Non-analytical angular dependence of the upper critical magnetic field in a quasi-one-dimensional superconductor

We have derived the so-called gap equation, which determines the upper critical magnetic field, perpendicular to conducting chains of a quasi-one-dimensional superconductor. By analyzing this equation at low temperatures, we have found that the calculated angular dependence of the upper critical magnetic field is qualitatively different than that in the so-called effective mass model. In particular, our theory predicts a non-analytical angular dependence of the upper critical magnetic field, H _c2(0) − H _c2(α) ∼ α^3/2, when magnetic field is close to some special crystallographic axis and makes an angle α with it. We discuss possible experiments on the superconductor (DMET)₂I₃ to discover this non-analytical dependence.     

Transport critical-current and voltage-current characteristics of Bi(2223) silver-clamped thick films

The transport critical current properties of Bi(2223) silver-clamped thick films are studied by the measurement of its dependence on magnetic field and temperature close to T _c. It is found that the transport critical current follows a power law J _c(1–T/T _c)^3/2 for the sample with J _c>2.0×10⁴ A/cm² (77K, zero field) and that J _c(H) is basically reversible for increasing and decreasing magnetic field. After the transport current exceeds the critical current, the voltage-current (V-I) characteristics show a flux-creep-like behaviour until they smoothly join the flux-flow state. From the measurement of V-I curves, the pinning property of the sample may be estimated using the flux-creep mode. The flux-flow resistance is found to have a nonlinear magnetic field dependence.     

Zero temperature phase transitions in spin-ladders: Phase diagram and dynamical studies of Cu2(C5H12N2)2Cl4>

In a magnetic field, spin-ladders undergo two zero-temperature phase transitions at the critical fields H_c1 and H_c2. An experimental review of static and dynamical properties of spin-ladders close to these critical points is presented. The scaling functions, universal to all quantum critical points in one-dimension, are extracted from (a) the thermodynamic quantities (magnetization) and (b) the dynamical functions (NMR relaxation). A simple mapping of strongly coupled spin ladders in a magnetic field on the exactly solvable XXZ model enables to make detailed fits and gives an overall understanding of a broad class of quantum magnets in their gapless phase (between H_c1 and H_c2). In this phase, the low temperature divergence of the NMR relaxation demonstrates its Luttinger liquid nature as well as the novel quantum critical regime at higher temperature. The general behavior close these quantum critical points can be tied to known models of quantum magnetism. Received: 13 March 1998 / Received in final form and Accepted: 21 July 1998     

Critical behavior of a degenerate ferromagnet in a uniaxial random field: Exact results in a space of arbitrary dimension

The critical behavior of the transverse (with respect to the field) magnetization component in classical degenerate magnets with only nearest-neighbors interaction in a uniaxial random magnetic field at zero temperature is found exactly. For a Gaussian distribution of the random field the asymptotic transverse magnetization in strong fields does not depend on the dimension of the space and is of the form m _⊥ ∝ 1nh ₀/h ₀ ² , where h ₀ is the width of the distribution. For a bimodal distribution, where only the field direction is random and the amplitude is fixed, the transverse magnetization behaves as m _⊥∝exp(−const/(H _c −H) ^D/2), where H is the amplitude of the random field, D is the dimension of the space, and H _c is the critical field. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 115, 2143–2159 (June 1999)     

In-plane magnetoresistance of electron-doped superconducting thin films Pr0.9LaCe0.1CuO4

We measured the in-plane magnetoresistance of Pr_0.9LaCe_0.1CuO₄ (PLCCO) epitaxial thin films under various magnetic fields H applied parallel to the tetragonal c-axis. The measurements were performed at the superconducting state as well as the normal state. As the magnetic field is between the low critical field H_c1 and upper critical field H_c2, a critical scaling behavior of electrical resistivity is found. We analyze the electrical transport properties and show the magnetic field H dependence of glass transition temperature T_g and the characteristic temperature T^* for the PLCCO film, which may shed some light on vortex behavior in electron-doped superconductors.     

Effective magnetic anisotropy of nanocrystalline Nd-Fe-Ti-N hard magnetic alloys

The intermetallic compound Nd-Fe-Ti-N has been successfully synthesized by a mechanical alloying process. The structure and magnetic properties of the sample have been studied using X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements. It is found that alloy exhibits a nanocrystalline ThMn₁₂-type tetragonal structure with lattice parameters of a=0.8723 nm and c=0.4896 nm. The saturation magnetization M_S and effective magnetic anisotropy K_eff of the compound have been determined by investigating magnetization processes. The calculated results based on the law of approach to magnetic saturation have been successfully used to determine the constant K_eff. The difference between observed and calculated values in magnetization is lower than 3%. Of all terms in the law of approach to saturation, it is the 1/H ² term, which is attributed more to non-compensated anisotropy energy, that has the prevailing effect for the compound. The absorption of nitrogen is found to increase unit cell volume, M_S and K_eff. Received: 28 October 1996 / Revised: 14 March 1997 and 4 August 1997 / Accepted: 8 August 1997     

Upper critical field <Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>2</Subscript> in anisotropic superconductors with varying charge carrier density: Application of the theory to doped MgB<Subscript>2</Subscript>

A theory describing the magnetic properties of a two-band superconductor with a varying charge carrier density is constructed. The upper critical field H _c2^(ab) parallel to the ab plane and field H _c2^(c) parallel to the c axis are determined in the entire temperature range 0 < T < T _c . A considerable increase in upper critical field H _c2^(ab) as compared to H _c2^(c) because of strong anisotropy of the system is detected. Anisotropy of coefficient γ _H = H _c2^(ab) / H _c2^(c) is obtained as a function of temperature for pure MgB₂ and as a function of the chemical potential in the case when Mg and B atoms are replaced with other chemical elements. A correlation between the variation in the superconducting transition temperature upon an increase in the chemical potential and critical magnetic fields H _c2^(ab) and H _c2^(c) is observed. The effect of doping on magnetic anisotropy is also determined.     

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 .     

Synthesis and superconducting properties of bscco including precipitates with high density

Bi₂Sr₂Ca₁Cu₂O _y (2212) superconductors including normal particles with high density were synthesized by a melt process, and the temperature and magnetic field dependence of the critical current density was estimated from the magnetization hysteresis. The temperature dependence of the irreversibility field, B_r, was expressed as (1-T/T_c)^3/2 above 50 K, and became weak below 50 K as compared with that in the single-crystalline (2212). The B_r, in the magnetic field parallel to the c-axis was about one order of magnitude lower than in a magnetic field normal to the c-axis.     

Universal scaling properties of extreme type-II superconductors in magnetic fields

Anisotropic Ginzburg-Landau superconductors of extreme type-II are considered in an approximation where magnetic field fluctuations are neglected. A formulation of the scaling properties is presented for the singular part of the free energy density in the presence of a magnetic field. From the existence of a magnetization, a diamagnetic susceptibility and superconductivity we determine the limiting behavior of the scaling function in the vicinity of the zero field transition temperature, where critical fluctuations dominate. Our predictions for the temperature and field dependence of magnetization, magnetic torque and melting line etc., uncover the universal critical properties and provide an extension of hitherto used mean-field treatments. The results are consistent with experimental data. Received: 24 April 1998 / Accepted: 5 May 1998     

Pinning of planar vortices and magnetic field penetration in a three-dimensional Josephson medium

The behavior of planar (laminar) vortices in a three-dimensional, ordered Josephson medium as a function of the parameter I, which is proportional to the critical junction current and the cell size, is investigated with allowance for pinning due to the cellular structure of the medium. The minimum possible distances between two isolated vortices are calculated. A system of vortices formed in a sample in a monotonically increasing external magnetic field is analyzed. The minimum distance from the outermost vortex to the nearest neighbor is proportional to I ^−1.1. For I⩽1.3 each vortex contains a single flux quantum Φ₀, and the distance between them does not decrease in closer proximity to the boundary but remains approximately constant, implying that the magnetic field does not depend on the coordinate in the region penetrated by vortices. These facts contradict the generally accepted Bean model. The sample magnetization curve has a form typical of type II superconductors. Allowance for pinning raises the critical field H _c and induces a sudden jump in the curve at H=H _c. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 67, 38–46 (September 1997)     

Triplet superfluidity in neutron matter with Skyrme forces at subnuclear and supranuclear densities in a strong magnetic field

Within a generalized non-relativistic Fermi-liquid approach we have found general analytical formulae for phase-transition temperatures T _c,1(n, H) and T _c,2(n, H) (which are nonlinear functions of density, n, and linear of magnetic field, H) for phase transitions in spatially uniform, dense, pure neutron matter from normal to superfluid states with spin-triplet p-wave pairing (similar to anisotropic superfluid phases ³He - A₁ and ³He - A₂) in steady and homogeneous sufficiently strong magnetic field (but |μ _n |H ≪ E _c < ɛ _F (n), where μ _n is the magnetic dipole moment of a neutron, E _c is the cutoff energy and ɛ _F (n)is the Fermi energy in neutron matter). General formulae for T _c,1,2(n,H) are valid for arbitrary parameterization of the effective Skyrme forces in neutron matter. We have used for definiteness the so-called SLy2, Gs and RATP parameterizations of the Skyrme forces with different exponents in their power dependence on density n (at sub- and supranuclear densities) from the interval 0.7 n ₀ ≲ n < n _c (Skyrme)< 2 n ₀, where n ₀ =0.17 fm⁻³ is the nuclear density and n _c (Skyrme)is the the critical density of the ferromagnetic instability in superfluid neutron matter. These phase transitions might exist in the liquid outer core of magnetized neutron stars.     

Study of the magnetic state of a highly dispersed BaO · 6Fe2O3 system with near-critical particle size

An investigation was made of the magnetic state of a system of highly anisotropic BaO · 6Fe₂O₃ nanocrystals several lattice parameters thick and having a near-critical volume (∼10⁻¹⁸ cm³), obtained using cryochemical technology. It is observed that the particles are transformed to the superparamagnetic state and it is shown that the external magnetic field plays a role in its formation. An H-T diagram was obtained for the temperature range 300 K-T _c, which shows various regions uncharacteristic of the macro-object, which are specifically attributed to the distribution over the anisotropy fields in the system and the impaired magnetic structure in the surface zone of the particles. Relatively large regions of magnetic fields and temperatures were observed where reversible rotation of the magnetization vector of particles with near-critical volume plays an important role. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 1294–1297 (July 1998)     

Hidden reentrant superconducting phase in a magnetic field in (TMTSF)<Subscript>2</Subscript>ClO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

We suggest explanation of the high upper critical magnetic field, perpendicular to conducting chains and parallel to conducting layers H _c2 ^b′ ≃ 6 T, experimentally observed in the organic superconductor (TMTSF)₂ClO₄. In particular, we show that H _c2 ^b′ can be higher than both the quasiclassical upper critical field and Clogston-Chandrasekhar paramagnetic limit in a singlet quasi-one-dimensional superconductor. We predict the coexistence of the hidden Reentrant and Larkin-Ovchinnikov-Fulde-Ferrell phases in a magnetic field. Our results are compared to the recent experimental data and shown to be in a good agreement with the experiments.     

Electromagnetic properties of bulk Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconductor at low magnetic fields

Magnetization and critical current density measurements have been performed on a Bi_1.7Pb_0.3Sr₂Ca₂Cu₅O _y bulk material as the functions of magnetic field and temperature. The diamagnetic shielding effect has been discussed from the initial magnetization curve. The lower critical field of bulk granular superconductor (H _g) and the lower critical field of superconducting grains (H _c1) are estimated from magnetization curves. They are both linearly decreasing functions of temperature: (dH _g/dT) and (dH _c1/dT) are –0.4 and –1.8 G/K respectively. The transport critical current density drops drastically by a factor of 4 at a magnetic field of about 20G. The magnetization J _c of superconducting grains derived from the remanent magnetization is about 10⁶ A/cm² at 77 K, zero field, much greater than the transport J _c. The experimental results reveal that the transport J _c is dominated by weaklink current between grains. The magnetization J _c versus temperature has been obtained from the remanent flux at zero magnetic field and is a linearly decreasing function of temperature within experimental error.     

Critical current density and flux pinning in an unconventional superconductor

The functional dependence of the critical current density on magnetic field, Jc(H), observed at fixed temperatures in the unconventional type-II superconductor, LaAg1−cMnc (c=0.1,0.2,0.3) alloys, but not the relative magnitude of Jc in different alloy compositions at any given temperature and field, is adequately described by the exponential-decay critical state model. In accordance with the predictions of the Kramer's flux-pinning model, the peak value of the pinning force density with the exponent 1.7?m?2.8 and scales with h=H/Hc₂, where Hc₂ is the upper critical field. Irrespective of sample composition and temperature in the superconducting state, the pinning of the flux line lattice (FLL) dominates over the plastic FLL shear.     

Nonlinear reconfiguration of vortexlike domain walls in magnetically uniaxial films under the action of an external field normal to the easy magnetic axis

The effect of external magnetic field H normal to the anisotropy axis on the energy and configuration of vortexlike asymmetric magnetic walls in a magnetically uniaxial film with an easy magnetic axis parallel to its surface is studied. The investigation is based on minimizing the energy functional of the film with due regard to exchange energy, magnetic anisotropy energy, magnetostatic energy, and Zeeman energy. The range of H below the anisotropy field is found where the asymmetric Néel wall is stable, unlike the case H = 0, when the asymmetric Bloch wall is stable. It is shown that an asymmetric Bloch wall becomes absolutely unstable and reconfigures into an asymmetric Néel wall at some critical values of H = H _⊥. The dependences of critical field H _⊥ on the film thickness and saturation induction at different values of the anisotropy field are determined: field H _⊥ depends on the thickness nonlinearly and on the saturation induction nonmonotonically.     

Approximant crystals of icosahedral Mg–(Ga,Al)–Zn alloys

The zero field cooled (ZFC) and field cooled (FC) low-field magnetic moment m of a dense frozen ferrofluid containing Fe₅₅Co₄₅ particles of size 4.6nm in hexane exhibits irreversibility at temperatures T?T _b≈ 30?K. FC in μ ₀ H ≤ 1?T gives rise to shifted minor hysteresis loops below T _b. At T _c≈ 10?K, sharp peaks of m ^ZFC and of the ac susceptibility χ ′, a kink of the thermoremanent magnetic moment m ^TRM, a sizeable reduction of the coercive field H _c, and the appearance of a spontaneous moment m ^SFM indicate a phase transition with near mean-field critical behaviour of both m ^SFM and χ ′ . These features are explained within a core-shell model of nanoparticles, whose strongly disordered shells gradually become blocked below T _b, while their soft ferromagnetic cores couple dipolarly and become superferromagnetic (SFM) below T _c.     

Generalized Ginzburg-Landau equation and the properties of superconductors with Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ close to 1

An expression is derived for the free energy of a superconductor near the critical temperature, taking account of the terms of next highest order in the parameter 1−T/T _c. These terms become important for Ginzburg-Landau parameter values |κ−1|≪1, and in this case, in an external magnetic field H ₀ close to H _c2, the structure of the order parameter is determined by the relative values of the three small parameters |κ−1|, 1−T/T _c, and (H _c2−H ₀)/H _c2. Three types of lattices are investigated: triangular with one and two flux quanta per cell and square with one flux quantum per cell. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 115, 726–739 (February 1999)     

Collapse transitions of a periodic hydrophilic hydrophobic chain

We study a single self avoiding hydrophilic hydrophobic polymer chain, through Monte-Carlo lattice simulations. The affinity of monomer i for water is characterized by a (scalar) charge , and the monomer-water interaction is short-ranged. Assuming incompressibility yields an effective short ranged interaction between monomer pairs (i,j), proportional to . In this article, we take (resp. ()) for hydrophilic (resp. hydrophobic) monomers and consider a chain with (i) an equal number of hydro-philic and -phobic monomers (ii) a periodic distribution of the along the chain, with periodicity 2p. The simulations are done for various chain lengths N, in d=2 (square lattice) and d=3 (cubic lattice). There is a critical value p _c (d,N) of the periodicity, which distinguishes between different low temperature structures. For p >p _c , the ground state corresponds to a macroscopic phase separation between a dense hydrophobic core and hydrophilic loops. For p <p _c (but not too small), one gets a microscopic (finite scale) phase separation, and the ground state corresponds to a chain or network of hydrophobic droplets, coated by hydrophilic monomers. We restrict our study to two extreme cases, and to illustrate the physics of the various phase transitions. A tentative variational approach is also presented. Received: 10 March 1998 / Received in final form: 25 June 1998 / Accepted: 1st July 1998