Quantum-gas model estimate for wide range of superconducting critical temperatures

A quantum mechanical model requiring only strong quantum interaction for a charged particle gas estimates the superconducting transition temperature for wide-ranging states of matter. A general equation is derived which estimates the critical temperatureT _c the energy gap, and the coherence length for the classical metallic superconductors, heavy-electron superconductors, the perovskites, metallic hydrogen, and neutron stars. Estimates forT _c , the coherence length, and the energy gap which are model independent for coupling mechanisms agree well with accepted values for these materials. Estimates are made for threedimensional quasi-two and quasi-one-dimensional states.     

On the dependence of the critical temperature on pressure in the bisoliton model of high temperature superconductors

Abstract

In the framework of the bisoliton model we have studied the critical temperature T _c, as a function of the pressure P and of the hole concentration δ for the high temperature superconductors YBa₂Cu₃O_x and (La_1-xM_x)₂CuO₄. Our results for δ ln T_c/δ ln V as a function of T _c describe quite satisfactorily the general trend of the experimental data. Furthermore we show that in the bisoliton model the energy gap δ (in units of Jg³/3, where J is the nearest-neighbour exchange integral and g is the nonlinearity parameter) is an universal function of δ/g. An analogous property is valid for T _c By fitting the maximum value of T _c we are able also to reproduce the experimental data for T _c(δ).     

Tunneling spectroscopy of layered superconductors: intercalated Li0.48(C4H8O)xHfNCl and De-intercalated HfNCl0.7

Tunneling measurements have been carried out on layered superconductors of the β(SmSI)-type – Li_0.48(THF)_xHfNCl (THF?=?C₄H₈O) and HfNCl_0.7 – by means of break-junction and scanning tunneling spectroscopy. Break-junction technique reveals Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) – like gap structures with typical gap values of 2Δ (4.2 K) = 11–12 meV for Li_0.48(THF)_xHfNCl with the highest T_c = 25.5 K. Some of our measurements revealed multiple gaps and dip-hump structures, the largest gap 2Δ (4.2 K) ≈ 17–20 meV closing at T_c. This was shown both by break-junction and scanning-tunneling spectroscopy. From these experiments it stems that the highest obtained gap ratio 2Δ/k_BT_c ~ 8 substantially exceeds the BCS weak-coupling limiting values: ≈3.5 and ≈4.3 for s-wave and d-wave order parameter symmetry, respectively. Such large 2Δ/k_BT_c ratios are rather unusual for conventional superconductors but quite common to high-T_c cuprates, as well as to organic superconductors. Our studies allowed to collect much more evidence concerning the huge pairing energy in those materials and to investigate in detail the complexity of their superconducting gap spectra. An origin of the observed phenomena still remains to be clarified.     

非晶态超导体的转变温度Tc与原子质量的关系

本文探讨非晶态超导体的T_c与原子质量M之间的关系,发现在具有相同价电子数的同族元素中,超导T_c与原子质量的立方根成反比,即T_c∝l/M^1/3。讨论了晶态超导体的T_c问题,其中包括高T_c氧化物超导体。 关键词：     

Temperature dependence of the superconducting energy gap from conductance curves

Summary An analytic relationship between the values of the applied voltages which produce a maximum in the differential conductance and the energy gap is derived for BCS isotropic superconductors. The different methods of deduction of the temperature dependence of the gap in high-T _c superconductors are analysed.     

Singularity of the vortex density of states in d-wave superconductors

In d-wave superconductors, the electronic density of states (DOS) induced by a vortex exhibits a divergence at low energies: N _vortex(E) ∼1/|E|. This divergence is the result of gap nodes in the spectrum of excitation outside the vortex core. The heat capacity in two regimes, T ²/T _c ² ≫ B/B _c 2 and T ²/T _c ² ≪ B/B _c 2, is discussed. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 64, No. 9, 641–645 (10 November 1996) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.     

HighT c superconductivity in the itinerant ising model: Spin singlet pairing

We study the spin singlet superconductivity exhibited in an itinerant Ising model Hamiltonian. This Hamiltonian models the Cu–O layers in highT _c oxide superconductors. Electrons are itinerant through nearest neighbor hopping. An Ising term is introduced to describe the antiferromagnetic superexchange interaction between electrons nominally on nearest neighbor Cu sites. We discuss various symmetry states allowed by the model, and give detailed predictions of the superconducting energy gap, specific heat, susceptibility, andT _c variation with carrier concentration. Results are compared to experimental data on highT _c superconductors and reasonable agreement is obtained.     

The Nuclear Quadrupole Interaction in High Temperature Superconductors

Abstract

Since their discovery in 1986 [11], the high temperature superconducting (HTS) copper oxides have presented a continuing challenge to both experiment and theory. The identification of the underlying mechanism (or mechanisms) responsible for their superconductivity remains an unanswered question. Numerous theories have been proposed ranging from phonon-mediated pairing of the charge carriers, similar to the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) [2] theory developed for conventional low-temperature superconductors, to novel concepts independent of phonons [3–-l0]. For conventional superconductors the variation of the transition temperature T_c , with isotopic mass M (from BCS theory T_c ～ M^?a ) was an important verification of the contribution of electron-phonon interactions to electron pairing. Measurements of this effect of HTS cuprates resulted in isotope shifts much smaller than predicted by theory [ll-14], raising doubts about the role of phonons. However, Barbee [15] argued that the size of the isotope shift is not a unique indicator of phonon-mediated pairing. Since the HTS materials contain Cu ions with partially filled 3d shells, many of the alternative theories of HTS have focused on magnetic interactions and associated spin fluctuations [3–10]. The reader is referred to Ref. 16 for the details of other theories that have been proposed and to the article by Schrieffer and Anderson [17) for an overview discussion of the theory of high temperature superconductivity.     

Temperature dependence of the YBa2Cu3O7 energy gap in differently oriented tunnel junctions

We have applied the break-junction technique to highly biepitaxial c-axis oriented YBa₂Cu₃O₇ thin films with T _C (ρ=0) = 91 K. Mechanically adjustable junctions with a good stability and tunneling current favored along the ab-planes have been realized. The conductance characteristics of these junctions show the presence of gap related maxima that move towards zero bias for increasing temperatures. Considering the misorientation angle α≈ 45 ^° ± 5 ^° of the junction, a maximum gap value at the Fermi level Δ ≈ 22 meV is inferred at T = 13 K. The temperature dependence of the gap related structures, shows a quasilinear behavior for T > 0.4 T _C similar to that observed in c-axis oriented, S-I-N type YBa₂Cu₃O₇ planar junctions. Received 20 July 2001     

Phenomenological theory of superfluidity and superconductivity

Quantum condensation is used here as the basis for a phenomenological theory of superfluidity and superconductivity. It leads to remarkably good calculations of the transition temperaturesT _c of superfluid³He and⁴He, as well as a large number of cuprate, heavy fermion, organic, dichalcogenide, and bismuth oxide superconductors. Although this approach may apply least to the long-coherence-length metallics, reasonably good estimates are made for them and chevral superconductors.T _c for atomic H is estimated.T _c can be calculated as a function of number density or density of states and effective mass of normal carriers; or alternatively with the Fermi energy as the only input parameter. Predictions are made for a total of 26 superconductors and four superfluids. An estimate is also made for coherence lengths.     

Intrinsic tunneling study of underdoped Bi2Sr2-xLaxCuO6+δ superconductors

We report on a tunneling study of underdoped submicron Bi₂Sr_2-xLa_xCuO_6+δ (La-Bi2201) intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJs), whose self-heating is sufficiently suppressed. The tunneling spectra are measured from 4.2 K up to the pseudogap opening temperature of T^* = 260 K. The gap value found from the spectral peak position is about 35 meV and has a weak temperature dependence both below and above the superconducting transition temperature of T_c = 29 K. Since the superconducting gap should have a value of 10-15 meV, our results indicate that the pseudogap (～35 meV) plays an important role in the underdoped La-Bi2201 intrinsic tunneling spectroscopy down to the lowest temperature of 4.2 K. However, the contribution of the superconducting gap can be separated by normalizing the spectra to the one near and above T_c, which shows that the IJJs can be a useful tool for the study of the electronic properties of the La-Bi2201 cuprate superconductors.     

Surface states and tunneling spectroscopy of high-Tcsuperconductors

Recent studies of high- T_csuperconductors have clarified new aspects of tunneling spectroscopy. The unconventional pairing states, i.e. d-wave symmetry in these materials have been established through various measurements. Differently from isotropic s-wave superconductors, d-wave pairing states have an internal phase of the pair potential. The internal phase modifies the surface states due to the interference effect of the quasiparticles. Along these lines, a novel formula of tunneling spectroscopy has been presented that fully takes into account of the anisotropy of the pair potential. The most essential difference of this formula from conventional ones is that it suggests the phase-sensitive capability of tunneling spectroscopy. The formula suggests that the symmetry of the pair potential is determined by the orientational dependence measurements of tunneling spectroscopy. Along these lines, several experiments have been performed on high-T_c superconductors. The observation of the zero-bias conductance peaks (ZBCP) on Y Ba₂Cu₃O_{7 − δ}strongly suggests the d_{x² − y²}-wave pairing states of hole-doped high-T_c superconductors. On the other hand, the absence of ZBCP on (electron-doped)Nd_1.85Ce_0.15CuO_{4 − δ}indicates that the pair potential of this material is a nodeless state. In this paper, recent developments of tunneling spectroscopy for anisotropic superconductors are reviewed both on theoretical and experimental aspects.     

From fundamentals to gap nanoengineering of high-Tc and related oxides

Complete understanding of fundamentals of a given class of electronic materials often produces successful new technology. In analogy with a successful (Al)GaAs band-gap engineering, I discuss an equivalent nanotechnology of high-T_c (and related) oxides. Controlled heteroepitaxy of layered oxides provides the opportunity to design the desired superconducting gap and/or insulating barrier. However, the progress is somewhat hindred by difficult local doping and non-homogeneous oxygen distribution in some oxides. I also briefly discuss puzzling electronic properties across the electronic phase diagram: the `pseudogap' controversy, metal–insulator transition and the anomalous transport. As we solve remaining obstacles we shall be able to tailor the electronic (and/or magnetic) properties of most layered oxides. New concepts and applications will emerge, yet for successful ambient nanelectronics of the 21st century we should first learn to artificially `construct' colossal layered superconductors with T_c≈450 K.     

Critical disorder effects in Josephson-coupled quasi-one-dimensional superconductors

Effects of non-magnetic randomness on the critical temperature T _c and diamagnetism are studied in a class of quasi-one dimensional superconductors. The energy of Josephson-coupling between wires is considered to be random, which is typical for dirty organic superconductors. We show that this randomness destroys phase coherence between the wires and T _c vanishes discontinuously when the randomness reaches a critical value. The parallel and transverse components of the penetration depth are found to diverge at different critical temperatures T _c ⁽¹⁾ and T _c , which correspond to pair-breaking and phase-coherence breaking. The interplay between disorder and quantum phase fluctuations results in quantum critical behavior at T = 0, manifesting itself as a superconducting-normal metal phase transition of first-order at a critical disorder strength.     

The specific heat of Y0.7Th0.3C1.58

The specific heat of the novel high temperature superconductor Y_0.7Th_0.3C_1.58 (T_c = 17.0 K) has been measured between 4 and 22 K. Unlike the other known high temperature superconductors (T_c > 16 K) which have either an A-15 or a NaCl-type structure, this material forms in the b.c.c., Pu₂C₃-type, structure. The Debye temperature, θ_D, is 346 K and the linear term coefficient, γ, of the specific heat has the value 4.66 mJ/mole-K². Thus the electronic density of states, N(0), which is proportional to γ, is quite low. The energy gap, 2Δ/kT_c, on the other hand has an anomalously high value of 5.8. Comparisons between these parameters of Y_0.7Th_0.3C_1.58 and those for some A-15 and NaCl-type superconductors are made.     

Electromagnetic response of unconventional superconductors

The magnetic field penetration depth, surface resistance and far infrared reflectivity are calculated for two anisotropic order parameters having either points or lines of nodes in the energy gap. Resonant impurity scattering is taken into account for a wide range of scattering rates. Comparison with experimental results on heavy Fermion superconductors shows that the order parameter cannot be deduced unambiguously from the temperature dependence of the penetration depth. Fits to surface resistance measurements on UBe₁₃ are best in the Born approximation, rather than the unitarity limit. Experiments on high-T _c materials are largely inconclusive, offering little support for the applicability of BCS theory and providing no evidence against novel pairing interactions leading to unusual order parameters.     

The vortex-like excitations detected by Nernst signals in high-Tc superconductors

The nature of the pseudogap state and its relation to the d-wave superconductivity in high-T _c superconductors is still an open issue. The vortex-like excitations detected by the Nernst effect measurements exist in a certain temperature range above superconducting transition temperature T _c, which strongly support that the pseudogap phase is characterized by finite pairing amplitude with strong phase fluctuations and imply that the phase transition at T _c is driven by the loss of long-range phase coherence. We first briefly introduce the electronic phase diagram and pseudogap state of high-T _c superconductors, and then review the results of Nernst effect for different high-T _c superconductors. Related theoretical models are also discussed.     

Workshop on fast structural changes

Copper-oxide (cuprate) high-temperature superconductors are doped Mott insulators. The undoped parent compounds are antiferromagnetic insulators, and superconductivity occurs only when an appropriate number of charge carriers (electrons or holes) are introduced by doping. All cuprate materials contain CuO₂ planes (Figure 1a) in their crystal structure; the doped carriers are believed to go into these CuO₂ planes, which are responsible for high-temperature superconductivity. High-temperature superconductors are characterized by their unusual physical properties, both in the superconducting state (below the superconducting transition temperature T_c) and in the normal state (above T_c). Since the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in 1986 [1], these unusual physical properties and the mechanism of superconductivity have been prominent issues in condensed matter physics [2].