Scanning tunneling spectroscopy in MgB2

We present scanning tunneling microscopy measurements of the surface of superconducting MgB2 with a critical temperature of 39 K. In zero magnetic field the conductance spectra can be analyzed in terms of the standard BCS theory with a smearing parameter gamma. The value of the superconducting gap is 5 meV at 4.2 K, with no experimentally significant variation across the surface of the sample. The temperature dependence of the gap follows the BCS form, fully consistent with phonon-mediated superconductivity in this novel superconductor. The application of a magnetic field induces strong pair breaking as seen in the conductance spectra in fields up to 6 T.     

Superconducting gap in MgB(2): electronic Raman scattering measurements of single crystals

Polarization-resolved Raman scattering measurements were performed on MgB(2) single crystals to determine the magnitude, symmetry, and temperature dependence of the superconducting gap. A single sharp peak due to Cooper pair breaking appears in the electronic continuum below T(c), reaching a maximum Raman shift of 105 +/- 1 cm(-1) [2 Delta(0)/k(B)T(c) = 3.96 +/- 0.09] and showing up to 5 cm(-1) anisotropy between polarized and depolarized spectra. The temperature dependence of 2 Delta follows that predicted from BCS theory, while the anisotropy decreases with decreasing temperature. It is concluded that the Raman results are consistent with a slightly anisotropic s-wave gap in a conventional BCS superconductor.     

Magneto-optical study of the superconducting gap of MgB(2) single crystals

We present magneto-optical reflectivity results in the basal plane of the hexagonal MgB(2). The data were collected on a mosaic of MgB(2) single crystals with T(c)=38 K from the ultraviolet down to the far infrared as a function of temperature and magnetic field oriented along the c axis. In the far infrared, there is a clear signature of the superconducting gap with a gap ratio 2 Delta/k(B)T(c) approximately 1.2, well below the weak-coupling value. The gap is suppressed in an external magnetic field, which is a function of temperature. We extract the upper critical field H(c2) along the c axis. The temperature dependence of H(c2) is compatible with the Helfand-Werthamer behavior.     

MgB_2超导电性的发现及新一轮高临界温度超导研究热潮

20 0 1年 1月 10日 ,在日本召开的学术会议上 ,AoyamaGakuin大学的J.Akimitsu教授宣布MgB2 显现超导电性 (Tc=39K) .紧接着的一系列研究工作表明 ,MgB2 属于BCS超导体 .这些发现引起了新一轮高临界温度超导研究热潮     

Two-band superconductivity in MgB2

The study of the anisotropic superconductor MgB2 using a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy reveals two distinct energy gaps at Delta(1)=2.3 meV and Delta(2)=7.1 meV at 4.2 K. Different spectral weights of the partial superconducting density of states are a reflection of different tunneling directions in this multiband system. Temperature evolution of the tunneling spectra follows the BCS scenario [Phys. Rev. Lett. 3, 552 (1959)]] with both gaps vanishing at the bulk T(c). The data confirm the importance of Fermi-surface sheet dependent superconductivity in MgB2 proposed in the multigap model by Liu et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 087005 (2001)]].     

Pressure effects on the transition temperature and the magnetic field penetration depth in the pyrochlore superconductor RbOs2O6

Magnetization measurements under hydrostatic pressure up to 8 kbar in the pyrochlore superconductor RbOs2O6 (T(c) approximately or equal 6.3 K at p=0) were carried out. A positive pressure effect on T(c) with dT(c)/dp=0.090(3) K/kbar was observed, whereas no pressure effect on the magnetic penetration depth lambda was detected. The pressure independent ratio 2 Delta(0)/k(B)T(c)=3.72(2) (Delta(0) is the superconducting gap at zero temperature) was found to be close to the BCS value 3.52. Magnetization and muon-spin rotation measurements of lambda(T) indicate that RbOs2O6 is an adiabatic s-wave BCS-type superconductor. The value of lambda extrapolated to zero temperature and ambient pressure was estimated to be 230(30) nm.     

新型超导体二硼化镁(MgB_2)基础研究及其应用展望

文章简要介绍了新型超导体二硼化镁的发现、研究进展和应用前景 .理论和实验都已经证明 ,二硼化镁的超导电性来源于电声子耦合 ,可以用具有S -波对称性波函数的BCS图像来描述 .然而在二硼化镁超导体中 ,人们发现有两个超导能隙 ,一个在 6meV ,另外一个在 2meV左右 ,它们同时在超导转变温度处打开 ,这给超导机理研究带来了一些新的内容 .在混合态物理方面 ,人们发现超导与正常态的边界线 (上临界磁场Hc2 )与磁通融化线(不可逆线Hirr)之间有很大的间隙 ,即使在绝对零度时也是如此 ,作者提出这可能是由于双能隙的结果或磁通物质的量子融化 .在应用方面 ,最有可能把它做成超导磁体 ,利用闭路循环制冷机制冷在 2 0K左右使用 ,这样极有可能取代现在医学上使用的核磁共振成像的液氦温度超导磁体     

Evidence for two superconducting gaps in MgB2

We have measured the Raman spectra of polycrystalline MgB2 from 25 to 1200 cm(-1). A superconductivity-induced redistribution in the electronic Raman continuum was observed. Two pair-breaking peaks appear in the spectra, suggesting the presence of two superconducting gaps. The measured spectra were analyzed using a quasi-two-dimensional model in which two s-wave superconducting gaps open on two sheets of Fermi surface. For the gap values we have obtained Delta(1) = 22 cm(-1) ( 2.7 meV) and Delta(2) = 50 cm(-1) ( 6.2 meV). Our results suggest that a conventional phonon-mediated pairing mechanism occurs in the planar boron sigma bands and is responsible for the superconductivity of MgB2.     

Boron isotope effect in superconducting MgB2

We report the preparation method of and boron isotope effect for MgB2, a new binary intermetallic superconductor with a remarkably high superconducting transition temperature T(c)(10B) = 40.2 K. Measurements of both temperature dependent magnetization and specific heat reveal a 1.0 K shift in T(c) between Mg11B2 and Mg10B2. Whereas such a high transition temperature might imply exotic coupling mechanisms, the boron isotope effect in MgB2 is consistent with the material being a phonon-mediated BCS superconductor.     

Evidence for two-band superconductivity from break-junction tunneling on MgB2

Superconductor-insulator-superconductor tunnel junctions have been fabricated on MgB2 that display Josephson and quasiparticle currents. These junctions exhibit a gap magnitude, Delta approximately 2.5 meV, that is considerably smaller than the BCS value, but which clearly and reproducibly closes near the bulk T(c). In conjunction with fits of the conductance spectra, these results are interpreted as direct evidence of two-band superconductivity.     

Strongly correlated s-wave superconductivity in the N-type infinite-layer cuprate

Quasiparticle tunneling spectra of the electron-doped ( n-type) infinite-layer cuprate Sr0.9La0.1CuO2 reveal characteristics that counter a number of common phenomena in the hole-doped ( p-type) cuprates. The optimally doped Sr0.9La0.1CuO2 with T(c) = 43 K exhibits a momentum-independent superconducting gap Delta = 13.0+/-1.0 meV that substantially exceeds the BCS value, and the spectral characteristics indicate insignificant quasiparticle damping by spin fluctuations and the absence of pseudogap. The response to quantum impurities in the Cu sites also differs fundamentally from that of the p-type cuprates with d(x(2)-y(2))-wave pairing symmetry.     

Tunneling spectroscopy in small grains of superconducting MgB(2).

We report on tunneling spectroscopy experiments in small grains of the new binary intermetallic superconductor MgB(2). Experiments have been performed at 2.5 K using a low temperature scanning tunneling microscope. Good fit to the BCS model is obtained, with a gap value of 2 meV. In the framework of this model, this value should correspond to a surface critical temperature of 13.2 K. No evidence of gap anisotropy has been found.     

Superconductivity in dense MgB2 wires

MgB2 becomes superconducting just below 40 K. Whereas porous polycrystalline samples of MgB2 can be synthesized from boron powders, in this Letter we demonstrate that dense wires of MgB2 can be prepared by exposing boron filaments to Mg vapor. The resulting wires have a diameter of 160 microm, are better than 80% dense, and manifest the full chi = -1/4pi shielding in the superconducting state. Temperature-dependent resistivity measurements indicate that MgB2 is a highly conducting metal in the normal state with rho(40 K) = 0.38 microOmega cm. By using this value, an electronic mean-free path, l approximately 600 A can be estimated, indicating that MgB2 wires are well within the clean limit. Tc, Hc2(T), and Jc data indicate that MgB2 manifests comparable or better superconducting properties in dense wire form than it manifests as a sintered pellet.     

原位法MgB_2-B_4C复相超导体合成及相含量调控研究

以B4C和Mg为原料合成的MgB2-B4C复相超导体具有高的临界电流密度(Jc)和高的超导转变温度(Tc),是一种有潜力的实用MgB2超导材料,其成相机理对复相MgB2超导体的相含量调控和磁通钉扎研究具有重要意义。结合经典烧结理论,研究了B4C-Mg真空固相烧结制备MgB2-B4C复相超导体的超导相形成和晶粒生长过程,给出了B4C-Mg的金斯特林格扩散模型和MgB2晶粒生长过程。通过选择B4C原料粒径,MgB2-B4C复相超导体超导相体积相含量在18%-88%范围可控。相含量88%的MgB2-B4C复相超导体临界转变温度达33.5K,转变宽度1.5K。10 K环境6T外场下电流密度可以达到1×104A/cm2,表明MgB2-B4C复相超导体具有良好的磁通钉扎行为。     

MgB2超导电性的发现及新一轮高临界温度超导研究热潮

2001年1月10日,在日本召开的学术会议上,Aoyama Gakuin大学的J.Akimitsu教授宣布和MgB2显现超导电性（Tc＝39K）,紧接着一系列研究工作表明,MgB2属于BCS超导体,这些发现引起了新一轮高临界温度超导研究热潮。     

Scanning tunneling spectroscopy on the novel superconductor CaC6

We present scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy of the newly discovered superconductor CaC6. The tunneling conductance spectra, measured between 3 and 15 K, show a clear superconducting gap in the quasiparticle density of states. The gap function extracted from the spectra is in good agreement with the conventional BCS theory with Delta0=1.6+/-0.2 meV. The possibility of gap anisotropy and two-gap superconductivity is also discussed. In a magnetic field, direct imaging of the vortices allows us to deduce a coherence length in the ab plane xiab approximately 33 nm.     

Vortex imaging in the pi band of magnesium diboride

We report scanning tunneling spectroscopy imaging of the vortex lattice in single crystalline MgB2. By tunneling parallel to the c axis, a single superconducting gap (Delta=2.2 meV) associated with the pi band is observed. The vortices in the pi band have a large core size compared to estimates based on H(c2) and show an absence of localized states in the core. Furthermore, superconductivity between the vortices is rapidly suppressed by an applied field. These results suggest that superconductivity in the pi band is, at least partially, induced by the intrinsically superconducting sigma band.     

Time-resolved photoexcitation of the superconducting two-gap state in MgB2 thin films

Femtosecond pump-probe studies show that carrier dynamics in MgB2 films is governed by the sub-ps electron-phonon (e-ph) relaxation present at all temperatures, the few-ps e-ph process well pronounced below 70 K, and the sub-ns superconducting relaxation below T(c). The amplitude of the superconducting component versus temperature follows the superposition of the isotropic dirty gap and the three-dimensional pi gap dependences, closing at two different T(c) values. The time constant of the few-ps relaxation exhibits a double divergence at temperatures corresponding to the T(c)'s of the two gaps.     

Evidence for strong-coupling s-wave superconductivity in MgB2: (11)B NMR Study

We have investigated a gap structure in a newly discovered superconductor, MgB2, through measurement of the (11)B nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate, (11)(1/T(1)). (11)(1/T(1)) is proportional to the temperature (T) in the normal state, and decreases exponentially in the superconducting (SC) state, revealing a tiny coherence peak just below T(c). The T dependence of 1/T(1) in the SC state can be accounted for by an s-wave SC model with a large gap size of 2Delta/k(B)T(c) approximately 5 which suggests it is in a strong-coupling regime.     

Spectroscopic evidence for unconventional superconductivity in UBe13

We report on measurements of the differential conductivity G of UBe13-Au contacts, which reveal the existence of low-energy Andreev surface bound states. These bound states are identified via huge conductance peaks at zero bias that may form only in superconductors with nontrivial energy-gap functions. From the voltage dependence of G at T6.7, much in excess of the weak coupling BCS value of 3.5, and directly indicating strong coupling effects in superconducting UBe13.