Coexistence of magnetism and superconductivity in the hole doped FeAs-based superconducting compound

The magnetic and superconducting properties of the Sm-doped FeAs-based superconducting compound were investigated under wide ranges of temperature and magnetic field. After the systematical magnetic ion substitution, the superconducting transition temperature decreases with increasing magnetic moment. The hysteresis loop of the La_0.87?xSm_xSr_0.13FeAsO sample shows a superconducting hysteresis and a paramagnetic background signal. The paramagnetic signal is mainly attributed to the Sm moments. The experiment demonstrates that the coexistence of magnetism and superconductivity in the hole doped FeAs-based superconducting compounds is possible. Unlike the electron doped FeAs-based superconducting compounds SmFeAsOF, the hole doped superconductivity is degraded by the substitution of La by Sm. The hole-doped and electron-doped sides are not symmetric.     

Relationship between the crystal structure and the reentrant superconducting properties of (Sn1-xErx)Er4Rh6Sn18

Single crystals of (Sn_1-xEr_x)Er₄Rh₆Sn₁₈ are superconducting (T_c = 1.3K) for x 0, are reetrant superconducting (T_c = 1.24K and T_M = 0.34K) for x ～.30 and undergo a singel magnetic transition (T_M=0.68K) for x～.75. Since the occupancy of the [Sn(1)_1-xEr(1)_x]Er(2)₄ sublattice is responsible for the variation of the low-temperature properties, one can make predictions as to new reentrant superconductors in the MRh_xSn_y series (M=RE). This appears to be the first system of reentrant superconductors where stoichiometry within a sublattice controls both magnetic ordering and superconductivity.     

The influence of magnetic ordering on the superconducting properties of amorphous (Zr1−xErx)3Rh alloys

The effect of Er impurities on the superconducting properties of an amorphous Zr₃Rh alloy has been studied. The Er impurities are found to exhibit magnetic behavior characteristic of a free Er³⁺ ion in a weak crystal field. Magnetic ordering of the Er moments is observed to occur at a temperature T_M which is proportional to the Er concentration. This ordering strongly influences superconductivity as evidenced by anomalous behavior in the concentration dependence of T_c. For concentrations near the critical Abrikosov-Gor'kov value, superconductivity appears to be induced by magnetic ordering. The superconducting critical field H_c2(T) is strongly effected by magnetic ordering and can be used to deduce information concerning the nature of the ordering. The results are analyzed in terms of theoretical models.     

Mössbauer study of 1/8 anomaly in La2−x Ba x CuO4

The measurements of Mössbauer effect, magnetic susceptibility and muon spin relaxation have been carried out for the high-T _c superconductor La_2?x Ba _x CuO₄. The intensity of Mössbauer doublet spectrum of the sample of x～1/8 begins to decrease rapidly at a certain temperature T _m, which we define as a magnetic transition temperature T _Möss. This temperature almost agrees with T _μSR determined from muon spin relaxation. The quadrupole doublet disappears at low temperature below T _m but a clearly splitted spectrum is not observed even at 4.2 K, which indicates a peculiar magnetic state with a wide distribution of internal magnetic field. Around x～1/8, the superconducting critical temperature T _c and T _m are competed each other. In conclusion, superconductivity disappears around 1/8 hole concentration and a peculiar magnetic state such as spin density wave appears.     

Coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism in the La0.87−xLnxSr0.13FeAsO (Ln=Sm, Gd, Dy) system

The interplay between the superconducting phase and spin density wave order phase was studied. We report the magnetic and superconducting properties of the hole-doped FeAs-based superconducting compound La_0.87−xLn_xSr_0.13FeAsO (Ln=Sm, Gd, Dy; 0≤x≤0.06). Both resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the superconducting transition temperature decreases with increase in composition of magnetic ions. The hysteresis loop of the La_0.87−xLn_xSr_0.13FeAsO sample shows a superconducting hysteresis in addition to a paramagnetic background. The experiment demonstrates that the magnetism and superconductivity coexist in hole-doped FeAs-based superconducting compounds. Among these three magnetic rare-earth elements, the influence of Dy³⁺ doping on superconductivity is more evident than that of Gd³⁺ doping, while the influence of Sm³⁺ doping is the weakest. The trend is consistent with the variation of the lattice parameter along c-axis.     

Structure and superconductivity of Mg1−xPbxB2

A series of polycrystalline samples of Mg_1−xPb_xB₂ (0≤x≤0.10) were prepared by a solid state reaction method and their structure, superconducting transition temperature and transport properties were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and resistivity measurements. Mg_1−xPb_xB₂ compounds were shown to adopt an isostructural AlB2-type hexagonal structure in a relatively small range of lead concentration, x≤0.01. The crystalline lattice constants were evaluated and were found to exhibit slight length compression as x increases. The superconducting transition temperature (T_c) steadily decreases with Pb doping. It is suggested that the mechanism of superconductivity reduction by lead doping can be attributed to the chemical pressure effect.     

An anomaly in the magnetic susceptibility of the Mg1−x CuxO solid solutions with 0.01≤x≤0.20

The problem of localized superconductivity has motivated the preparation of Mg_1−x Cu_xO solid solutions with NaCl structure and 0.01≤x≤0.20, as well as a study of the magnetization and magnetic susceptibility χ in the 2–400 K temperature range and in magnetic fields of up to 5 T. The temperature dependence of χ is described for all compositions by the Curie-Weiss law, χ = C/(T − θ), where the constant C is close to the value calculated for each composition for μ_eff = 1.7–1.9μ_B, and θ is close to zero. For T < 30 K, χ(T) deviates for all compositions toward lower χ, which can be attributed to magnetic ordering of exchange-coupled clusters in the solid solution. At T∼320–330 K, an anomaly of a diamagnetic type, i.e., a decrease of χ by 6–30% of its paramagnetic value, has been observed for all compositions against the background of the generally paramagnetic χ(T). A discussion is presented of alternative reasons for this anomaly and of its possible connection with localized superconductivity. __________ Translated from Fizika Tverdogo Tela, Vol. 42, No. 4, 2000, pp. 701–703. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2000 by Samokhvalov, Arbuzova, Viglin, Naumov, Smolyak, Korolev, Lobachevskaya.     

Unconventional magnetic phase diagram of cuprate superconductor La2−xSrxCuO4 at quantum critical point x=1/9

We propose a new magnetic phase diagram of La_2?xSr_xCuO₄ around a quantum critical point x=1/9 based on field-cooled magnetization measurements and critical fittings. A new phase boundary T_m2(H) is discovered which buries deeply below the first order vortex melting line in the vortex solid phase. The coupling between superconductivity and antiferromagnetism is found to be attractive below T_m2(H) while repulsive above. The attractive coupling between superconducting order and static antiferromagnetic order provides compelling experimental evidence that the antiferromagnetism microscopically coexists and collaborates with the high temperature superconductivity in cuprates.     

Superconductivity and electronic specific heat in V-Mo system

The parameters of superconductivity and specific heat are determined from the low temperature specific heat measurements of V_(1−x)Mo_x (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 1) solid solutions. The coefficient of electronic specific heat γ decreases with increasing Mo concentration and shows a minimum around 80 at. %Mo. Debye temperature θ_D varies slightly over the whole composition range. The superconducting transition temperature T_c also decreases with increasing Mo concentration. The variation of T_c is explained by the variation of γ and discussed in terms of the band structure.     

Interplay between the magnetic fluctuations and superconductivity in lanthanum cuprates

We report an analysis of the magnetic fluctuations in superconducting La_2?xSr_xCuO₄ and related lanthanum cuprates that have different symmetry of the low-temperature structure. NMR and ESR investigations revealed a dynamical coexistence of superconductivity and the antiferromagnetic correlations in most of the superconductivity region of the phase diagram. We show that, for all compounds, regardless of their low-temperature symmetry and their superconducting properties, the enhancement of the spin stiffness near 1/8 doping takes place.     

Charge ordering,superconductivity, and stripes in doped La<Subscript>2</Subscript>CuO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The special features of the phase diagrams of La_2?xSr_xCuO₄ are considered in terms of the high-temperature superconductivity model according to which the mechanism responsible for the anomalous properties of these compounds is the interaction of electrons with diatomic negative U-centers. A microstructural model that assumes the coexistence of domains with different types of dopant ion ordering is suggested for La_2?xSr_xCuO₄. According to this model, the main characteristics of the experimental phase diagrams of La_2?xSr_xCuO₄ only reflect square lattice geometric relations and competition between different dopant ordering types. Close agreement between the calculated and experimental “superconducting” and “magnetic” phase diagrams is an important argument in favor of the suggested high-temperature superconductivity model.     

Superconducting and normal state properties of Ag1−xSn1 + xSe2−y

The occurrence of superconductivity in a new ternary non-transition element compound with the cubic NaCl structure is reported. The composition of this compound is Ag_1?xSn_{1 + x}Se_2?y, with a maximum homogeneity range given by ?0.02 ?x?0.24 and 0 ? y ?0.1. The superconducting transition temperature (T_c) ranges from a minimum of 4.5 K for x = ?0.02, y = 0 to a maximum of 6.9 K for x = 0.24,y = 0. These T_c's are higher than previously observed in nontransition element NaCl structure compounds. Electrical resistivity data show a positive temperature coefficient, and room temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal a rapidly increasing density of states at the Fermi level with increasing x. Two ionic models for calculating the carrier concentration of Ag_1?xSn_{1 + x}Se_2?y are discussed, and a third model based on the band picture is proposed. The composition dependence of the magnetic susceptibility was used to test the validity of each of the models.     

Neutron studies of the iron-based family of high TC magnetic superconductors

We review neutron scattering investigations of the crystal structures, magnetic structures, and spin dynamics of the iron-based RFe(As, P)(O, F) (R = La, Ce, Pr, Nd), (Ba,Sr,Ca)Fe₂As₂, and Fe_1+x(Te–Se) systems. On cooling from room temperature all the undoped materials exhibit universal behavior, where a tetragonal-to-orthorhombic/monoclinic structural transition occurs, below which the systems become antiferromagnets. For the first two classes of materials the magnetic structure within the a–b plane consists of chains of parallel Fe spins that are coupled antiferromagnetically in the orthogonal direction, with an ordered moment typically less than one Bohr magneton. Hence these are itinerant electron magnets, with a spin structure that is consistent with Fermi-surface nesting and a very energetic spin wave bandwidth ～0.2 eV. With doping, the structural and magnetic transitions are suppressed in favor of superconductivity, with superconducting transition temperatures up to ≈55 K. Magnetic correlations are observed in the superconducting regime, with a magnetic resonance that follows the superconducting order parameter just like the cuprates. The rare earth moments order antiferromagnetically at low T like ‘conventional’ magnetic superconductors, while the Ce crystal field linewidths are affected when superconductivity sets in. The application of pressure in CaFe₂As₂ transforms the system from a magnetically ordered orthorhombic material to a ‘collapsed’ non-magnetic tetragonal system. Tetragonal Fe_1+xTe transforms to a low T monoclinic structure at small x that changes to orthorhombic at larger x, which is accompanied by a crossover from commensurate to incommensurate magnetic order. Se doping suppresses the magnetic order, while incommensurate magnetic correlations are observed in the superconducting regime.     

Coexistence of superconductivity and magnetic ordering in the borocarbide superconducting system

The investigation of the intermetallic compounds Y_1−xRE_xNi₂B₂C and Y_1−xRE_xPd₅B₃C_0.4 (RE=Gd, Dy, Ho, Er; 0≤x≤1.0) demonstrates that the coexistence of the long-range-magnetic-ordering and the superconductivity is possible The normal-state magnetic susceptibility shows a Curie-Weiss-like temperature dependence and a small paramagnetic Curie temperature. The value of the effective moment is close to that of the free RE⁺³ ion. Both results suggest that the coupling between the conduction electron and magnetic ion is not strong, but the coupling is still strong enough to cause the depression of superconductivity. The Abrikosov-Gor‘kov magnetic pair-breaking theory can be applied to those systems. The corresponding magnetic-ordering temperature increases with increasing magnetic moment concentration while the superconducting transition temperature decreases. The long-range-magnetic-ordering is mainly caused by the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida indirect exchange interaction via conduction electrons. This indirect exchange coupling strongly depends on the concentration of RE⁺³-moment and de Gennes factor.     

Hydrostatic pressure effects on the superconducting properties of Ag1−xSn1+xSe2

The superconducting transition temperature, T_c, of NaCl structure compounds in the series Ag_1?xSn_1+xSe₂ is found to be exceptionally sensitive to hydrostatic pressures up to 21 kbar. For five samples of varying composition, T_c is suppressed smoothly at a rate of ?(6?8)×10^?5K·bar^?1. These results are discussed with respect to the volume sensitivity of the electron-phonon interaction responsible for superconductivity.     

STRUCTURE AND SUPERCONDUCTIVITY OF Mg(B1-xCx)2 COMPOUNDS

In this paper, we report on the structural properties and superconductivity of Mg(B_1-xC_x)₂ compounds. Powder X-ray diffraction results indicate that the samples crystallize in a hexagonal AlB₂-type structure. Due to the chemical activity of Mg powders, a small amount of MgO impurity phase is detected by X-ray diffraction. The lattice parameters decrease slightly with the increasing carbon content. Magnetization measurements indicate that the non-stoichiometry of MgB₂ has no influence on the superconducting transition temperature and the transition temperature width. The addition of carbon results in a decrease of T_c and an increase of the superconducting transition width, implying the loss of superconductivity.     

Electronic transport properties of stuffed compositions of ferromagnetic copper chromium telluride: Cu1+xCr2Te4 (x=0-1)

We present here a detailed study of electronic transport properties of the metallic-ferromagnetic compounds Cu_1+xCr₂Te₄, having excess Cu atoms with x=0-1, from 2 to 400 K. The stuffing of the copper atoms in the parent structure reduces the ferromagnetic ordering temperature T_C from 325 to 156 K, while for the entire range the dependence of the electrical resistance and the thermopower with temperature and the anomalies in them on the magnetic ordering remain similar. All the compounds show a magnon-drag contribution in thermopower as a positive maximum around T_C/3, and a T² - dependence of resistivity at low temperatures. The increasing effects of the short range magnetic ordering in the paramagnetic resistivity are seen with the increase in the stuffing of atoms in these compounds. The transport properties are explained by the current carriers —the holes in a wide energy band dominated by the p-state of Te-atoms, which are scattered by the spindisorder in the paramagnetic phase and from the magnons in the ferromagnetic phase.     

Superconductivity in the Ba1−x LaxPbO3 system

An analysis of the relationship between the local crystal and electronic structure of the Ba_1?x K_xBiO₃ and BaPb_1?x Bi_xO₃ perovskite systems, which was made in terms of an empirical model based on EXAFS spectroscopy studies of the above compounds, led to the conclusion that superconductivity is possible in the Ba_1?x La_xPbO₃ system. The Ba_1?x La_xPbO₃ multiphase compound synthesized at a pressure of 6.7 GPa was found to contain a superconducting phase with a critical temperature T _c ?11 K.     

The coexistence of magnetic ordering and superconductivity in YBa2(Cu0.94Fe0.06)3O9−σ

We have made superconducting samples of the Y-Ba-Cu-O system with 6% Fe substituted for the Cu. The sample has been verified by X-ray diffraction to be a single-phased 1-2-3 compound. The 6% Fe substitution reduces T_c from 94 to 80 K. The room temperature Mössbauer spectrum shows two pairs of doublets, indicating there are two distinct Cu sites in the sample. The most surprising result is that magnetic ordering of the Fe coexists with superconductivity of the material at 4.2 K.     

The effect of Fe doping on superconductivity in ZrRuP

This work reports the structure and superconducting properties of the superconductor ZrRuP doped with Fe; the ZrRu_1−xFe_xP solid solution was investigated by means of X-ray powder diffraction, SQUID magnetometry and Mößbauer spectroscopy. It is shown that the modification of the superconducting properties by doping with Fe is similar to the effect of chemical pressure and that the Fe doped compounds do not show any magnetic ordering.