Sulfur substitution and pressure effect on superconductivity of α-FeSe

In this paper, sulfur substitution and pressure effect on superconductivity of α-FeSe has been investigated in Fe(Se_1 ? xS_x)_0.88 (x = 0.1, 0.2). For x = 0.1, the critical temperature T_c is slightly larger than that of non-substituted sample, in consistent with the pressure effect on the superconductivity of α-FeSe. However, with further increasing S content to x = 0.2, T_c decreases. Temperature dependent of specific heat showed that the structural transition seems to be suppressed. T_c for x = 0.2 can be further decreased by applying pressure of 5 kbar, in contrary to the pressure effect on α-FeSe. We suggest that, in addition to the suppression of structural transition, other factors like the increase of carrier concentration should be considered for understanding the pressure effect on the superconductivity of α-FeSe.     

Particle–hole fluctuations and possible superconductivity in doped α-RuCl_3

We study various particle–hole excitations and possible superconducting pairings mediated by these fluctuations in doped α-RuCl_3 by using multi-band Hubbard model with all t_(2g) orbitals. By performing a random-phase-approximation(RPA) analysis, we find that among all particle–hole excitations, the j_(eff)= 1/2 pseudospin fluctuations are dominant, suggesting the robustness of j_(eff)= 1/2 picture even in the doped systems. We also find that the most favorable superconducting state has a d-wave pairing symmetry.     

Co-adsorption of O_2 and H_2O on α-uranium(110) surface:A density functional theory study

First-principles calculations based on density functional theory corrected by Hubbard parameter U(DFT+U) are applied to the study on the co-adsorption of O2 and H_2O molecules to α-U(110) surface. The calculation results show that DFT+U method with Ueff= 1.5 e V can yield the experimental results of lattice constant and elastic modulus of α-uranium bulk well. Of all 7 low index surfaces of α-uranium, the(001) surface is the most stable with lowest surface energy while the(110) surface possesses the strongest activity with the highest surface energy. The adsorptions of O_2 and H_2O molecules are investigated separated. The O_2 dissociates spontaneously in all initial configurations. For the adsorption of H_2O molecule,both molecular and dissociative adsorptionsoccur. Through calculations of co-adsorption, it can be confirmed that the inhibition effect of O_2 on the corrosion of uranium by water vapor originates from the preferential adsorption mechanism,while the consumption of H atoms by O atoms exerted little influence on the corrosion of uranium.     

Synthesis and superconductivity properties of Ba1−xKxBiO3

Ba_1?xK_xBiO₃ with x from 0.315 to 0.6 were successfully synthesized by molten salts method and characterized by XRD and magnetic susceptibility measurements. It is found that Ba_1?xK_xBiO₃ powders could directly be precipitated from KOH melts. Superconductivity has been observed in all samples and the highest superconducting transition temperature was found to be T_c = 30.6 K with x = 0.4. The lattice constant linearly depended on the potassium content in accord with the equation of a = 4.3548–0.1743x, and the decrease of the mole ratio of Bi³⁺/Bi⁵⁺ resulted in the increase of the potassium content, which suggested the disproportionation of Bi valence.     

Electrical resistivity and superconductivity of amorphous La−Ag alloys

We report on measurements of the electrical resistivity and the superconducting transition temperature of amorphous La–Ag alloys (60–74 at % La) obtained by liquid quenching. The temperature coefficient of the resistivity is always slightly negativ, its value cannot be described well by existing theories.T _c depends linearly on the La content and seems to be not very sensitive to the second alloy constituent.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. W. Buckel on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Microscopic theory of electron-phonon interaction and superconductivity of BaPb1−xBixO3

Electron-phonon coupling coefficients in BaPb_1−xBi_xO₃ are calculated microscopically on the basis of the tight-binding band model which utilizes energy band structures obtained with the use of the self-consistent LAPW method by Mattheiss and Hamann. Assuming the rigid-band model we calculate, as a function of Bi concentration x, the dimension-l less electron-phonon coupling constant λ in McMillan's strong-coupling theory of superconductor. We obtain large values of λ such as λ>1 for x>0.1. The origin of this large electron-phonon coupling is ascribed to: (i) the hybridization between 2pσ orbitals of 0 atoms and 6s orbitals of Pb or Bi atoms is large in the conduction band, (ii) this σ-bonding is strongly affected by a vibrational motion of 0 atoms in the direction connecting the 0 and Pb (Bi) atoms, and (iii) the mass of 0 atoms is light. We also evaluate superconducting transition temperature T_c as a function of x on the basis of the McMillan-Allen-Dynes equation. The results explain semi-quantitatively the observed x-dependence of T_c.     

Effects of pressure and/or magnetism on superconductivity of δ-MoN single crystal

Effects of pressure and/or magnetism on the critical superconducting temperature(Tc)ofδ-Mo N single crystal were investigated using a Maglab system.Theδ-Mo N single crystal was synthesized at extreme conditions of high pressure and high temperature.The carrier density ofδ-Mo N single crystal as a function of applied pressure was determined using Hall coefficient measurement.     

Comments on “Translation-invariant bipolarons and the problem of high-temperature superconductivity”

We comment on the recent results of Refs. [1], [2] on the bipolaron problem derived using an approximation of Gross–Tulub. It is proved that, contrary to the claim made in Refs. [1], [2], the bipolaron ground-state energy calculated there in the strong-coupling approximation has not been shown to constitute a variational upper bound.     

Chern–Simons theory and BCS superconductivity

We study the relationship between the holomorphic unitary connection of Chern–Simons theory with temporal Wilson lines and the Richardson's exact solution of the reduced BCS Hamiltonian. We derive the integrals of motion of the BCS model, their eigenvalues and eigenvectors as a limiting case of the Chern–Simons theory.     

Unusual behaviour of conductivity and superconductivity in solid Sn−Xe mixtures

We have measured the normal statedc conductivity , the superconducting transition temperatureT _c and the critical superconducting currentI _c0 of frozen Sn–Xe mixtures in dependence of the Sn atomic fractionc. A new, high-T _c phase is observed forc between 0.58±0.02 and 0.74±0.02. This phase has aT _c-value of about 5.7 K, it shows a strong decrease in and inI _c0 and transforms into disordered Sn during annealing between 15 K and 50 K.It is a pleasure for us to dedicate this paper to Prof. Dr. S. Methfessel on the occasion of his 60^th birthday.This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungs-gemeinschaft     

Ginzburg–Landau theory of multi-band superconductivity and applications to Fe pnictides

We investigate multi-component superconductors, in relation to iron pnictides, by using the Ginzburg–Landau theory. We show that a three-band superconductor exhibits several significant properties that are not found in single-band or two-band superconductors. The frustrating pairing interaction among Fermi surfaces may lead to a time-reversal symmetry broken pairing state. In fact, we have a solution with time-reversal symmetry breaking, that is, a chiral solution when there is such a frustration. The Ginzburg–Landau equation for three-component superconductors leads to a double sine-Gordon equation. A kink solution exists to this equation that results in the existence of fractional-quantum flux vortices on the domain wall.     

Synthesis and superconductivity of MgB2/Fe–Se–Te composites

MgB₂/FeSe_0.75Te_0.25 composites were synthesized to see the effect of the co-existence of superconducting phases on the superconductivity. MgB₂ powders were mixed with pre-alloyed FeSe_0.75Te_0.25 or elemental powder mixture, followed by sintering at 400 °C. The resulting materials were superconducting MgB₂/FeSe_0.75Te_0.25 composites without impurity phase when using pre-alloyed FeSe_0.75Te_0.25 as a starting powder. When FeSe_0.75Te_0.25 was prepared by in situ reaction from the elemental powder mixture of Fe–Se–Te, on the other hand, non-superconducting impurity phases partly formed after sintering. No double superconducting transition was observed in MgB₂/FeSe_0.75Te_0.25 composites in spite of coexistence of two superconducting phases.     

Theoretical analysis of two-gap superconductivity of magnesium diborades and iron pnictides in the generalized α model

A generalized ?? model for computing the superconducting parameters of real two-band superconductors is proposed based on an analysis of the properties of two-band equations in the theory of superconductivity. Using this model, we calculate the heat capacity and optical properties of Ba(Fe_{1 ? x} Co _x )₂As₂ superconducting compound and obtain the temperature dependences of the gaps and energies of the Leggett modes in the Mg_{1 ? x} Al _x B₂ superconducting system. Good quantitative coincidence of the calculated data and experimental results is demonstrated.     

Theoretical examination of electron–phonon interaction and superconductivity in the hexagonal pnictide SrPtAs

We have calculated the structural and electronic properties of SrPtAs in a hexagonal KZnAs-type of crystal structure using a generalized gradient approximation of the density functional theory and the ab initio planewave pseudopotential method. These results are used to further calculate the phonon dispersions curves and the phonon density of states using a linear response approach based on the density functional theory. Using the electronic and phonon results, the electron–phonon coupling is computed to be of the intermediate strength of 0.78. In large part, this is contributed by the phonon modes dominated by the vibrations of Pt and As atoms. The superconducting critical temperature is estimated to be 1.9 K, in good accord with its experimental value of 2.4 K.     

Processing and characterization of α-elastin electrospun membranes

Elastin isolated from fresh bovine ligaments was dissolved in a mixture of 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoro-2-propanol and water were electrospun into fiber membranes under different processing conditions. Fiber mats of randomly and aligned fibers were obtained with fixed and rotating ground collectors and fibrils were composed by thin ribbons whose width depends on electrospinning conditions; fibrils with 721 nm up to 2.12 μm width were achieved. After cross-linking with glutaraldehyde, α-elastin can uptake as much as 1700 % of PBS solution and a slight increase on fiber thickness was observed. The glass transition temperature of electrospun fiber mats was found to occur at ～80 °C. Moreover, α-Elastin showed to be a perfect elastomeric material, and no mechanical hysteresis was found in cycle mechanical measurements. The elastic modulus obtained for random and aligned fibers mats in a PBS solution was 330±10 kPa and 732±165 kPa, respectively. Finally, the electrospinning and cross-linking process does not inhibit MC-3T3-E1 cell adhesion. Cell culture results showed good cell adhesion and proliferation in the cross-linked elastin fiber mats.