Structural relaxation,metal-to-insulator transition and pseudo-gap in oxygen deficient НоBa2Cu3O7−δ single crystals

The effect of annealing at room temperatures on the conductivity in the basis plane of oxygen deficient HoВа₂Сu₃О_7?δ single crystals, tempered from a temperature of 650 °C is investigated. We determine that during the annealing process an extension of the area of the linear dependence of the resistivity ρ_ab(T) occurs. A shift downwards of the temperature interval corresponding to the metal-to-insulator transition and a considerable transformation of the form of the resistivity transfers to the superconducting state was observed. The absolute value of the temperature that the pseudo-gap regime commences is reduced by about 20 K. The results are attributed to labile oxygen ordering without changing the concentration of oxygen in the sample. The estimation of the cluster sizes is characterized by the differences in oxygen content. We perform a comparative analysis between the experimental data with the predictions of the high temperature superconductivity cluster theory.     

Transverse resistance of YBa2Cu3O7−δ single crystals

Measured is the transverse electrical resistance of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ single crystals with different oxygen deficiency values (δ) in the temperature range T_c − 300 K. The experimental data are approximated by an empiric expression accounting for the fluctuation conductivity near T_c and the semiconductor-like resistance regime. Our analysis of the concentration dependences of the fitting parameters, in particular, reveals that the resistance temperature dependence is largely affected by the sample's non-homogeneity. The latter, in turn, causes a T_c anisotropy and variable-range hopping conductivity between different phases. The deduced maximal values of the basal-plane coherence length, ξ_xy(0), are comparable with those for low-temperature superconductors.     

Cu-EPR in YBa2Cu3O6+δ single crystals

We report on the observation of Cu-EPR signals in single crystalline material of YBa₂Cu₃O₆₊ in the narrow oxygen concentration range 0.7<<0.9 and for temperatures 80 K<T<200 K. We provide evidence that the signal results from Cu²⁺ ions located in Cu(1)OCu(1) chain fragments.     

Fluctuation-enhanced conductivity and magnetoconductivity of high-quality YBa2Cu3O7−δ crystals

We present measurements of the in-plane resistivity _ab of YBa₂Cu₃O_7– single crystals withT _c 92 K and _ab (100 K)50 cm. The temperature dependence of the fluctuation conductivity and of the magnetoconductivity aboveT _c is analyzed in terms of direct and indirect fluctuation contributions for layered superconductors. The combination of fluctuation conductivity and magnetoconductivity allows to determine both coherence lengths _ab (0) and _c (0) as well as the phase-relaxation time of the pairs in an unequivocal manner. Evidence for clean limit type-II superconductivity in our crystals is given by large values of the mean free pathl _{ab ab} (0).Dedicated to Prof. Dr. F. Hund on the occasion of his 95th birthday     

Incompatibility of hole-filling and pair-breaking in RBa2Cu3O7-δ superconductors

R-site magnetic rare-earth ions in superconducting RBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ cannot both fill holes and break pairs. Therefore the observation of both phenomena implies that some rare-earth ions occupy sites other than the R-sites, presumably Ba sites.     

Atomic structure of grain boundaries in YBa2Cu3O7-δ as observed by Z-contrast imaging

Determination of the atomic structure of grain boundaries is the key to fundamental understanding of the critical current density in polycrystalline superconductors. High-resolution images with incoherent characteristics, obtained using a high-angle annular detector on an atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscope, are used to study the atomic arrangements of these technologically important boundaries. The incoherent Z-contrast images do not experience contrast reversals with defocus or sample thickness and display no Fresnel Fringe effects at boundaries. Observed rigid shifts of atomic columns at grain boundaries are independent of sample thickness and objective lens defocus. These characteristics allow unambiguous and intuitive interpretations of the generated images. We find the atomic structures at grain boundaries in YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ are strongly influenced by the strong tendency of this compound to exist only as complete unit cells terminated at {001} and {100} planes. The weak-link behavior associated with high-angle grain boundaries may follow from this structure in which there is no clear connection between the {100} facets of adjacent grains. Symmetric grain boundaries where adjacent grains share a common boundary plane have also been observed in YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ. In these boundaries partial structural coupling of the grains is maintained. There is evidence that these two boundary forms produce junctions with very different superconducting properties.     

The Hubbard model and pressure effects of YBa2Cu3O7−δ superconductors

We apply a mean field approach to the extended Hubbard model on a square lattice to the YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ family of superconductors under pressure. The parameters of the tight-binding band are taken from experiments, and the coupling strength U and V are estimated by the zero pressure phase diagram (T_c×n_h). This scheme yields the non-trivial dependence of the superconductor critical temperature T_c as a function of the hole concentration n_h in the CuO₂ plane. With the assumption that the pressure P modifies the potential V and the on-plane hole content n_h, we can distinguish the charge transfer and the intrinsic contribution to T_c(P). We show that the changes on T_c(P) for the YBa₂Cu₃O₇ optimally doped compound at low pressures are almost entirely due to the intrinsic term.     

Anisotropy of normal resistivity in oxygen-deficient YBa2Cu3O7−x single crystals

Temperature dependences of the resistivity tensor components ρ_ab and ρ_c were measured for YBa₂Cu₃O_7?x single crystals with different oxygen contents. The resistivity anisotropy ρ_c/ρ_ab was found to grow exponentially with decreasing temperature. The results are compared with the predictions of different models describing transverse transport in the normal state of cuprate high-T _c superconductors.     

Transport properties and high Tc superconductivity in single phase Ba2DyCu3O7−δ

Results of resistivity, ac magnetic susceptibility, Hall effect and superconducting transition temperature measurements for single phase Ba₂DyCu₃O_7−δ are reported. The positive value of the Hall coefficient indicates than in the normal state the material conducts via holes with a carrier concentration of 1.0×10²¹cm^-3. A large anomaly in R_H near T_c is observed.     

Femtosecond relaxation dynamics of electronic processes and electron-phonon coupling in YBa2Cu3O7-δ and PrBa2Cu3O7 epitaxial films

The room temperature femtosecond relaxation dynamics of reflection spectra of YBa₂Cu₃O_7- with different oxygen contents and PrBa₂Cu₃O₇ epitaxial films have been studied. The relaxation times of R(t) in YBa₂Cu₃O_7- increase from less than 100 fs to more than 1 ps with increasing and with substitution of Pr for Y. The electron and lattice temperature profiles at these quasi-equilibrium state are calculated from the nonequilibrium energy-balance model. The process of electronphonon energy transfer was found to be dominated in our experiments. These results reveal that in 123 phase superconductors decrease of carrier concentration slows down the carrier-phonon coupling and the type of the electron-phonon interaction would be localized. The dependence of electron-phonon coupling to oxygen defects in YBa₂Cu₃O_7- was found to be exp(–).     

Correlation between the “fishtail” effect in the magnetization and the Schottky contribution in the specific heat of high purity YBA2Cu3O7−δ crystals

The irreversibility of the magnetization and the low temperature specific heat of high purity YBa₂Cu₃O_7– crystals are investigated. We find that the heat treatment that suppresses the magnetic fishtail effect also suppresses the Schottky component of the heat capacity. Both effects originate from the distribution of oxygen states.     

Determination of the critical current density and the flux pinning force in single crystals YBa2Cu3O7-δ from the magnetization hysteresis cycles

In this study, the magnetization measurements have been performed on high-temperature superconductor's single crystals YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ at large ranges of temperature T (15-85 K) and in magnetic fields up to 6T at different values of the angle θ between the applied magnetic field and c-axis. The critical current density Jc deduced from the magnetic hysteresis loops by the Bean formula for H parallel to the c-axis (θ=0°), our results have shown that the critical current density Jc was strongly dependent on the applied magnetic field. The pinning force Fp=Jc×μ₀H was determined from magnetization for H//c, however, a plot of the normalized pinning force density fp= Fp/Fpmax as a function of the reduced magnetic field h= H/Hirr at different temperatures have shown good scaling with the form fp ~h^p(1-h)^q, where p and q are scaling parameters. We also found that the point pinning is more dominant than surface pinning under high temperatures.     

Analysis of anisotropic electrical resistivity and fluctuation conductivity of YBa2Cu3O7−δ single crystals

For a large number of YBa₂Cu₃O_7– single crystals which were grown by a flux method in different crucibles the anisotropic resistivity has been measured. An analysis of the metallic in-plane resistivity _ab gives evidence for different carrier concentrations in the individual samples caused by different amounts of oxygen disorder effects in theab-planes. The temperature dependence of the out-of-plane resistivity c which is also metallic for the best samples is determined by the applied crucible material. From the luctuation conductivity in theab-plane aboveT _c the coherence length _c (0)2.5 Å can be determined in good agreement with values obtained fromH _c2 measurements.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. G. von Minnigerode on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Mössbauer studies of57Fe doped single crystals of GdBa2Cu3O7-δ

⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect measurements have been performed on single crystals of⁵⁷Fe doped GdBa₂Cu₃O_7- at various c-axis orientations and temperatures. The analysis of the data yields information on the sign and direction of V_zz, the direction of B_hf with respect to V_zz and the anisotropy of the f-factor for the individual observed three quadrupole doublets. From these data we conclude that the quadrupole doublet with E_Q 1.9 mm/s is due to Fe on a regular Cu(1)-site (4-fold oxygen coordination) with distorted local symmetry (V_zz isnot parallel to the c-axis), while the other quadrupole doublets have higher oxygen coordinations (higher Lamb-Mössbauer-factor).     

Raman study of the 90° grain boundaries in YBa2Cu3O7−δ thin films

YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (YBCO) films containing two different types of 90° grain boundaries were fabricated on the same substrates. Raman spectra from several parts of the basal-plane-faced tilt (TL) grain boundaries were measured and compared with those from the twist (TW) grain boundaries. The Raman results show that I(500)/I(340), the relative intensity of the A_1g mode near 500 cm⁻¹ with respect to that of the B_1g mode near 340 cm⁻¹, is suppressed in the TL boundaries, relative to the TW boundaries. The results can be interpreted to mean that the stress is stronger in the TL boundaries than in the TW boundaries. This may offer an alternative explanation for the weak-link behavior of the step-edge Josephson junctions.