrum. Recent evidence for gap anisotropy, resulting from tunneling perpendicular and parallel to the layers, is traced back tox,y-anisotropy mediated by nearestneighbor intralayer pairing. This anisotropy is also found to be consistent with angular integrated photoemission measurements. It is shown that angular resolved photoemission experiments with high resolution would allow a more detailed identification of this anisotropic superconducting state.     

Magnetization processes in the narrow domain structures of amorphous ferromagnetic alloys

The magnetization processes within the narrow domain laminae of amorphous ferromagnetic alloys have been investigated by means of the magneto-optical Kerr effect. Changes of the domain width of the closure domains by a magnetic field applied perpendicular to the laminae have been determined for the alloys Fe₈₀B₂₀ and Fe₄₀Ni₄₀P₁₄B₆. These results are compared with theoretical calculations, assuming that wall displacements within the closure domains and rotations of the magnetization in the bulk domains take place simultaneously and a stray field free domain structure is developed. It turned out, that the closure domain structure on the surface of the sample vanishes at the same magnetic field where magnetic saturation is approached.     

On the theory of layered high-temperature superconductors: Finite temperature properties

We extend the study of a model for layered high-temperature superconductors to finite temperatures. The model assumes Fermi liquid properties for the carriers, which form a narrow tight-binding band. The carriers are subject to on-site intralayer and nearest neighbor interlayer interactions. The previous studies of the zero temperature properties, revealing remarkable agreement with experimental data, are extended to finite temperatures. These properties include the tunneling conductance for diffuse and specular transmission in a normal isolator superconductor junction, specific heat, nuclear spin relaxation time and the London penetration depth. Our results are compared with experimental findings.     

Magnetization reversal processes of single nanomagnets and their energy barrier

Micromagnetic simulations were performed to investigate the influence of geometry and magnetic anisotropy constant on energy barrier and magnetization reversal mechanism of individual bits important for the bit patterned media concept in magnetic data storage. It is shown that dependency of the energy barrier on magnetic and geometric properties of bits can be described by an analytical approach in the case of quasi-coherent magnetization rotation process. However, when the bit size exceeds a critical size, for which an incoherent magnetization reversal is preferred, the analytical approach becomes invalid and no self-consistent theory is available. By systematically investigating the influence of bit size on the magnetization reversal mode, it was found that the transition from quasi-coherent to incoherent magnetization reversal mode can still be described analytically if an activation volume is considered instead of the bit volume. In this case, the nucleation volume is an important parameter determining thermal stability of the bit. If the volume of the bit is larger than twice the activation volume, the energy barrier stays nearly constant; with further increase in bit size, no gain in thermal stability can be achieved.     

Magnetization of two-dimensional superconductors with defects

A new method is developed for numerical simulation of the magnetization of layered superconductors with defects that is based on the Monte Carlo algorithm. The minimization of the free energy functional of a two-dimensional vortex system enables one to obtain equilibrium configurations of vortex density and calculate the magnetization of a superconductor with arbitrary distribution of defects in a wide temperature range. Magnetization curves are obtained for the first time for a defective superconductor under conditions of cyclic variation of the external magnetic field for different temperatures. The magnetic induction profiles and the magnetic flux distribution inside a superconductor are calculated, which support the validity of Bean’s model. It is demonstrated that the process of magnetization reversal is accompanied by the emergence of an annihilation wave, i.e., the motion of a zone with zero magnetic induction at the leading front of the incoming magnetic flux.     

A model for layered high-temperature superconductors with two CuO2 layers per unit cell

We extend a model for layered high-temperature superconductors to systems with two CuO₂ layers per unit cell and two interlayer spacings with different physical properties. The carriers are assumed to occupy Fermi liquid states, forming narrow tight-binding bands. The layers are coupled by weak interlayer-hopping matrix elements between adjacent sheets, as well as by an attractive interaction between carriers in neighboring layers in addition to an on-site intralayer coupling. We solve the Gorkov equations for this model to obtain the critical temperature and the density of states of the oneparticle excitations from the superconducting condensate, and discuss various parameter regimes concerning the coupling between the two layers. We compare our results with current experimental findings for high-temperature superconductors. The presence of two CuO₂ layers leads to multi-peak features in the superconducting density of states, as has been observed in recent tunneling measurements.     

Re-entry in ferromagnetic superconductors

The re-entry phenomenon in magnetic superconductors is studied using the generalized Ginzburg-Landau free energy introduced by Blount and Varma. The re-entry temperature T_c2 is simply that temperature at which the magnetization acts as a source of induction strong enough to destroy superconductivity. Above T_c2 ferromagnetism and superconductivity coexist. The structure is an Abrikosov vortex lattice, with ferromagnetic magnetization spreading widely around the vortex cores. Within our approximations, the phase transition at T_c2 is of second order.     

Magnetization anomaly in metamagnetic superconductors

The magnetization in the tetragonal c-plane was measured below T_N using a single crystal of bct ErRh₄B₄. The magnetization decreases with increasing magnetic field in a field range just below the metamagnetic transition. This magnetization anomaly is explained by the fact that the entrance of the vortices is suppressed by an increase of the vortex core energy due to the precursor metamagnetic transition in the core around metamagnetic transition field.