HREM studies of structural defects in high-Tc superconductors of “123” type

Abstract

High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HREM) has been used to reveal directly the structure of the metal framework and its defects in YBa₂Cu₃O_7–δ and HoBa₂Cu₃O_7–δ high-Tc superconductors. Metal atoms are seen as dark spots with different contrast depending on the atomic scattering factors. The spots arising from the oxygen columns in the Cu(1) planes are distinguished as brighter regions. Twin boundaries were observed as well as different kinds of extrinsic planar faults studied through comparison between the experimental HREM images and the corresponding structural models which were constructed.     

The effect of the superconducting–normal proximity on the Josephson tunneling of high-Tc superconductors

The Josephson coupling between two identical high-temperature superconductors was studied theoretically based on a superconducting–normal (SN) bilayer model with s+id-wave pairing in the S layer. It is indicated that due to the proximity effect between S and N layers as the interlayer hopping t_⊥ decreases, the product of the tunneling current through the junction and the normal-state resistance of the junction can be substantially reduced from the value described by the Ambegaokar–Baratoff (AB) theory. Our theoretical result is in good agreement with the experiments.     

Quantum diffusion of light particles in the vortex state of type‐II superconductors

The paper investigates the modification of the quasiparticle excitation spectrum of type‐II superconductors caused by the formation of a flux‐line lattice and its effects on the tunnelling rate of light positively charged interstitial particles. It is shown that near the upper critical field B_c2 the BCS–Gorkov equations predict for the spectral density J(\omega) (giving the probability of an energy exchange \hbar\omega between particle and the electron system) “superohmic” behaviour \propto \omega^3/2 at low frequencies with a prefactor that depends on the position of the tunnelling centre relative to the flux‐line lattice and on the angle between jump vector and the flux‐lines. As in normal‐conducting metals, at higher frequencies J(\omega)=2K_el\omega, is predicted. At low temperatures T the superohmic J(\omega) leads to hopping rates \nu \propto T^-2. At higher temperatures a crossover to the Kondo law ( ) is expected. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Phonon response of the high‐temperature spin‐density‐wave superconductors

The phonon response of a spin density wave superconductor (SD^W-SC) is calculated. The phonon self energy due to electron-phonon interaction, which involves the electronic density response function, is evaluated explicitly for the coexistent SDW-SC state. It has a square-root singularity at a frequency corresponding to the superconducting gap 2Δ. As a consequence, the spectral density function of the SDW-phonon will show a peak at 2Δ The possibility of observing the 2Δ-peak by Raman scattering is discussed. The relevance of the results to high-temperature superconductors is pointed out. The available Raman data for YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δare compared with the results of the calculation.     

Characterization of Crystalline Phase‐Transformations in Theophylline by Time‐Domain Terahertz Spectroscopy

Time‐domain terahertz (THz) spectroscopy has been used to characterize polymorphic transformations in polycrystalline theophylline, a widely used pharmaceutical compound. On transformation, different intermolecular bonding arrangements arise owing to changes in the lattice structure of the molecular crystal, leading to distinct THz spectral signatures. Temperature‐dependent THz absorption measurements in anhydrous theophylline confirm that the observed vibrational modes originate from phonons within the crystal structure.     

Study of (∧) decay parameter in J/ψ→∧(∧)decay

The helicity amplitudes fot J/ψ→∧(∧)and the relevant background decays are presented for measuring the A decay parameter α+((∧)→(p)π)in J/ψ→∧(∧).The Monte Carlo(MC)simulations based on the helicity amplitudes information are carried out.The likelihood fit method to determine the A decay parameter is presented.Based on the MC generated sample,the sensitivity of the measurement for α+has been estimated,which shows that the J/ψ→∧(∧) channel can be used to measure the A decay parameter α+((∧)→(p)π+)well.     

Steady‐State and Time‐Resolved Emission Studies of 6‐Methoxy Quinoline

Abstract

Steady‐state absorption, fluorescence excitation, and emission spectra of 6‐methoxy quinoline (6‐MQ) were measured at room temperature in cyclohexane, dioxane, ethanol, acetonitrile, water, and water–dioxane solvents. Absorption spectra of cyclohexane, n‐hexane, and isopentane solutions show resolved vibronic structure at room temperature. However, the excitation spectrum of cyclohexane solution is structureless and is found to be emission wavelength dependent, indicating the formation of at least two distinct species in the ground state. Similar behavior was observed in dioxane and water–dioxane solutions. For all other solutions, the fluorescence excitation spectrum of 6‐MQ was found to be the same for different emissions. Emission of 6‐MQ in all solvents consisted of two bands with their maxima around 355 nm (I) and 430 nm (II), the actual positions and the relative intensities being dependent on the solvent used. The bands I and II were respectively attributed to normal and protonated/H‐bonded species of either ¹L_a or ¹L_b states or mixed (¹L_a/¹L_b) state of ππ* character. Fluorescence decay of this dye in all solvents monitored over each emission maximum showed biexponential behavior, and the analysis yielded two different lifetime components for each emission band. The short and long fluorescence decay components were respectively in the range of 0.30–3.00 ns and 18–20 ns. The observed emission characteristics coupled with the nature of the fluorescence polarization spectra and two different decay components for each emission suggest the existence of two different conformers having two different excited electronic states.     

Study of Λ decay parameter in J/ψ→ΛΛ decay

The helicity amplitudes for J/ψ→ΛΛ and the relevant background decays are presented for measuring the Λ decay parameter α₊(Λ→pπ⁺) in J/ψ→ΛΛ . The Monte Carlo (MC) simulations based on the helicity amplitudes information are carried out. The likelihood fit method to determine the Λ decay parameter is presented. Based on the MC generated sample, the sensitivity of the measurement for α₊ has been estimated, which shows that the J/ψ→ΛΛ channel can be used to measure the Λ decay parameter α₊(Λ→pπ⁺) well.     

Study of ■ decay parameter in J/ψ→Λ■ decay

The helicity amplitudes for J/ψ→Λ■ and the relevant background decays are presented for measuring the ■ decay parameter α (■→π ) in J/ψ→Λ■. The Monte Carlo (MC) simulations based on the helicity amplitudes information are carried out. The likelihood fit method to determine the ■ decay parameter is presented. Based on the MC generated sample, the sensitivity of the measurement for α has been estimated, which shows that the J/ψ→Λ■ channel can be used to measure the ■ decay parameter α (■→π ) well.     

Time decay of solutions to the cauchy problem for time-dependent Schrödinger-Hartree equations

We consider the time-dependent Schrödinger-Hartree equation (1) $$iu_t + \Delta u = \left( {\frac{1}{r}*|u|^2 } \right)u + \lambda \frac{u}{r},(t, x) \in \mathbb{R} \times \mathbb{R}^3 ,$$ (2) $$u(0,x) = \phi (x) \in \Sigma ^{2,2} ,x \in \mathbb{R}^3 ,$$ where λ≧0 and \(\Sigma ^{2,2} = \{ g \in L^2 ;\parallel g\parallel _{\Sigma ^{2,2} }^2 = \sum\limits_{|a| \leqq 2} {\parallel D^a g\parallel _2^2 + \sum\limits_{|\beta | \leqq 2} {\parallel x^\beta g\parallel _2^2< \infty } } \} \) . We show that there exists a unique global solutionu of (1) and (2) such that $$u \in C(\mathbb{R};H^{1,2} ) \cap L^\infty (\mathbb{R};H^{2,2} ) \cap L_{loc}^\infty (\mathbb{R};\Sigma ^{2,2} )$$ with $$u \in L^\infty (\mathbb{R};L^2 ).$$ Furthermore, we show thatu has the following estimates: $$\parallel u(t)\parallel _{2,2} \leqq C,a.c. t \in \mathbb{R},$$ and $$\parallel u(t)\parallel _\infty \leqq C(1 + |t|)^{ - 1/2} ,a.e. t \in \mathbb{R}.$$      

Fine structure in the α decay of202Rn

The α decay of mass-separated²⁰²Rn is studied at the ISOLDE separator. Time sequential α-singles spectra together with α-X-t and α-e-t coincidence events are collected. Fine structure in the α decay is observed and feeding of a low-lying 0 ₂ ⁺ state at 816 keV in¹⁹⁸Po is evidenced. This 0⁺ state can be interpreted as the bandhead of an intruder-state based deformed band, coexisting with the spherical groundstate band. Mixing between normal and intruder states is discussed. A preliminary α-decay study of²⁰⁰Rn did not yet reveal any fine structure.     

Fluctuation induced magneto-conductivity studies in YBa2Cu3O7−δ + xBaZrO3 composite high-Tc superconductors

Fluctuations on the electrical conductivity of polycrystalline YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ + xBaZrO₃ (x = 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 wt.%) superconductors were investigated from the resistivity vs. temperature data for zero field and 8 T (Tesla) external magnetic fields. Attempts have been made to identify the optimum inclusion of BaZrO₃ (BZO) in YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ (YBCO) superconductors. The phase formation, texture and grain alignments were analyzed by XRD and SEM techniques. Then the effects of superconducting fluctuations on the electrical conductivity of granular composite superconductors were studied for zero field and 8 T external magnetic fields. Though inclusions of BZO sub-micron particles are not expected to influence superconducting order-parameter fluctuation (SCOPF) much, the transition from 2D to 3D of the order parameter in the mean-field region depends on the BZO content in the composites. It has been observed that BZO residing at the grain boundary of YBCO matrix influences the tailing region without having significant change in the mean-field critical temperature. In the present work, attention has been focused mostly in the experimental domain relatively above the T_c. It reveals that, 1 wt.% composite exhibits a better superconducting property in comparison with pure YBCO.     

Charge distribution of the daughter atom in α decay of 210Po

The evaporation model developed by Russek and collaborators for multiple ionization of outer-shell electrons in ion-atom collisions has been applied to the charge distribution of the daughter atom produced by α decay of ²¹⁰Po. The calculated result indicates that most of the daughter atoms are positively charged ions with a mean charge of + 1.41. The other ionization mechanisms, the recoil effect and the shake-off effect, are also considered. In comparison with the recent experimental results, it is shown that the evaporation model predicts more adequately than the recoil effect and the shake-off effect.     

Considering collective degrees of freedom in the β decay of odd nuclei

The β decay of around 30 odd nuclei was calculated within the dynamic collective model using expressions for the reduced matrix elements of the weak-interaction Hamiltonian for U-type and V-type β decay obtained earlier by the authors. All of the many-phonon states of the yrast band of an even-even core contributing to the formation of the excited states of nuclei were taken into account. For β transitions with an intensity of >1%, the calculated logft values differ from the experimental values by no more than 0.2.     

Symmetries in nuclear β decay

A summary is presented of experiments which test time reversal invariance in nuclear beta decay. The principal measurements are of the angular correlation for which in neutron and¹⁹Ne beta decay one finds an upper limit of D10^–3. As a second topic we also summarize the status of certain angular correlation measurements that bear on the question of second class currents.     

Polarization bremsstrahlung in α decay

A mechanism of formation of electromagnetic radiation that accompanies α decay and is associated with the emission of photons by electrons of atomic shells due to the scattering of α particles by these atoms (polarization bremsstrahlung) is proposed. It is shown that, when the photon energy is no higher than the energy of K electrons of an atom, polarization bremsstrahlung makes a significant contribution to the bremsstrahlung in α decay.     

Azimuthal distributions in radiative decay of a polarized τ lepton

We investigate various distributions over emitted photon angles, especially over the azimuthal angle, in the one-meson radiative decay of the polarized τ lepton, τ^– → π^–γν_τ. In connection with this, the photon phase space is discussed in more detail because it is nontrivial in the case of a polarized τ lepton. The decay matrix element contains both the inner bremsstrahlung and the resonance (structural) contributions. The azimuthal dependence of some observables are calculated. They are the asymmetry of the differential decay width caused by the τ-lepton polarization, the Stokes parameters of the emitted photon itself, and the correlation parameters describing the influence of τ-lepton polarization on the photon Stokes parameters. A numerical estimation is done in the τ-lepton rest frame for an arbitrary direction of the τ-lepton polarization 3-vector. The vector and axial-vector form factors describing the structure-dependent part of the decay amplitude are determined using the chiral effective theory with resonances (RχT). It is found that the features of the azimuthal distributions allows separating various terms in the spin-dependent contribution. The so-called up–down and right–left asymmetries are also calculated.