Investigation of novel highT c superconducting oxides

Our results of microscopic and macroscopic studies of novel highT _c superconductors are discussed. They permit a straightforward comparison of the nature of the superconductivity in 40 K range (La₂CuO₄ type) and 90 K range (YBa₂Cu₃O₇ type) superconductors.     

Giant Nernst effect in the pseudogap phase of high Tc superconductors

We have investigated theoretically the Nernst effect in unconventional (d-wave) charge and spin density waves (UDW). In the presence of magnetic field, Landau levels are formed, and the gapless behaviour of the low energy excitations change into gapped behaviour. When additional electric field is applied, the quasiparticles drift with a velocity of E × B/B², and carry entropy. From this, the Nernst coefficient can be calculated using the Kelvin relation. The present results account very nicely for the measured Nernst signal in the pseudogap phase of high T_c superconductor La_2−xSr_xCuO₄ and Bi₂Sr_2−yLa_yCuO₆. This indicates that the large Nernst effect is a clear signiture of UDW.     

Evidence for superconductivity in fluorinated La2CuO4 at 35 K: Microwave investigations

In the fluorinated La₂CuO_4−x prepared using a solid state reaction with NH₄HF₂ as a fluorinating agent at 550 K at ambient pressure, superconductivity was detected by microwave and EPR techniques with aT _c of 35 K.     

Direct angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy and superconductivity of strained high-T c films

Since 1997 we systematically perform direct angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) on in-situ grown thin (<30 nm) cuprate films. Specifically, we probe low-energy electronic structure and properties of high-T _c superconductors (HTSC) under different degrees of epitaxial (compressive vs. tensile) strain. In overdoped and underdoped in-plane compressed (the strain is induced by the choice of substrate) ≈15 nm thin La_{2 − x} Sr _x CuO₄ (LSCO) films we almost double T _c to 40 K, from 20 K and 24 K, respectively. Yet the Fermi surface (FS) remains essentially two-dimensional. In contrast, ARPES data under tensile strain exhibit the dispersion that is three-dimensional, yet T _c drastically decreases. It seems that the in-plane compressive strain tends to push the apical oxygen far away from the CuO₂ plane, enhances the two-dimensional character of the dispersion and increases T _c, while the tensile strain acts in the opposite direction and the resulting dispersion is three-dimensional. We have established the shape of the FS for both cases, and all our data are consistent with other ongoing studies, like EXAFS. As the actual lattice of cuprates is like a ‘Napoleon-cake’, i.e. rigid CuO₂ planes alternating with softer ‘reservoir’, that distort differently under strain, our data rule out all oversimplified two-dimensional (rigid lattice) mean field models. The work is still in progress on optimized La-doped Bi-2201 films with enhanced T _c.      

Structure and superconductivity studies on (Y1-xLa x )Ba2Cu3O7 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1)

Studies on (Y_{1 - x}La _X )Ba₂Cu₃O₇, x = 0.0 - 1.0, in steps of 0.1, have been carried out. Results show that for x ≤ 0.4, orthorhombicity and high T_c of 90 K are retained. T_c decreases gradually for x ≥ 0.4. Pure LaBa₂Cu₃O₇ shows a T_C ^ZERO of 73 K. XRD data do not reveal any clearcut orthorhombic distortion for pure LaBa₂CuO₇ after annealing at 350°C for 4 days.     

Structural studies and T c dependence in La2−x Dy x Ca y Ba2Cu4+y O z type mixed oxide superconductors

A new series of mixed oxide superconductors with the stoichiometric composition La_2−x Dy _x Ca _y Ba₂Cu_4+y O _z (x=0.0 − 0.5, y=2x) has been studied for structural and superconductiong properties. Our earlier studies on La_2−x (Y/Er) _x Ca _y Ba₂Cu_4+y O _z series, show a strong dependence of T _c on hole concentration (p _sh). In the present work, the results of the analysis of the neutron diffraction measurements at room temprerature on x=0.3 and 0.5 samples are reported. It is interesting to know that Ca substitutes for both La and Ba site with concomitant displacement of La onto Ba site. Superconductivity studies show that maximum T _c is obtained for x=0.5, y=1.0 sample (T _c ∼ 75 K), for La_1.5Dy_0.5Ca₁Ba₂Cu₅O _z (La-2125).     

电子型掺杂高温超导体La2-xCexCuO4飞秒时间分辨动力学研究

利用飞秒时间分辨光抽运探测技术研究了电子型掺杂La_2-xCe_xCuO₄(LCCO)高温超导材料的准粒子超快动力学过程.得到低温(T<0.7T_c)、转变温度附近(0.7T_c≤T≤T_c)和高温(T>T_c)三个温区内的动力学行为.研究发 关键词： 电子型掺杂高温超导体 飞秒时间分辨 准粒子 声子瓶颈     

Vibronic origins of high T c

In this paper we present a detailed development of our vibronic mechanism for the explanation of high temperature superconductivity. We first review the evidence for believing that some unified mechanism for “low” and “high” T _c is required. We then develop the case for the existence of the double-well motions, required by our theory, in these systems, and proceed to develop our ideas further to the point of unifying, the T _c ～ 100 K, and the T _c ～ 40 K systems. We also advance a possible explanation of the anomalous isotope effects in these systems, and conclude with an extended discussion of non-cuprate systems and general criteria for high T _c theories, including the gap to kT _c ratio.     

A specific heat and magnetization study of highT c ceramic superconductors

From the temperature dependence of the specific heat of the semiconductor La₂CuO₄ and the high temperature superconductors La_1.8Sr_0.2CuO₄ (T _c =37.2 K) and YBa_1.9K_0.1Cu₃O_6.9 (T _c =91.5 K) in the range 1.5–30 K, a strong similarity of the lowfrequency part of their phonon density of states with a peak around 10 meV could be inferred. In the case of La_1.8Sr_0.2CuO₄ the thermodynamical critical field belowT _c has been determined and using the Rutger's formula and the BCS model, a Sommerfeld coefficient γ=9 mJ·mol^?1 K^?1 was obtained, which, taking into account recent results of band structure calculations leads to an electron-phonon enhancement factor γ=1.3, value compatible withT _c =36 K when using McMillan's formula forT _c . A systematic study of the magnetization offered evidence for strong flux trapping effects at higher fields and for Meissner shielding by superconducting Josephson currents in fields below 6 mT at 4.2 K.     

ELECTROCHEMICAL OXIDATION OF La2CuO4 SINGLE CRYSTALS

Bulk superconducting La₂CuO_4+δ single crystals are obtained by using electrochemical intercalation technique from the as-grown insulating samples. Oxidation is carried out by constant current I=10μA at temperature T=70℃ and room temperature, respectively. Structure and magnetic properties are studied by low-temperature X-ray diffraction and susceptibility measurements. A superconducting phase with T_c of 19K and δ-0.12 can be attributed to the formation of oxygen clusters. Room temperature oxidation is inhomogeneous: two superconducting phases with T_c1 of 24K and T_c2 of 8K and an antiferromagnetic phase are coexisting in the crystal. It is found that the appearance of T_c in this system has the "step" tendency.     

Terahertz time-domain reflection spectroscopy for high-Tc superconducting cuprates

We have developed a terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) system for reflectivity measurement with a temperature-controllable cryostat. For emission and detection of THz radiation, a Ti:Sapphire pulsed laser and photoconductive antennas are used. Two wire-grid polarizers enable us to carry out the polarized reflectivity measurements. Using our THz-TDS system, we measured the c-axis polarized reflectivity spectra for La_2−xSr_xCuO₄ single crystals (x = 0.10 and 0.13) and observed sharp Josephson plasma edges for both samples below T_c. The reflectivity spectra of the x = 0.10 sample were in good agreement with those reported previously, which confirms the validity of the system. For the x = 0.13 sample, we discuss the anomolous features of the optical spectra.     

Temperature dependence of (μ−O) paramagnetic shift in highT c superconductor La2−x Sr x CuO4

In order to investigate the electronic structure around oxygen in superconducting La_2–x Sr _x CuO₄ (x=0.10 and 0.14), precise measurements were carried out on the paramagnetic Knight shifts in the spin rotation frequency of the negative muon bound to the oxygen with reference to antiferromagnetic La_2–x Sr _x CuO₄ (x=0.05). Remarkable temperature as well as crystalline-axis dependence was observed for the highT _c case with a divergence character towardsT _c. Possible mechanisms to explain the observed results are given.     

Intrinsic tunneling study of underdoped Bi2Sr2-xLaxCuO6+δ superconductors

We report on a tunneling study of underdoped submicron Bi₂Sr_2-xLa_xCuO_6+δ (La-Bi2201) intrinsic Josephson junctions (IJJs), whose self-heating is sufficiently suppressed. The tunneling spectra are measured from 4.2 K up to the pseudogap opening temperature of T^* = 260 K. The gap value found from the spectral peak position is about 35 meV and has a weak temperature dependence both below and above the superconducting transition temperature of T_c = 29 K. Since the superconducting gap should have a value of 10-15 meV, our results indicate that the pseudogap (～35 meV) plays an important role in the underdoped La-Bi2201 intrinsic tunneling spectroscopy down to the lowest temperature of 4.2 K. However, the contribution of the superconducting gap can be separated by normalizing the spectra to the one near and above T_c, which shows that the IJJs can be a useful tool for the study of the electronic properties of the La-Bi2201 cuprate superconductors.     

Generic phase diagram of “electron-doped” T′ cuprates

We investigated the generic phase diagram of the electron doped superconductor, Nd_2−xCe_xCuO₄, using films prepared by metal organic decomposition. After careful oxygen reduction treatment to remove interstitial O_ap atoms, we found that the T_c increases monotonically from 24 K to 29 K with decreasing x from 0.15 to 0.00, demonstrating a quite different phase diagram from the previous bulk one. The implication of our results is discussed on the basis of tremendous influence of O_ap “impurities” on superconductivity and also magnetism in T′ cuprates. Then we conclude that our result represents the generic phase diagram for oxygen-stoichiometric Nd_2−xCe_xCuO₄.     

Synthesis and electrical properties of Ln<Subscript>2</Subscript>CuO<Subscript>4+</Subscript><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">δ</Emphasis></Subscript> (Ln: Nd or La) mixed conductor sputter deposited coatings

Nd₂CuO₄ and La₂CuO₄ are potential candidates as cathode material for intermediate temperature-solid oxide fuel cells. Nd–Cu and La–Cu oxides were co-sputtered on rotating substrates from metallic La, Nd and Cu targets in the presence of a reactive argon–oxygen gas mixture. Structural and chemical features of these films have been determined by X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Their electrical resistivity was measured using the four-point probe method. As-deposited Nd–Cu based coatings are amorphous and, after annealing, crystallise in K₂NiF_{4+ δ} -type structure for Nd/Cu atomic ratio of 2, with more or less Nd₂O₃ or CuO, depending on whether Nd or Cu is in excess, respectively. As-deposited La–Cu based coatings are also amorphous and crystallise in La₂CuO₄ for La/Cu >2 or in LaCuO_3±δ perovskite-type structure when Cu is in excess. The electrical measurements show a clear relation between resistivity and structure of the coatings. After annealing, crystallised neodymium-based coatings show higher resistivity than lanthanum-based ones. Finally, LaCuO_3±δ exhibit higher resistivity than La₂CuO₄. Paper presented at the 11th EuroConference on the Science and Technology of Ionics, Batz-sur-Mer, Sept. 9–15, 2007.     

Structural investigation of high-tc superconductors under high pressure

Abstract

The results of X-ray investigations of Tl₂Ba₂Ca₂Cu₃O₁₀ show a preferential c-axis decrease under high pressure, leading to a bulk modulus of B = 1370 kbar at 300 K. The results are compared to previous investigations of La₂CuO₄, La_1.8Sr_0.2CuO₄ and Pr₂CuO₄, that show a similar linear compressibility in a- and b- axis direction. The linear compressibility in c-axis direction is dominated by the degeneration of the Cu-O octohedra and by the compressibility of intercalated layers.     

Low temperature synthesis and superconducting properties of polycrystalline T′-(La,Sm)2CuO4

La_2−xSm_xCuO_4+δ with the Nd₂CuO₄ structure was synthesized by precipitation from fused alkaline hydroxide, CsOH, at 400 °C. The as-sintered polycrystalline samples showed no diamagnetic signal, but after post-annealing in vacuum of ≈10⁻⁸ atm at 650–700 °C, the samples with x = 0.1 and 0.3 exhibited superconductivity at T_c on = 25 K. The volume fraction of the superconducting phase estimated from the slope of the Zero-Field-Cooled magnetization data was over 30% for x = 0.3, which confirmed that the La_1.7Sm_0.3CuO_4+δ is a bulk superconductor.     

A two-channel model for transport across high T c bicrystal grain boundary junctions

This paper describes an investigation of the microscopic configuration of the barrier which exists at the boundary in high T _c grain boundary junctions. A model for describing the properties of bicrystal and biepitaxial grain boundary junctions is proposed. Two channels for transport currents are assumed, the supercurrent being carrier by one channel only. The measurable macroscopic parameters of a junction, (critical current density and normal state resistance) are computed in terms of the microscopic parameters that appear in this model. The model well describes major features of the characteristics observed for high T _c bicrystal junctions.     

Reduction dependence of superconductivity in the end-member T′ cuprates

We have recently achieved superconductivity in T′-RE₂CuO₄ (RE: Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, and Gd), using epitaxial thin films by metal organic decomposition. The key recipes to achieve superconductivity are low-P_O2 firing and subsequent vacuum reduction to minimize the amount of impurity oxygen atoms, which are very harmful to high-T_c superconductivity. In this article, we report our investigation on the reduction dependence of superconductivity of T′-RE₂CuO₄. For thin films, the amount of remnant O_ap atoms is difficult to evaluate but we propose that one good measure for this may be the c-axis lattice constant, which tells us whether the reduction is insufficient or excessive.     

Correlations betweenT c andn s/m * (carrier density/ effective mass) in high-T c and organic superconductors

We update our muon spin relaxation studies of the magnetic field penetration depth which show the correlations betweenT _c and the relaxation rate σ αn _s/m ^* (carrier density/effective mass) of hole-doped high-T _c cuprate superconductors (La₂, Sr₃)CuO₄, YBa₂Cu₃O₇ (Y_1−xPr_x)Ba₂Cu₃O₇, and other double and triple layer systems. These studies are extended to the organic superconductor (BEDT-TTF)₂Cu(NCS)₂.