Coherence transition in granular YBa2Cu3O7-δ, YBa2Cu2.95Zn0.05O7-δ, and YBa1.75Sr0.25Cu3O7-δ superconductors

We have studied experimentally the electrical magneto-conductivity near the superconducting transition of YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ, YBa₂ (Cu_2.95Zn_0.05)O_7-δ and Y(Ba_1.75Sr_0.25)Cu₃O_7-δ polycrystalline samples. The measurements were performed in magnetic fields ranging from 0 to 400 Oe applied parallel to the current orientation. The results show that the resistive transition of these systems proceeds in two stages. The pairing transition occurs at the bulk critical temperature T_c, where superconductivity is stabilized within small and homogeneous regions of the sample generically called grains. The regime of approach to the zero resistance state reveals the occurrence of a coherence transition at a lower temperature T_c0. This transition is related to the connective nature of the granular samples and is controlled by fluctuations of the order-parameter phase of individual grains. Our experiments show that the Zn-doping, besides depressing the pairing critical temperature, strongly enlarges the temperature range dominated by effects related to the coherence transition. The substitution of Ba by Sr causes only a small reduction of T_c, but also enhances significantly the effects related to the grain coupling phenomenology. In general, our results indicate that these impurity substitutions in YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ produce or magnify the granularity at a microscopic level, enhancing the effects of phase fluctuations in the conductivity near the transition.     

Multilevel granular structure and its coupling distribution in melt-textured YBa2Cu3O7−δ

We have performed AC magnetic susceptibility measurements as a function of the excitation magnetic field, h, for two YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ polycrystalline samples using a high-sensitivity home-made susceptometer, for fixed values of the temperature, T, and the external DC magnetic field, H. One of the samples is melt-textured and for H<52.5 Oe it presents features that can be associated with a multilevel granular structure. Using an effective medium model, we have determined the critical current density distribution associated with the multilevel granular structure. The average critical current density in each intergranular region was then calculated by applying Bean's critical state model.     

Effects of divalent impurities on the fluctuation conductivity of YBa2Cu3O7 single crystals

We have studied experimentally the in-plane fluctuation conductivity near the superconducting transition in single crystal samples of YBa₂Cu₃O₇, Y_0.98Ca_0.02Ba₂Cu₃O₇, YBa_1.9Sr_0.1Cu₃O₇ and YBa₂Cu_2.97Zn_0.03O₇. In order to test the stability of the observed fluctuation regimes, low magnetic fields were applied perpendicular to the Cu-O₂ atomic planes. When the transition is approached from above we first observe a three-dimensional (3D) Gaussian regime then a crossover to a genuine critical region where the exponent is consistent with the predictions of the 3D-XY-E universality class. Decreasing further the temperature towards T_c, our results systematically reveal the occurrence of a regime beyond 3D-XY characterized by a very small critical exponent. We propose that this regime is precursory to a weak first-order superconducting transition driven by antiferromagnetic excitations related to the pseudogap phenomenon. The dilution of divalent impurities in YBa₂Cu₃O₇ does not affect the stability of the fluctuation regime beyond 3D-XY and in the case of Ca doping a further approach towards the first-order behaviour is observed.     

Fluctuation-induced conductivity in melt-textured Pr-doped YBa2Cu3O7-δ composite superconductor

In this study, the effects of thermal fluctuations on the electrical conductivity in melt-textured YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ, Y_0.95Pr_0.05Ba₂Cu₃O_7-δ and (YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ)_0.95–(PrBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ)_0.05 composite superconductor were considered. The composite superconductor samples were prepared through the top seeding method using melt-textured NdBa₂Cu₃O_7-d seeds. The resistivity measurements were performed with a low-frequency, low-current AC technique in order to extract the temperature derivative and analyze the influence of the praseodymium ion on the normal superconductor transition and consequently on the fluctuation regimes. The results show that the resistive transition is a two-step process. In the normal phase, above the critical temperature, Gaussian and critical fluctuation regimes were identified, while below the critical temperature, in the regime near the approach to the zero-resistance state, the fluctuation conductivity diverges as expected in a paracoherent-coherent transition.     

NdBa2Cu3O7-δ/YBa2Cu3O7-δ多层膜体系的外延结构和磁通钉扎的研究

采用脉冲激光沉积技术,在单晶SrTiO₃基底上外延生长了一系列名义结构为p×(NdBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ(m)/YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ(n))的多层膜和准多层膜(单元层NdBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ较厚而YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ呈非连贯的岛状分布,m,n为激光脉冲数,p为重复周期).样品的超导转变温度在87—91 K范围,具体大小取决于不同的调制结构,多层膜的重复周期越大,层状界面越多,超导转变温度就越低.磁传输测量表明,准多层的样品不仅具有较高的超导转变温度,而且具有较强的磁通钉扎性能,77K零场下的临界电流密度高达4×10⁶ A/cm²,显示出良好的应用前景. 关键词： 2Cu₃O_7-δ')" href="#">NdBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ 多层膜 磁通钉扎 临界电流密度     

Effect of Y-site and Ba-site substitution on thermal properties of YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7−δ</Subscript>

The effect of partial replacement of Y site with Ca or Ba site with Sr on the thermal and electrical properties of YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ superconductors was investigated. For Y(Ba_1?XSr_X)₂Cu₃O_7?δ system, the characteristic enhancement of the thermal conductivity κ(T) below the transition temperature T_c was decreased more slowly by substitution than that for (Y_1?XCa_X)Ba₂Cu₃O_7?δ system. Electron-phonon interaction in these systems were discussed based on the phonon heat conduction model under the weak coupling d-wave energy gap.     

Thermal and magnetic properties of some YBa2Cu3O7−δ samples

Thermal and magnetic measurements have been performed on several YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ compounds, some ones showing a large content of high T_c (93 K) superconducting phase. A jump in the specific heat ΔCp, is well evidenced at the transition allowing a determination of the ratio ΔCp/T_c ≅ 23 ± 5. mJ/ (mole Cu)K². In addition, an estimation of the γ value (≅ 11 mJ/(mole Cu). K²) has been drawn from the determination of the electronic entropy at T_c. The samples have been characterized by susceptibility, magnetization and resistivity experiments. The critical field slopes at T_c were found to be dHc₁/dT ≅ 17 Oe/K and dHc₂/dT ≅ 20 kOe/K. The results are discussed in the framework of the Ginzburg-Landau theory.     

Permittivity of BaTiO3 epitaxial films grown on the YBa2Cu3O7−δ(001) surface

The epitaxial heterostructures YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ and YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ/(5 nm)SrTiO₃/BaTiO₃/(5 nm)SrTiO₃/YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ are grown by the laser evaporation method on an LaAlO₃(100) substrate. The permittivity of a BaTiO₃ layer is approximately doubled (T=300 K) when a SrTiO₃ thin layer is inserted between a ferroelectric layer and superconducting cuprate electrodes. A maximum in the temperature dependence of the permittivity for a barium titanate layer in the YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ/(5 nm)SrTiO₃/BaTiO₃/(5 nm)SrTiO₃/YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ heterostructure is shifted by 70–80 K toward the low-temperature range with respect to its location in the corresponding dependence for the BaTiO₃ bulk single crystal. The bias voltage dependence of the permittivity for the BaTiO₃ grown layers exhibits a clearly pronounced hysteresis (T=300 K). The superconducting transition temperature for the lower YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ electrode in a superconductor/ferroelectric/superconductor heterostructure considerably depends on the rate of its cooling after the completion of the formation process.     

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.     

Study of YBa2Cu3O7−δ ceramics/Al interface

Properties of oxide layers at the interface between Al metal and YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ ceramics were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and impedance measurements. There have been found the oriented grains having their c-plane parallel to the surface of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ. When Al metal was evaporated onto the ceramics sample, the aluminum oxide layer was produced at the interface between Al and YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ because Al metal oxidizes more easily. The oxygen-deficiency was observed at the ceramics side of the interface as examined by X-ray photoelectron spectra. This oxygen-deficiency can be partly replenished by post annealing whereas it can be fully replenished for the sample to which the mechanical polishing is applied beforehand in order to remove the oriented grains. The thickness of aluminum oxide layer was evaluated by means of the impedance measurements using the alternating current three-terminal method.     

Superlattice structures in solid solution of high-Tc YBa2Cu3O7−δ and (Pb,Cu)Sr2(Ca,Y)Cu2O7−δ superconductors

A complete solid solution range exists between the systems YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ and (Pb,Cu)Sr₂(Ca,Y)Cu₂O_7−δ has been found with general stoichiometry (Pb_0.75xCu_1−0.75x)(Sr_2xBa_2−2x)(Ca_0.5xY_1−0.5x)Cu₂O_7−δ. Energy dispersive spectrometry and X-ray diffraction identified that a true solid solution exists. Superlattice structures observed by electron diffraction across the solid solution range have a modulation range have a modulation periods along a* which can be varied by altering both the compositional parameter x and the overall oxygen content. The existence of these superlattices infers that the solid solution is non-random and therefore thermodynamically non-ideal. The superconducting transition temperatures, T_c, across the solid solution range are also strongly dependent on the composition, x, but no direct relationship with the modulation period has been established. From these studies it may be concluded that the solid solution between known superconductors is possible, although involving some partial ordering of the lattice, but ordering of cations in the rock-salt to charge reservoir layer is not a significant factor in determining the superconducting properities, which depend more closely on the overall composition and hence on the ability of the charge reservoir layer to transfer charge to the superconducting layers.     

Effect of deoxygenation on the weak-link behavior of YBa2Cu3O7−δ superconductors

A systematic study of the weak-link behavior for YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ polycrystalline samples has been done using the electrical resistivity and AC susceptibility techniques. The experiments were performed with two samples of similar grain, a sample of well-coupled grains, and a deoxygenated sample in such a way that the oxygen mostly comes from the intergrain region. Analysis of the temperature dependence of the AC susceptibility near the transition temperature (T_c) has been done employing Bean's critical state model. The observed variation of intergranular critical current densities (J_c) with temperature indicates that the weak links are changed from superconductor normal–metal superconductor (SNS) for well-coupled samples to superconductor insulator normal–metal–superconductor (SINS) type of junctions for the deoxygenated sample. These results are interpreted in terms of oxygen depletion from grain boundaries, which in turn decreases the intergranular Josephson coupling energy with a concomitant decrease of pinning of the intergranular vortices.     

Effect of high pressure on the fluctuation paraconductivity in Y0.95Pr0.05Ba2Cu3O7−δ single crystals

The effect of high hydrostatic pressure up to 17 kbar on the fluctuation conductivity of lightly Pr-doped Y_1−xPr_xBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (x ≈ 0.05) single crystals is investigated. We show that in contrast to non-doped YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ samples, application of a high pressure leads to a substantial increase of the pressure derivative of the coherence length dξ_c/dP and a temperature shift of the 2D-3D crossover point. Possible mechanisms of the influence of high pressure on the critical temperature and the coherence length are discussed within the framework of a model assuming the presence of singularities in the charge carriers electron spectrum typical for lattices with strong coupling.     

Irradiation-induced suppression of the critical temperature in high-<Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis></Subscript> superconductors: Pair breaking versus phase fluctuations

Experiments on the irradiation-induced suppression of the critical temperature in high-T _c superconductors are analyzed within the mean-field Abrikosov-Gor’kov-like approach. It is shown that the experimental data for YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ single crystals can be quantitatively explained by the pair-breaking effects under the assumption of the combined effect of potential and spin-flip scattering on the critical temperature and with an accounting for a nonpure d-wave superconducting order parameter.     

Structural phase transition in YBa2Cu3O7−δ: the role of dimensionality for high temperature superconductivity

We have performed detailed high temperature X-ray diffraction to study the nature of the structural phase of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ. The results indicate the existence of a reversible orthorhombic to tetragonal phase transition at a temperature close to 750°C. If the high temperature tetragonal phase is quenched-in at low temperatures the critical superconducting temperature is considerably reduced from 92.5 K. This suggests that the one dimensional CuO chains present in the orthorhombic structure are necessary for high temperature superconductivity.     

Crystal field interpretation of 3-d metal substitution and superconductivity in YBa2Cu3O7

Experimental data on the superconducting critical temperature T_c of YBa₂(Cu_1−xM_x)₃O_7−y, where M is a 3D transition ion are reviewed and shown to correlate closely with the difference in crystal field stabilization energies for Cu2 sites in the 2D planes and Cu1 sites in the 1D chains respectively. Thus superconductivity is depressed when the 1D chain is modified.     

Transport studies of YBa2Cu3Oy/YxPr1−xBa2Cu3Oy and YBa2Cu3Oy/R0.7M0–3MnO3 superlattices,in which R=La or Nd,and M=Ca or Sr

We report the transport studies of YBa₂Cu₃O_y/Y_xPr_1−xBa₂Cu₃O_y and YBa₂Cu₃Oy/R_1−xM_xMnO₃ superlattices in magnetic fields in which R=La or Nd, and M=Ca or Sr. The X-ray diffraction of samples shows superlattice structure. The resistive transition in a magnetic field shows thermal activated behavior. The flux pinning is reduced when the coupling strength between YBCO layers is decreased. The angular dependence of the critical current of YBa₂Cu₃O_y/PrBa₂Cu₃O_y superlattices reveals the dimensionality of superlattices. The magnetoresistance ratio (MR), |Δρ(H=7 T)−Δρ(H=0)|/Δρ(H=7 T), of YBa₂Cu₃O_y/R_1−xM_xMnO₃ superlattices is affected by the layer coupling of R_1−xM_xMnO₃ layers. The enhancement of the MR ratio in the tri-layer YBa₂Cu₃O_y/La_0.7M_0.3MnO₃/YBa₂Cu₃O_y film in the low temperature regime is significant and has a value of 33650% at T=75 K. We attribute this enhancement of the MR to the ordering of magnetic moment in ferromagnetic layers in magnetic fields. The results are discussed in terms of existing theories.     

Pd addition in high Tc YBaCuO oxide

A small amount of Pd addition increases T_c for the YBa₂Cu₃O_7−y oxide. The maximum offset, midpoint and onset temperatures of the YBa₂(Cu_0.999Pd_0.001)₃O_7−y oxide are 92.1, 95.0 and 105 K, respectively. Excess addition of Pd decreases T_c. The T_c change is consistent with the results of the lattice constants.     

Anomalous proximity effect in superconducting oxide structures with an antiferromagnetic layer

The electrophysical parameters of superconductor/antiferromagnetic insulator structures based on the Nb/Au/Ca_1?x Sr _x CuO₂/YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ hybrid heterostructure have been examined. YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ and Ca_1?x Sr _x SuO₂ epitaxial films are grown by the laser ablation method on NdGaO₃ single crystal substrates, the thickness of the Ca_1?x Sr _x CuO₂ layer varies from 20 to 50 nm, and x = 0.15 and 0.5. The superconducting pair potential in the interface between the YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ superconductor and Ca_1?x Sr _x CuO₂ antiferromagnet is found to penetrate into the antiferromagnet at distances much larger than the coherence length calculated for the ferromagnetic layer. The critical current of the superconducting transition manufactured at such an interface is highly sensitive to the magnetic field.     

Low temperature specific heat studies on the pairing states of high-Tc superconductors: a brief review

Low temperature specific heat (LTSH) data on a variety of high-T_c superconductors, such as YBa₂Cu₃O₇, La_1−xSr_xCuO₄, Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈, and Ba_0.6K_0.4BiO₃ are reviewed. The agreement between the experimental data and theoretical predictions, such as T²-dependence of specific heat at zero magnetic field and H^1/2-dependence of electronic specific heat is widely discussed within the scenario of d-wave superconductivity. Impurity scattering effects and scaling model on d-wave superconductivity are verified using Zn- and Ni-doped La_1−xSr_xCuO₄. The low energy quasiparticle density of states N(E)=N(0)+E^1/2 are deduced from dirty d-wave superconductors. Absence of paramagnetic contribution to LTSH is found both in superconducting and non-superconducting underdoped samples suggesting that a mechanism beyond Kondo screening model maybe required to explain its magnetic property.