Anisotropy of the heat capacity of a mixed-state superconducting Nd<Subscript>1.85</Subscript>Ce<Subscript>0.15</Subscript>CuO<Subscript>4</Subscript> single crystal for various magnetic field orientations with respect to the crystallographic axes

The anisotropy in the superconducting properties of single-crystal Nd_1.85Ce_0.15CuO₄ was studied from measurements of the heat capacity within the temperature interval 2–40 K in zero magnetic field and in a magnetic field of 8 T. We report on the first observation of heat capacity jumps occurring at the superconducting transition for various magnetic field orientations with respect to the crystallographic axes and on a strong anisotropy of the magnetic contribution to heat capacity in magnetic fields oriented in the a-b plane and perpendicular to it. These measurements yielded the anisotropy in the electronic heat capacity coefficient γ_n(H) and in the superconducting transition temperature T_c(H). The angular dependence of the Sommerfeld coefficient γ_n in the a-b plane observed in a magnetic field of 8 T exhibits four-lobe symmetry and zero gap direction of the order parameter. A comparison of the results obtained on the Nd_1.85Ce_0.15CuO₄ single crystal with the data available for La_1.85Sr_0.15CuO₄ permits one to conclude that the mechanisms of superconductivity in the electron-and hole-doped superconductors are similar.     

Superconductivity and calorimetric studies of Pr1.85Ce0.15CuO4+δ under different annealing conditions

Polycrystalline samples of electron-doped Pr_1.85Ce_0.15CuO_4+δ have been prepared under different annealing conditions and investigated by means of X-ray-diffraction, oxygen content analysis, electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility and low temperature specific heat measurements. X-ray-diffraction patterns show that samples contain a single T′ phase. The superconducting transition temperatures T_cm taken with the onset of diamagnetism in magnetic-susceptibility measurements are 20 and 19.5 K for sample annealed in flowing Ar gas and in vacuum (∼10⁻³ torr), respectively. The data of the samples, which are annealed in flowing Ar gas, show clear evidence for an αT² term at zero magnetic field in superconducting electronic specific heat, and are consistent with d-wave superconductivity. However, this behavior is not observed in the other sample, which is annealed in vacuum. These results indicate that different heat treatments affect the oxygen content, homogeneity, superconducting transition temperature T_c, superconducting volume fraction, and the superconducting pairing symmetry of Pr_1.85Ce_0.15CuO_4+δ.     

Specific heat of the electronic superconductor Pr1.85Ce0.15CuO4

We have investigated the specific heat of the ceramic Pr_1.85Ce_0.15CuO₄ in the temperature range 2–800K in magnetic fields up to 8 T. We have determined the magnitude of the specific-heat discontinuity at the superconducting transition ΔC/T _c and estimate the coefficient of the electronic specific heat. In the temperature interval 5–800K we have separated out the phonon contribution to the specific heat, determined the temperature dependence of the characteristic Debye temperature Θ, and calculated the mean frequencies (moments) of the phonon spectrum. We compare the parameter values obtained in this way with data for the compound La_1.85Sr_0.15CuO₄ having similar crystal structure, but hole conductivity. The magnitude of the specific-heat discontinuity and consequently the effective electron mass in the “electronic” superconductor Pr_1.85Ce_0.15CuO₄ is several times smaller than in the “hole” superconductor La_1.85Sr_0.15CuO₄. The phonon spectrum in Pr_1.85Ce_0.15CuO₄ in the low-energy region is somewhat “more rigid,” and in the high-energy region somewhat “softer” than in La_1.85Sr_0.15CuO₄. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 1154–1159 (July 1999)     

Is Nd2−xCexCuO4 an electron-superconductor?

We present results from electron energy-loss spectroscopy on Nd_2–xCe_xCuO₄. There is no clear evidence for Cu¹⁺ but for holes at the oxygen sites. The valency of Ce is found to be close to 3.4. Thus our results do not corroboraten-type superconductivity in this compound.     

Jahn-Teller effect and the orbital ground state of Cu2+ ions in Eu2CuO4 and La2CuO4 crystals

Local ion displacements and their anharmonicity in Eu₂CuO₄ and La₂CuO₄ crystals are studied by high-precision x-ray diffractometry. A symmetry analysis and the temperature behavior of the probability density function of Cu²⁺ ions reveal a degenerate ground orbital state in the Eu₂CuO₄ crystal (tetragonal doublet d _xz, d _yz). The pattern and anharmonicity of the local displacements are found to be determined not only by lattice vibrations but by 2D antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations in the CuO₂ sheet as well. By contrast, in the La₂CuO₄ crystal the orbital ground state of the Cu²⁺ ion is a singlet (d _z 2). The pattern of Eu³⁺ local displacements and their effect on the properties of the Cu subsystem in the Eu₂CuO₄ crystal are also studied. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 1600–1608 (September 1997)     

Magnetic and superconducting properties of Tl(Sr1.5R0.5)CaCu2O7−δ compounds

DC magnetic susceptibility and resistivity measurements have been performed on 14 Tl(Sr_1.5R_0.5)CaCu₂O_7−δ compounds with R=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu. All samples except the Ce-doped compound show superconducting phase transition temperature around 80–90 K. The rare-earth atoms behave as local moments above the superconducting transition temperature of these compounds. Mechanism of filling of holes in the CuO₂ plane can be employed to interpret the suppression or enhancement of superconductivity by rare-earth ions in Tl(Sr_1.5R_0.5)CaCu₂O_7−δ.     

Hole superconductivity in Nd2 − zCezCuO4

The reclassification of Nd_2 − zCe_zCuO₄from an electron superconductor to a hole superconductor is suggested by simple valence and electrostatics arguments: In Nd_2 − zCe_zCuO₄, isolated Ce substituting for Nd is not an electron donor; the proposed actual dopant is a defect-complex of Ce and interstitial oxygen which provides holes, making Nd_2 − zCe_zCuO₄a hole superconductor.     

WEAK FERROMAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF Eu1.85Ca0.15CuO4

A weak ferromagnetic transition has been observed for the T'-type compound Eu_1.85Ca_0.15CuO₄. The samples were prepared by a high pressure (5 GPa) synthesis technique. Their transition temperature occurred at 27 K. At 5 K the residual magnetization was 0.033 emu/g, the coercive force was 6.3×10⁴ A/m and the saturation field was larger than 1.6×10⁵ A/m. A field cooling method is proposed as a very convenient way to determine the residual magnetization and coercive force. The compound Eu_1.85Ca_0.15CuO₄ is suggested to use as a sensor to measure the remanant field of SQUID magnetometer.     

Observation of Cooper pairs in high-temperature superconductors by 67Cu(67Zn) Mössbauer spectroscopy

A Mössbauer emission spectroscopy study on the ⁶⁷Cu(⁶⁷Zn) isotope showed that the superconducting transition in the Nd_1.85Ce_0.15CuO₄, La_1.85Sr_0.15CuO₄, and Tl₂Ba₂CaCu₂O₈ compounds is accompanied by an electron density redistribution in the crystal, which is considered evidence of Cooper-pair Bose condensation.     

119Sn and57Fe Mössbauer study of La2−x Sr x CuO4

Mössbauer absorption measurements were carried out for¹¹⁹Sn and⁵⁷Fe impurities in La₂CuO₄, La_1.85Sr_0.15CuO₄ and La_1.6Sr_0.4CuO₄. For all cases,⁵⁷Fe spectra at 4.2 K show magnetic hyperfine splittings. On the other hand, a magnetic hyperfine field at Sn nucleus is observed only in the case of La_1.85Sr_0.15CuO₄. The results indicate that the Cu magnetic spins are collectively fluctuating in the superconducting sample.     

151Eu Mössbauer effect study of T′- and T*-phase superconductors

The (La,Eu(₂ CuO ₄ system shows superconductivity by dopingCe orSr. Carriers inT′-phase doped withCe are electrons and those inT ^*-phase doped withSr are holes. In this work,¹⁵¹ Eu Mössbauer analysis is applied for theT′-phase(La _1?x Eu _x)_2?y Ce _y CuO ₄ and theT ^*-phase(La _1?x Eu _x)_2?y Sr _y CuO ₄ in order to compare the electronic state and the lattice vibration ofEu in these superconductors. In addition, correlations betweenT _c and Mössbauer parameters are examined. The isomer shift of¹⁵¹ Eu is 0.784–0.840 mm/s in theT ^*-phase and 0.689–0.733 mm/s in theT′-phase, which shows that the lanthanide in these superconductors is tri-valent. The Debye temperature of¹⁵¹ Eu is 180–208 K in theT ^*-phase and 160–192 K in theT′-phase. The difference of isomer shift between these two phases is explained by theEu?O distance. For(La _1?x Eu _x)_2?y Ce _y CuO ₄, a light correlation betweenT _c and the Debye temperature is observed, which means the importance of the lattice vibration in high-Tc superconductivity.     

Luminescence properties of phosphors based on Tb<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al<Subscript>5</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript> (TbAG) terbium-aluminum garnet

The processes of excitation energy transfer in phosphors based on single-crystal Tb₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce (TbAG:Ce) and Tb₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce,Eu (TbAG:Ce,Eu) garnet films have been investigated. These films are considered to be promising materials for screens for X-ray images and luminescence converters of blue LED radiation. The conditions for excitation energy transfer from the matrix (Tb³⁺ cations) to Ce³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions in TbAG:Ce and TbAG:Ce,Eu phosphors have been analyzed in detail. It is established that a cascade process of excitation energy transfer from Tb³⁺ ions to Ce³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions and from Ce³⁺ ions to Eu³⁺ ions is implemented in TbAG:Ce,Eu via dipole-dipole interaction and through the Tb³⁺ cation sublattice.     

High resolution neutron scattering study of low-energy magnetic excitations in Nd2-xCexCuO4

The low-energy magnetic excitations (?ω ≤ 2 meV) of polycrystalline samples of Nd_2-xCe_xCuO₄ with x = 0, 0.1 and 0.15 have been measured with high resolution inelastic neutron scattering using time-of-flight technique at temperatures below 0.3 K. All observed scattering originates from transitions within the ground state doublet of Nd³⁺. For Nd₂CuO₄ the response is inelastic, and shows at least three different modes, of which one is almost dispersionless. For x = 0.1 the excitation spectrum shifts towards lower energies, but the main features of the undoped compound are still visible, whereas for x = 0.15 the response is mainly quasi-elastic but remains localised in Q-space around the first magnetic Bragg point (0.5 0.5 1). A comparison with data obtained on a triple-axis-spectrometer on single crystals with x = 0.0 and x = 0.15 reveals that the response of the doped sample in the [0 0 1] direction is still inelastic.     

Luminescence and Tb-Ce-Eu ion energy transfer in single-crystalline films of Tb3Al5O12:Ce,Eu garnet

The paper is devoted to investigation of the processes of excitation energy transfer between the host cations (Tb³⁺ ions) and the activators (Ce³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions) in single-crystalline films of Tb₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce,Eu (TbAG:Ce,Eu) garnet which is considered as a promising luminescent material for the conversion of LED's radiation. The cascade process of excitation energy transfer is shown to be realized in TbAG:Ce,Eu: (i) from Tb³⁺ ions to Ce³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions; (ii) from Ce³⁺ ions to Eu³⁺ ions by means of dipole-dipole interaction and through Tb³⁺ ion sublattice.     

Luminescence VUV spectroscopy of cerium-and europium-doped lithium borate crystals

The paper reports on a study of the luminescence of lithium borate crystals (Li₆Gd(BO₃)₃ doped by Eu³⁺ and Ce³⁺ ions, Li_5.7Mg_0.15Gd(BO₃)₃: Eu, and Li₆Eu(BO₃)₃) initiated by selective excitation by synchrotron radiation at excitation energies of 3.7–27 eV at 10 and 290 K. Efficient energy transfer between the rare-earth ions Gd³⁺ → Ce³⁺ and Gd³⁺ → Eu³⁺ was found to proceed by the resonance mechanism, as well as by electron-hole recombination. Fast decay kinetics of luminescence of the Ce³⁺ activator centers was studied under intracenter photoexcitation and excitation in the interband transition region. The mechanisms involved in luminescence excitation and radiative relaxation of electronic states of rare-earth ions are analyzed, and the energy transfer processes operating in these crystals are discussed.     

Experimental observation of localization-delocalization of Cooper pairs in Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4

Localization—delocalization of cooper pairs on ⁶⁷Zn impurity centers in the copper sublattice in the high-temperature superconductor Nd_1.85Ce_0.15CuO₄ was observed by emission Mössbauer spectroscopy on ⁶⁷Cu (⁶⁷Zn).     

Composition and superconductivity in single layer Bi-2201 phases

Several materials with nominal 2201 composition were prepared from various systems Bi_2+xSr_2-xCuO_6+z, Bi₂Sr_2-xCuO_6+z, Bi_2-xPb_xSr₂O_6+z, Bi_2.1-xPb_xCuO_6+z,Bi₂Sr_2-yLa_yCuO_6+z, Bi_1.9Pb_0.1Sr_2-yLa_yCuO_6+z, Bi_2-xPb_xSr_1.6La_0.4CuO_6+z and Bi_2.1-xPb_xSr_1.5La_1.4CuO_6+z in different gas atmospheres. According to the structural investigations the 2201 phase shows solid solution behaviour. However, irrespectively of the method of preparation the appearance of superconductivity is confined to multiphase material. Furthermore, the superconducting volume fraction is uniformly as low as ? 3%. The observed presence of trace superconductivity is easily explainable by small admixtures of superconducting foreign phases and in disagreement with the assumption of intrinsic superconducting properties of the Bi based 2201 phase.     

Electronic phase separation in a low-temperature tetragonal phase of lanthanum-strontium cuprates according to 139La NQR data

A nonuniform electron density distribution is observed in La_{1−x− y} Nd_ySr_xCuO₄ and La_1−x−y Eu_ySr_xCuO₄, and long-lived magnetic fluctuations in these compounds are studied. The dynamics of the magnetic fluctuations depends strongly on the magnetic properties of the rare-earth ions, which stabilize the low-temperature tetragonal phase. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 67, No. 5, 344–349 (10 March 1998)     

Experimental observation of Bose condensation in high-temperature superconductors

Emission Mössbauer spectroscopy on ⁶⁷Cu (⁶⁷Zn) and ⁶⁷Ga (⁶⁷Zn) isotopes was used to show that for the superconductors Nd_1.85Ce_0.15CuO₄, La_1.85 Sr_0.15CuO₄, and Tl₂Ba₂ CaCuO₈ in the temperature range T > T _c the temperature dependence of the center of gravity S of the Mössbauer spectrum is determined by the second-order Doppler shift, while in the range T < T _c the Bose condensation of Cooper pairs influences the value of S (here T _c is the superconducting transition temperature). The spatial nonuniformity produced in the electron density by a Bose condensate of Cooper pairs was observed for La_1.85 Sr_0.15CuO₄.     

Jahn-Teller calculations for CuO4 and FeO4 clusters in the Nd1.85Ce0.15Cu0.99Fe0.01O4−δ

The Jahn-Teller distortion mechanism in the Nd_2?x Ce _x CuO₄ is analyzed. This analysis is based on a quasi-molecular model for the CuO₄ cluster havingD _4h symmetry. In order to compare with experimental Mössbauer measurements in the doped Nd_1.85Ce_0.15Cu_0.99Fe_0.01O_4?δ superconductor, the FeO₄ cluster is also analyzed for the case of Fe²⁺ in the high spin state. The results show not evidence of a Jahn-Teller effect in these superconductors.