Block spin ground state and three-dimensionality of (K,Tl)(y)Fe(1.6)Se2

The magnetic properties and electronic structure of (K,Tl)(y)Fe(1.6)Se(2) is studied using first-principles calculations. The ground state is checkerboard antiferromagnetically coupled blocks of the minimal Fe(4) squares, with a large block-spin moment ～11.2 μ(B). The magnetic interactions could be modeled with a simple spin model involving both the inter- and intrablock, as well as the nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor couplings. The calculations also suggest a metallic ground state except for y=0.8 where a band gap ～400-550 meV opens, showing an antiferromagnetic insulator ground state for (K,Tl)(0.8)Fe(1.6)Se(2). The electronic structure of the metallic (K,Tl)(y)Fe(1.6)Se(2) is highly three dimensional with unique Fermi surface structure and topology. These features indicate that the Fe-vacancy ordering is crucial to the physical properties of (K,Tl)(y)Fe(2-x)Se(2).     

The superconducting transition temperatures of Fe(1+x)Se(1-y), Fe(1+x)Se(1-y)Te(y) and (K/Rb/Cs)(z)Fe(2-x)Se2

In a recent contribution to this journal, it was shown that the transition temperatures of optimal high-T(C) compounds obey the algebraic relation T(C0) = k(-1)(B)/?ζ, where ? is related to the mean spacing between interacting charges in the layers, ζ is the distance between interacting electronic layers, β is a universal constant and k(B) is Boltzmann's constant. The equation was derived assuming pairing based on interlayer Coulomb interactions between physically separated charges. This theory was initially validated for 31 compounds from five different high-T(C) families (within an accuracy of ±1.37 K). Herein we report the addition of Fe(1+x)Se(1-y) and Fe(1+x)Se(1-y)Te(y) (both optimized under pressure) and A(z)Fe(2-x)Se(2) (for A = K, Rb or Cs) to the growing list of Coulomb-mediated superconducting compounds in which T(C0) is determined by the above equation. Doping in these materials is accomplished through the introduction of excess Fe and/or Se deficiency, or a combination of alkali metal and Fe vacancies. Consequently, a very small number of vacancies or interstitials can induce a superconducting state with a substantial transition temperature. The confirmation of the above equation for these Se-based Fe chalcogenides increases to six the number of superconducting families for which the transition temperature can be accurately predicted.     

77Se NMR study of the pairing symmetry and the spin dynamics in K(y)Fe(2-x)Se2

We present a 77Se NMR study of the newly discovered iron selenide superconductor K(y)Fe(2-x)Se2, in which T(c) = 32 K. Below T(c), the Knight shift 77K drops sharply with temperature, providing strong evidence for singlet pairing. Above T(c), Korringa-type relaxation indicates Fermi-liquid behavior. Our experimental results set strict constraints on the nature of possible theories for the mechanism of high-T(c) superconductivity in this iron selenide system.     

Random alloy-like local structure of Fe(Se, S)(1-x)Te(x) superconductors revealed by extended x-ray absorption fine structure

The local structure of Fe(Se, S)(1-x)Te(x) ternary (11-type) chalcogenides has been studied by temperature dependent Fe K-edge extended x-ray absorption fine structure measurements. We find that the Fe-Se and Fe-Te distances in ternary FeSe(1-x)Te(x) are closer to the respective distances in the binary systems, revealing significant divergence of the local structure from the average one. The mean square relative displacements show a systematic change with Te content, consistent with bond relaxation in the inhomogeneous ternary phases. Also, the Fe-Te and Fe-S distances in the FeS(0.2)Te(0.8) ternary system are found to be different in the crystallographically homogeneous structure. The observed features are characteristic of ternary random alloys, suggesting that a proper consideration should be given to the atomic distribution for describing the complex electronic structure of these multi-band Fe-based chalcogenides.     

Mott transition, antiferromagnetism, and unconventional superconductivity in layered organic superconductors

The phase diagram of the organic superconductor kappa-(ET)2Cu[N(CN)2]Cl has been accurately measured from 1H NMR and ac susceptibility techniques under helium gas pressure. The domains of stability of antiferromagnetic and superconducting orders in the pressure vs temperature plane have been determined. Both phases overlap through a first-order boundary that separates two regions of inhomogeneous phase coexistence. The boundary curve merges with the first-order line of the metal-insulator transition which ends with a critical point at higher temperature. The whole phase diagram features a point-like region where metallic, insulating, antiferromagnetic, and non-s-wave superconducting phases all meet.     

Eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the anharmonic oscillator V(x,y) = x 2 y 2

We obtain sufficiently accurate eigenvalues and eigenfunctions for the anharmonic oscillator with potential V(x, y) = x ² y ² by means of three different methods. Our results strongly suggest that the spectrum of this oscillator is discrete in agreement with early rigorous mathematical proofs and against a recent statement that cast doubts about it     

Stability of half-quantum vortices in p(x)+ip(y) superconductors

We consider the stability conditions for half-quantum vortices in a quasi-two-dimensional p{x}+ip{y} superconductor (such as Sr2RuO4 is believed to be). The predicted exotic nature of these excitations has recently attracted much attention, but they have not been observed yet. We emphasize that an isolated half-quantum vortex has a divergent energy cost in the bulk due to its unscreened spin current, which requires two half-quantum vortices with opposite spin winding to pair. We show that the stability of such a pair is enhanced when the ratio of spin superfluid density to superfluid density rho{sp}/rho{s} is small. We propose using various mesoscopic geometries to stabilize and observe these exotic excitations.     

Spin-orbit coupling in the Mott insulator Ca(2)RuO(4)

O 1s x-ray absorption study of the Mott insulator Ca(2)RuO(4) shows that the orbital population of the 4d t(2g) band dramatically changes with temperature. In addition, spin-resolved circularly polarized photoemission study of Ca(2)RuO(4) shows that a substantial orbital angular momentum is induced in the Ru 4d t(2g) band. Based on the experimental results and model Hartree-Fock calculations, we argue that the cooperation between the strong spin-orbit coupling in the Ru 4d t(2g) band and the small distortion of the RuO(6) octahedra causes the interesting changeover of the spin and orbital anisotropy as a function of temperature.     

Magnetic and57Fe Mössbauer studies of intermetallic compounds R2 (Fe1−x−y Ni x Co y )17 (R=Y,Gd,Tb,x=0,0.10, 0.20,y=0,0.05, 0.10)

Mössbauer studies of R₂(Fe_1?x?y Ni _x Co _y )₁₇ showed that the transferred hyperfine field at Fe nuclei due to magnetic rare earth (R) atoms is about one Tesla. Magnetic moments of the R atoms were determined from magnetic measurements as μTb=8.52μB, μGd=6.22μB. The mixed substitution of Ni and Co for Fe leads to an increase of the ordering temperature. A slight preference occupancy for Fe was observed involving the dumbbell shaped f or c site. The substitution effects of Ni and Co on the hyperfine field of f or c site, the average hyperfine field and the average isomer shift were also discussed.     

Superconductivity at Tc = 44 K in LixFe2Se2(NH3)y

We report a new approach to measuring the dielectric behavior of thin films by means of differential interdigitated electrode (IDE) cells coupled with a dual-channel impedance measurement setup. The differential IDE cell consists of two identical IDE??s on a common substrate. With one IDE loaded with sample and the other one empty, the complex permittivities of both capacitors are measured simultaneously by means of a dual-channel impedance measurement setup. The net dielectric response of the material under study is then obtained by the difference of the two permittivities, which corrects for the substrate contribution. The applicability of this approach is examined with bulk glycerol and a 600 nm indomethacin film and is evidenced by the results being consistent with those measured by conventional methods. The main advantages of this new approach include a simplified preparation technique for thin film samples and a straightforward correction for the substrate contribution by subtracting the empty IDE signal obtained at the same temperature and thermal history.     

Switching phenomena in amorphous thin films of Ge,Cd x Te y and Sb x Se y

The threshold and memory switching effects in amorphous thin films of Ge, Cd _x Te _y and Sb _x Se _y , prepared by cathodic sputtering and vacuum evaporation are investigated. The switching is dependent on the polarity and the material of the contacts. The memory effect is typical for Ge and Cd _x Te _y films whilst the threshold effect sustaining a repeating frequency of about 0·1 Hz was found with Sb _x Se _y , films. The proper switching time was 0·2–0·4 s for the samples under consideration. A considerable variance of the critical intensity of the electric field when the switching set in was observed, as well as a variance of its dependence on the temperature and the surface properties of the substrate. With Ge samples the switching depended on the total amount of energy accumulated in them. A simple model is proposed on the ground of the achieved results assuming electronic processes in the first phase of the duration of the switching (i.e. injection from electrodes into the amorphous film) and bulk thermal processes leading to the creatin of a conduction channel in the second phase.     

Phase diagram of K(x)Fe(2-y)Se(2-z)S(z) and the suppression of its superconducting state by an Fe2-Se/S tetrahedron distortion

We report structurally tuned superconductivity in a K(x)Fe(2-y)Se(2-z)S(z) (0 ≤ z ≤ 2) phase diagram. Superconducting T(c) is suppressed as S is incorporated into the lattice, eventually vanishing at 80% of S. The magnetic and conductivity properties can be related to stoichiometry on a poorly occupied Fe1 site and the local environment of a nearly fully occupied Fe2 site. The decreasing T(c) coincides with the increasing Fe1 occupancy and the overall increase in Fe stoichiometry from z = 0 to z = 2. Our results indicate that the irregularity of the Fe2-Se/S tetrahedron is an important controlling parameter that can be used to tune the ground state in the new superconductor family.     

Magnetic behaviour of Eu x (Rh1−y Fe y )3B2;x=0.6, 0.75, 1.04 andy=0.02

⁵⁷Fe ME spectra taken for Eu_x(Rh_1–yFe_y)₃B₂ compounds (x=0.6, 0.75, 1.04 and y=0.02) show quadrupole doublet and a magnetically split pattern for T < T_c ^*. Above T_c ^* the spectra merge into a single quadrupole doublet. It is seen that the addition of Fe shifts the T_c corresponding to undoped compound to T_c ^*, T_c ^*>300 K for all the three samples.     

Photoinduced magnetization in the organic-based magnet Mn(TCNE)(x)* y(CH2Cl2)

Photoinduced magnetization in a magnet based on organic species is reported for the first time. Upon optical excitation in the blue region of spectrum, Mn(tetracyanoethylene)(x)*y(CH2Cl2) (x approximately 2, y is approximately 0.8) exhibits increased magnetic susceptibility at temperatures as high as 75 K, accompanied with photoinduced absorption in the visible and infrared spectral regions. These effects are partially reversible by lower energy visible light and fully reversible by thermal treatment. The results suggest trapping of the photoexcited charge in a metastable state with enhanced exchange interaction.     

Common crystalline and magnetic structure of superconducting A2Fe4Se5 (A=K,Rb,Cs,Tl) single crystals measured using neutron diffraction

Single-crystal neutron diffraction studies on superconductors A(2)Fe(4)Se(5), where A=Rb, Cs, (Tl, Rb), and (Tl, K) (T(c) ～ 30 K), uncover the same Fe vacancy ordered crystal structure and the same block antiferromagnetic order as in K(2)Fe(4)Se(5). The Fe order-disorder transition occurs at T(S)=500-578 K, and the antiferromagnetic transition at T(N) = 471-559 K with an ordered magnetic moment ～3.3μ(B)/Fe at 10 K. Thus, all recently discovered A intercalated iron selenide superconductors share the common crystalline and magnetic structure, which are very different from previous families of Fe-based superconductors, and constitute a distinct new 245 family.     

铁基材料 KxFe2-ySe2中一种可能的超导基态相K2Fe7Se8的发现*

铁基超导体的发现开启了探索超导材料的新一轮热潮。最新发现的铁基超导体 KxFe2-ySe2有着许多不同寻常的性质。此材料中明显存在相分离,材料中主要的部分是具有反铁磁性质的绝缘相 K2Fe4Se5,超导相只占少量体积。但是超导相在物理上很重要,因为根据理论计算,该材料中不存在空穴型费米面,这样该领域中被广泛接受的S ±配对图像似乎受到挑战。相分离的存在致使此材料中相关研究的难度非常大。该文介绍了此材料中超导相的探索和研究,确认了此材料的超导相是以三维网络状的细丝形态存在,并提出超导的母体相可能是每8个 Fe 位置有一个 Fe 空位形成的8×10这种有序平行四边形结构,称为K2Fe7Se8相。     

Phase diagrams of (d x 2−y 2+id xy) superconductors on a square lattice

A model of strongly coupled electrons on a square lattice with attraction of the electrons to nearest-neighbor and next-nearest neighbor lattice sites is studied. For this model, the phase diagrams containing d _x ²−y ², d _xy, and (d _x ²−y ²+id _xy) states are constructed in the variables temperature versus chemical potential for different ratios of the corresponding potentials. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 67, No. 5, 356–360 (10 March 1998)     

Coupling in Fe(2 ML)/V(y ML) and Fe(2 ML)/V(y ML)/Fe(3 ML)/V(y ML) (y ≥ 4) superlattices

Fe(2 ML)/V(y ML) and interleaved Fe(2 ML)/V(y ML)/Fe(3 ML)/V(y ML) superlattice systems with spacer thicknesses, y, (4 ≤ y ≤ 17) were investigated macro-magnetically to estimate the coupling strength and the magnetoresistance in these materials, and particularly in the antiferromagnetically coupled monolayers. The results from the magnetic and magnetoresistive measurements indicate that adding one monolayer of Fe increases the antiferromagnetic coupling and the magnetoresistivity ratio from 0.0075 mJ/m² at 20 K and 2 % at 10 K for Fe(2 ML)/V(y ML), to 0.05 mJ/m² and 2.5 % for Fe(2 ML)/V(y ML)/Fe(3 ML)/V(y ML) at the same temperatures. Both systems exhibit in-plane magnetic and magnetoresistive isotropy, therefore the increase of the conferred physical parameters is attributed mainly to the stresses at the interface as governing mechanisms over the magnetoelastic forces.      

Theory of the interplay between the superconductivity and the blocked antiferromagnetic order in A(y)Fe(2-x)Se(2)

Based on an effective two-orbital tight-binding model, we examine the possible superconducting states in iron-vacancy-ordered A(y)Fe(2-x)Se(2). In the presence of ordered vacancies and blocked antiferromagnetic order, it is shown that the emergent SC pairing is the nodeless next-nearest-neighbor (NNN)-pairing due to the dominant antiferromagnetic (AFM) interaction between the inter-block NNN sites. In particular, we show that due to the ordered vacancies and the associated blocked AFM order, the interplay between the superconducting and AFM states results in three distinct states in the phase diagram as doping is varied. The divergent experimental observations can be accounted for by considering the different charge carrier concentrations in their respective compounds.