Hysteresis of the magnetoresistance of granular HTSC YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7 − δ</Subscript> in weak fields

Hysteresis of the magnetoresistance of ceramic YBa₂Cu₃O_～6.95 HTSC samples is studied at T = 77.3 K in an external magnetic field H _ext changing in 0 → H _max → 0 cycles, where H _max is the maximum magnitude of H _ext. Information is obtained about the dependences of the critical fields of Josephson weak links H _c2J , the lower critical fields of superconducting grains H _c1A , and the critical fields H _BG-VG of the Bragg glass-vortex glass phase transition in the vortex matter on transport current I, magnetic field, and the mutual orientation of I and H _ext. It is found that the magnetoresistance δρ⁺/ρ_{273 K} measured with increasing H _ext is significantly higher than Δρ^?/ρ_{273 K} and that H _c2J ⁺ < H _c2J ^? , H _c1A ⁺ < H _c1A ^? , and H _BG-VG ⁺ < H _BG-VG ^? .     

Penetration of a magnetic field into the YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7−δ</Subscript> high-temperature superconductor: Magnetoresistance in weak magnetic fields

The penetration of a magnetic field into superconducting grains and weak links of YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ ceramic high-temperature superconductors is investigated using measurements of the transverse and longitudinal magnetoresistances at T=77.3 K and 0≤H≤～500 Oe as a function of the transport current in the range ～0.01≤I/I _c ≤～0.99. The effects associated with the complete penetration of Josephson vortices into weak links of the high-temperature superconductor in magnetic fields H_c2J, the onset of penetration of Abrikosov vortices into superconducting grains in magnetic fields H_c1A, and the first-order transition from the Bragg glass phase to the vortex glass phase in fields H_BG-VG are revealed and interpreted. The I-H phase diagrams YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ high-temperature superconductors are constructed for I ⊥ H and I ‖ H.     

Phase transition in the vortex structure of granular YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7 − δ</Subscript> HTSCs in weak magnetic fields

This study aims at establishing the interrelation between the current-carrying capacity and peculiarities of magnetoresistance of granular YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 ? δ} HTSCs (T _c = 92.5 K). The transverse magnetoresistance of several batches of YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 ? δ} HTSC samples with noticeably different values of critical supercurrent density j _c is measured in magnetic fields H _ext up to H _ext ^max ≈ 500 Oe in a wide range of transport currents (5 mA ≤ I ≤ 1600 mA) at T = 77.4 K. Samples with relatively high values of j _c (H _ext = 0) ≥ 100 A/cm² do not exhibit any anomalies in their field dependences. Magnetoresistance jumps δρ_BG-VG/ρ_273K are observed for samples with low values of j _c ≥ 20 A/cm² in fields H _BG-VG ≈ 200–260 Oe. The width ΔH _BG-VG of the anomalous resistance region increases upon an increase in I. The magnetoresistance jumps decrease with increasing I in increasing field H _ext(0 → H _ext ^max ) and increase in decreasing field H _ext(H _ext ^max → 0). It is found that these peculiarities of the field dependences of magnetoresistance are associated with a first-order phase transition (in magnetic field) in the vortex structure of YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 ? δ} HTSCs of the Bragg glass-vortex glass type.     

Anomalous temperature dependence of magnetic relaxation in YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7 − δ</Subscript> oxygen-deficient single crystals

The dependence of the magnetization relaxation rate S = ?d lnM/dlnt on temperature T is measured in YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 ? δ} samples with various oxygen concentrations. It is found that the S(T) curve changes qualitatively when oxygen deficit δ exceeds the threshold value δ_th = 0.37. For δ < δ_th (T _c > 60 K, where T _c is the superconducting transition temperature), function S(T) has the well-known peak at T/T _c = 0.4. For δ > δ_th (at T _c < 51 K), this peak transforms into a plateau and a new sharp peak appears at T/T _c = 0.1. The threshold value δ_th of the oxygen deficit corresponds to the transition of the sample from the disordered state into the ordered state of oxygen vacancies. We consider the change in the shape of the S(T) curve as a macroscopic manifestation of this transition.     

Peculiarities in galvanomagnetic properties of granular YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7−δ</Subscript> high-temperature superconductors in very weak magnetic fields

The character of the evolution of a system of weak links in granular high-temperature superconductors under the action of an external magnetic field H _ext has been studied by measuring the current-voltage characteristics E(j)_{Hext = const}E{(j)_{{H_{ext}} = const}} of YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 − δ} (δ ≈ 0.05) ceramic samples. The measurements have been performed at T = 77.3 K in a range of very weak magnetic fields 0 < H _ext ≲ 0.5H _c2J, where H _c2J is the upper critical field of the Josephson weak links. The results have been used to construct the field dependences of the magnetoresistance Δρ(H _ext) of the superconducting ceramics. It has been established that the parameters of the power equation E = A(j − j _cJ)^ν and the magnetoresistance Δρ are nonmonotonic functions of the external magnetic field. The presence of extrema in the curves A(H _ext), j _cJ(H _ext), ν(H _ext), and Δρ(H _ext) indicates that different systems of weak links between grain boundaries, which are capable of forming extended Josephson contacts, undergo sequential transitions to a resistive state with an increase in H _ext.     

Trapping of a magnetic flux in granular YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7 − δ</Subscript> high-temperature superconductors under the action of an external magnetic field and transport current

Magnetic flux trapping (MFT) in granular YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 − δ} high-temperature superconductors (HTSCs) is studied. At T = 77.36 K, the dependence of the hysteresis of the transverse magnetoresistance on transport current I and the maximum value of external magnetic field H _ext is found in the measurement cycle 0 → H _ext^max → 0. The dependences of the parameters characterizing MFT, namely, residual magnetoresistance, field H _min at which the magnetoresistance is minimal, and the magnetoresistance at H _ext = H _min, on I and H _ext^maxare determined. MFT is found to occur in HTSC granules under the action of an external magnetic field exceeding the lower critical field of superconducting granules H _c1A, and the transport current only weakly affects the magnitude of MFT.     

Contribution of superconducting grains and grain boundaries to the magnetoresistance of ceramic YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7 − δ</Subscript> high-temperature superconductors in weak magnetic fields

The current-voltage characteristics of granular YBa₂Cu₃O_6.95 high-temperature superconductor samples have been measured at a temperature of 77.3 K in external transverse magnetic fields H _ext with a strength of up to H _ext ≈ 500 Oe for low transport current densities (0.1 A/cm² ≤ j ≤ 0.6 A/cm²). The current-voltage characteristics obtained have been used to construct dependences of the magnetoresistance ρ on the quantities j (ρ(j) _Hext=const) and H _ext(ρ(H _ext) _{j = const}). It has been revealed that the current and field dependences of the magnetoresistance exhibit anomalies at H _ext ≥ H _c1g , where H _c1g is the lower critical field of superconducting grains. A comparative analysis of the dependences ρ(j)H _{ext = const} and ρ(H _ext) _{j = const} has made it possible to develop concepts regarding the influence of the processes of redistribution of the magnetic field between grain boundaries and superconducting grains on the transport and galvanomagnetic properties of granular high-temperature superconductors. It has been established that the field dependences of the magnetoresistance exhibit specific features associated with the beginning of penetration of Josephson vortices into grain boundaries in the magnetic field H _c1J and with the breaking of a continuous chain of Josephson junctions in the magnetic field H _c2J .     

Temperature dependence of the critical current of YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7−δ</Subscript> films

The temperature dependence of the critical current of YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ films is studied experimentally. The performed analysis allows separating two components of the critical current owing to pinning of vortices both on defects in the volume of the superconductor and on oxygen vacancies in the CuO₂ planes. The established temperature dependences of components make it possible to correctly describe the behavior of the total critical current in the studied temperature range from 4.2 K to the irreversibility temperature.     

Phase transitions and vortex structure evolution in two-level high-temperature granular superconductor YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7 – δ</Subscript> under temperature and magnetic field

Temperature dependences of the resistivity ρ(T) of samples of granular high-temperature superconductor YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 – δ} are measured at various transverse external magnetic fields at 0 < H _ext < 1900 Оe in the temperature range from the upper Josephson critical temperature of “weak bonds” T _c2J to temperatures slightly exceeding the superconducting transition temperature T _c . Based on the data obtained, the behavior of the field dependences of the critical temperatures of superconducting grains and “weak bonds,” and temperature and field dependences of the magnetic contribution to the resistivity \(\left[ {\Delta \rho \left( {T,H} \right) = \rho {{\left( T \right)}_{{H_{ext}} = const}} - \rho {{\left( T \right)}_{{H_{ext}} = 0}}} \right]\). It is shown that the behavior of the magnetic contribution to the resistivity Δρ along the line of the phase transition related to the onset of the magnetic field penetration in the form of Abrikosov vortices into the subsystem of superconducting grains T _c1g (H _ext) is anomalous. The concepts on the magnetic flux redistribution between both subsystems of two-level HTSC near in the vicinity of T _c1g : the Josephson vortex decreases, and the Abrikosov vortex density increases.     

Current-carrying capability of GdBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7−x</Subscript> HTSC tapes in magnetic fields in the temperatute range of 2–100 K

The current-carrying capability of the second-generation HTSC tapes based on GdBa₂Cu₃O_7?x (GdBCO), produced by the SuperOx Company by the pulsed laser deposition method is studied. Critical currents inmagnetic fields aremeasured by resistive andmagnetic (using a SQUID magnetometer) methods. The results obtained are compared with characteristics of an YBCO tape grown by chemical deposition (SuperPower, USA).     

Detection of YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7−x</Subscript> magnetization nonlinearity in a pseudogap region

The temperature dependences of magnetization higher harmonics were studied experimentally in single-domain YBa₂Cu₃O_7?x samples above T _c . YBa₂Cu₃O_7?x magnetization nonlinearity was found in different samples up to temperatures T = 103–112 K, which is much higher than the temperature of transition into the superconducting state of the given compound. The observed specific feature of YBa₂Cu₃O_7?x magnetization is associated with the occurrence of pseudogap state in this compound.     

Paramagnetism of copper–oxygen chains in high-temperature YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>6 + δ</Subscript> superconductors

Experimental evidence for the existence of chain paramagnetic Curie-type contributions to the temperature dependence of static magnetic susceptibility χ(T) in the normal (nonsuperconducting) state is obtained for a series of pure YBa₂Cu₃O_{6 + δ} high temperature superconductors with different oxygen contents (0.6 < δ ≤ 1). It is shown that the chain contribution is obvious on χ(T) curves only in the T < 150K range of temperatures, grows along with the number of oxygen vacancies in Cu1–O4 chains, and depends on the ordering of these vacancies.     

Magnetic field penetration into the weak-link system of the YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> granular superconductor

The differential magnetic susceptibility χ_d(H) of YBa₂Cu₃O_7?x polycrystalline samples is studied experimentally in fields H<150 Oe. The empirical χ_d(H) dependence is determined. The results are explained on the basis of the critical-state model of a Josephson medium with hypervortices.     

Percolation nature of the 60-K to 90-K phase transition in YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>6 + δ</Subscript>

The temperature dependence of the heat capacity of the HTSC YBa₂Cu₃O_{6 + δ} is measured in the temperature range 1.8–300 K and the doping range 0.70 < δ < 0.86. The results obtained suggest that the transition from the 60-K to the 90-K phase in YBa₂Cu₃O_{6 + δ} has a percolation nature and that the underdoped 60-K phase represents a heterophase structure in which numerous superconducting clusters are embedded into an insulating matrix.     

Effective demagnetization factor of quasi-single-crystal and granular YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> thin disks

The effective demagnetization factor n_eff of quasi-single-crystal and granular YBa₂Cu₃O_7?x thin disks with different values of the edge barrier height, bulk pinning, and demagnetization is measured by a Hall probe with the use of a trapped magnetic flux as a test field. As the trapped magnetic flux increases, n_eff reaches a maximum as a function of the external field; the qualitative behavior of this maximum is independent of the morphology of a sample. It is shown that, when the densities of intragranular and intergranular critical currents differ by about one and a half orders of magnitude, the demagnetization factor n_eff is mainly determined by the geometry of a sample rather than by the energy of Josephson coupling between grains. The experimental results are in agreement with the results of calculations performed within the proposed model of isolated crystallites (grains).     

Features of the Terahertz Photoconductivity in YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7–δ</Subscript> near the Superconducting Transition Temperature

Positive terahertz photoconductivity has been observed in underdoped high-temperature superconductors YBa₂Cu₃O_7–δ at temperatures somewhat higher than the midpoint of the superconducting transition. The amplitude of the effect is almost independent of the temperature and the power of the incident radiation if the latter exceeds a certain threshold value. The mechanisms responsible for the appearance of the effect are discussed.     

Nanostructural inhomogeneity of EuBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>6 + δ</Subscript> superconductors

Samples of high-temperature superconducting oxide EuBa₂Cu₃O_{6 + δ} (Eu-123) with total cationic composition Eu: Ba: Cu = 1: 2: 3 are investigated by means of local X-ray microanalysis and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The cationic nonstoichiometry of Eu-123 oxide is revealed. The particles of the studied samples are inhomogeneous in structure on the nanoscale, with two types of inhomogeneities: one with typical sizes of one to several nanometers, and one with typical sizes of 10 to 20 nm, respectively.     

Controllable generation of harmonics by means of YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> superconductors

The nonlinear magnetic properties of YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 − x} high-temperature superconducting polycrystals are investigated. Using the results of investigations as a basis, a method for controlling the amplitudes of generated magnetization harmonics is worked out and a controllable harmonic generator is devised. The amplitudes of the harmonics are controlled by means of a permanent magnetic field or current. The use of YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 − x} polycrystals makes it possible to produce a spectrum with offering a large number of higher harmonics. An YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 − x} -based device has a wide dynamic range; its design is simple and reliable in a wide interval of the amplitudes of an input signal.     

Surface of underdoped YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7-</Subscript><Subscript>δ</Subscript> as revealed by STM/STS

We performed scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy on untwinned crystals of underdoped YBa₂Cu₃O_{7- δ} at δ = 0.4. A comprehensive statistical analysis of our topographic data indicates a doping dependent cleaving behavior of this material. We find in particular that at δ = 0.4 the material primarily cleaves in multiples of one unit cell along the c-axis with a high corrugation of the topmost layer. Our data suggest that the low temperature cleaving mainly results in a disruption of the CuO chain layers involving a redistribution of the layer atoms onto the two cleaving planes. In a few instances, fractional step heights (in terms of the c-axis lattice constant) are observed as well. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy reveals that such fractional steps connect surfaces which differ significantly in their tunneling conductance.     

Meissner effect in the underdoped YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>6+<Emphasis Type="Italic">δ</Emphasis></Subscript> HTSC phase

The dependence of the superconducting (Meissner) phase volume V _m on the YBa₂Cu₃O_6+δ doping level was studied. It was found that V _m monotonically decreases as the doping level is lowered and vanishes at the same value of δ ～ 0.3 as T_c does. It was concluded that the T_c decrease and the increase in the pseudogap formation temperature T* as the doping level is lowered are caused by a decrease in the average size of superconducting clusters. This conclusion suggests an extraordinary superconductivity mechanism in HTSC.