Mosaic Structure of (001)YBa2Cu3O7-δ/(10.2)Al2O3 Epitaxial Films and Millimeter Waveband Properties of Microstrip Resonators

The c-axis single-phase YBa₂Cu₃O_7- films ( = 0-0.15) on sapphire substrates prepared by the laser ablation technique and the band-pass stripline resonators for 34 GHz-range have been investigated. Increasing disorientation of mosaic block structure of YBa₂Cu₃O_7- films is related to increasing surface resistance R_s at 135 GHz-range and decreasing unloaded quality factor Q_o of linear stripline resonators. The linear dependence between the YBa₂Cu₃O_7- film mosaicity (M) and half-width B₁ of 00.13 reflecting component is determined. The reflection spreading is due to microstrains resulted mainly from the coherent adjustment of the YBa₂Cu₃O_7- film lattice to GdBa₂Cu₃O_7- sub-layer and sapphire substrate. Increasing number of the block characterized by a weak radial lattice adjustment () is demonstrated by spreading of 00.13 reflection. It is found out that depends on the Bragg angle of reflection due to inhomogenity of YBa₂Cu₃O_7- mosaic structure, which resulted from the gradual mosaicity decreasing with the depth.     

Stable barium compounds in YBa2Cu3Oy superconductors

The stability of various amounts of Ba₃Cu₃In₄O₁₂ (334) or BaTbO₃ (BTO) in a sintered YBa₂Cu₃O_y (YBCO) matrix was examined. Samples with added 334 or BTO exhibited critical temperatures (T_c) above 90 K for up to 20 vol.% addition and improved critical current densities (J_c) under a magnetic field. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis indicated that 334 and BTO did not react with the YBCO matrix under the sintering conditions used. The normalized J_c under a magnetic field of 1 T reached a maximum at 14 vol.% of 334 addition and 20 vol.% BTO addition. YBCO thin films with added BTO showed a gradual decrease in the T_c with increasing BTO content. YBCO films with added 334 showed a constant T_c of 87 K up to a 334 content of 4 vol.%.     

On Origin of Surface Resistance Degradation of YBa2Cu3O7-δ Films in Millimeter Waveband

Measuring data of the surface resistance R_s(T) temperature dependence of YBa₂Cu₃O_7- epitaxial films on sapphire substrates are reported. The films were prepared by impulse laser ablation technique. Surface impedance measuring was made in 65 GHz frequency range. We shown that R_s(T) are in accordance with epitaxial film considering the existence of spatial inhomogeneities as normal spherical domains. The analysis of YBa₂Cu₃O_7- film contamination was made by a laser mass-spectrometry technique. It was shown that normal spherical domains of YBa₂Cu₃O_7- films include oxidizer cooper compounds filling cluster voids and film edges. The measuring was made for a set of samples, which have a different history (technology regimes, critical parameters and geometry).     

Effect of Mg doping on the structural and dielectric properties of strontium titanate ceramics

The influence of Mg incorporation into A- and B-sites of the perovskite lattice of SrTiO₃ ceramics on the structural, microstructural and low-frequency dielectric properties is studied in this work. Compounds in the systems Sr_1-xMg_xTiO₃ and SrTi_1-yMg_yO_3- were synthesised by a conventional solid-state method. The solid solubility of Mg is restricted to x<1% for A-site occupancy (Sr_1-xMg_xTiO₃) and to y<15% for B-site occupancy (SrTi_1-yMg_yO_3-). The lattice parameter is found to increase with Mg content for the SrTi_1-yMg_yO_3- system, while it is almost invariant in the Sr_1-xMg_xTiO₃ one. The dependence on the lattice-site occupancy is also verified for the grain growth of ceramics. For SrTi_1-yMg_yO_3- the average grain size markedly decreases with increasing Mg content. For Sr_1-xMg_xTiO₃ the inverse dependence is observed. Contrary to expectations, Mg does not induce ferroelectricity or relaxor-like behaviour in strontium titanate, located in either A- or B-sites of the SrTiO₃ lattice. Moreover, fitting the dielectric behaviour to Barretts law demonstrates that B-site doping drives the system away from the ferroelectric instability. In Mg-doped strontium titanate ceramics the dielectric permittivity and dielectric losses decrease. The results are discussed based on the correlation between cation-site occupancy, charge and chemical stoichiometry in both systems. PACS 61.10.Nz; 68.37.Hk; 68.37.Lp; 77.22.Ch; 77.22.Gm; 77.84.Dy     

Above-T c anomalies of the infrared-active phonons in RBa2Cu4O8 (R=Dy,Ho) and Y2Ba4Cu7O15−δ superconductors

We report a far-infrared reflectivity study of DyBa₂Cu₄O₈, HoBa₂Cu₄O₈ and Y₂Ba₄Cu₇O_15– superconductors in the temperature range 10–300 K. The assignment of thez-polarized infrared-acitve vibrations of the rare-earth-ion (R) was verified by the substitution ofR. Since the structure of the Y₂Ba₄Cu₇O_15– compound inz-direction is an ordered sequence of YBa₂Cu₃O_7– and YBa₂Cu₄O₈ blocks, the phonon spectrum of Y₂Ba₄Cu₇O_15– is a superposition of their respective phonon modes. The temperature dependence of the infrared-active phonons in RBa₂Cu₄O₈ and Y₂Ba₄Cu₇O_15– was analyzed. A narrowing of the plane-oxygen phonon upon sample cooling was found to occur atT _c , as it was reported for single-chain YBa₂Cu₃O₇ materials; however a pronounced frequency softening of this mode for both RBa₂Cu₄O₈ and Y₂Ba₄Cu₇O_15– was found to start well aboveT _c , suggesting the interaction of infrared-active phonons with an excitation gap similar to that observed in spin-dependent measurements.     

Magnetic states of Cu1 sublattice in YBa2Cu3Oy high Tc compounds at different oxygen content

Magnetic states of Cu1 sublattice in YBa₂Cu₃O _y : 1%⁵⁷Fe compounds with 6.09 y6.98 were investigated by⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy at 1.68T300 K. It has been found that, upon reducingy, the magnetic transition temperatureT _ml changes from 3.3 to 12 K aroundy6.4 where the superconductivity disappears. The magnetic phase diagram for the Cu1 sublattice is plotted.     

Influence of Zn concentration on electrical resistance of SmBa2(ZnxCu1−x 3O9−δ

It is known that perovskite type structures (ReBa₂Cu₃O_9–) exhibit superconductivity at temperatures below 90 K /1–3/. The substitution of other ions for Cu is interesting because the Cu-O interactions are probably responsible for the supercoductivity in those systems /4/. In the system Y-Ba-(Ag,Cu)-O Saito found that the gradual decrease of T_c with the increase of Ag concentration is due to the presence of the different phases /5/.In this letter we are reporting the experimental measurements of the electrical resistance of SmBa₂Cu₃O_9– oxygen defect perovskites with Zn substituted for Cu.     

Ultrasound anomaly at Tc in YBa2Cu3Oy

We measured the fundamental longitudinal acoustic resonant frequency f_r of polycrystalline samples of YBa₂Cu₃O_y. The frequency increases with decreasing temperature and displays a sharp rise as we cool below T_c. The fractional change in frequency at T_c, Δf_r/f_r, is 4.5 × 10^-3 and is opposite in sign to that expected at the usual second-order super-conducting transition.     

Preparation of high J c YBa2Cu3O7−δ superconducting thin films by ion beam sputtering deposition

Preparation of high T _c and high J _c YBa₂Cu₃O_7– superconducting thin films by ion beam sputtering deposition is reported. The main factors affecting the composition of the films and the orientation of the crystal grains have been examined. Experimental results show that the Y, Ba and Cu composition of as-deposited films can be conveniently and accurately adjusted by a combined sputtering target which consists of a large sintered target of YBa₂Cu₃O_7– and a small one that is Ba and Cu rich (YBa_2.5Cu_3.3O_x). Fabrication conditions of highly oriented superconducting thin films are described. YBa₂Cu₃O_7– superconducting films with zero resistance at 88–90.5K and critical current density J _c (at 77K) of 1.5×10⁵ A/cm² are obtained.     

Magnetostriction of REBa2Cu3O7-δ

The magnetostriction (MS) of REBa₂Cu₃O_7– (RE=Y, Nd, Eu, Gd, Ho, Er, Yb) is reported as a function of magnetic field and temperature forH<5 T and 1.5H>1 T. The MS is much larger when the rare earth carries a magnetic moment, as usual, but the volume MS observed with moment carrying REBa₂Cu₃O_7– is larger than that of nonsuperconducting intermetalics. This effect is explained by the shielding currents which are induced by the 4f magnetic moments in the superconducting CuO-lattice. The thermal expansion of GdBa₂Cu₃O_7– shows a large peak at the ordering temperature of 2.2 K in both the superconducting and the nonsuperconducting samples.     

Superconductivity in the Bi - Sr - Cu - O system

During the investigation of the system Bi–Sr–Cu–O a novel family of superconducting oxides, close to the composition Sr₂Bi₂Cu₂O₇₊ has been isolated, with a midpoint critical temperature ranging from 7 K to 22 K. The X-ray diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy studies have shown its relationships with perovskite and demonstrated its bidimensional character. The possible relationships of this lamellar oxide with Aurivillius phases is discussed.     

Anisotropic low-temperature heat transport in YBa2Cu3O6.9 single crystal

We report measurements of the low-temperature thermal conductivity of YBa₂Cu₃O_7– (0.1) single crystals (T _c =84 K) both parallel ( ^{a, b} ) and perpendicular ( ^c ) to the CuO₂ planes. Whereas ^c (T) is found to be identical, within experimental resolution, with the phonon contribution _ph (T), ^{a, b} (T) contains an additional term linear in temperature,AT. We ascribeAT to the contribution of unpaired electronic carriers residing in the chain layers. Measurements performed in external magnetic fieldsB8 T support this interpretation. Our observations can be explained by an internal multilayer (IML) model in which it is assumed that strong superconductivity is generated within the CuO₂ layers and weak superconductivity is induced in the chain layers by the proximity effect. The fit of the experimental results to the IML model reveals that approximately 15% of the electronic carriers remain unpaired in YBa₂Cu₃O₇ belowT=1 K.     

Crystal structure of aluminium containing superconducting oxides: single crystal study of GdBa2Cu3−x AL x O6.88 (x=0.28) and ErBa2Cu3−y Al y O6.6 (y=0.14)

Following the discovery of the high temperature super-conductivity in YBa₂Cu₃O_7– (T _c 93 K) [1] it has been found that Y atoms can be substituted entirely by almost all of the rare-earth elements, except for Ce, Pr, and Tb, without changing the superconducting properties appreciably [2, 3]. The magnetic moments carried by the rare-earth atoms have apparently no influence on the superconducting properties. In Nd-, Sm-, Gd-, Dy- and Er-based compounds the rare earth moments order at low temperatures (0.025–2.2 K) [4–8] and the ordered antiferromagnetic state coexists with the superconducting state. We have investigated the antiferromagnetic ordering of these compounds by neutron diffraction both on powder and single crystal samples obtained from several laboratories [8–10]. Magnetic structures of all these compounds consist of antiferromagnetic (001) planes stacked ferro- or antiferromagnetically. There have been some controversies as to the stacking of antiferromagnetic (001) planes in GdBa₂Cu₃O_7–.     

Magnetic and Mössbauer studies of the superconductor Eu(Dy,Gd)Ba2Cu3O7−δ

The changes of the microstructures of bulk single-phase Eu_1–x Dy _x Ba₂Cu₃O_7– and Eu_1–y Gd _y Ba₂Cu₃O_7– superconductors due to (Dy, Gd)-doping were investigated by the Mössbauer effect. The pinning potentials of the samples were calculated by magnetization relaxation analysis. The interaction between the magnetic moment of magnetic rare-earth cations and flux lines in these samples was considered as a predominant pinning mechanism in highT _c superconductors in this paper.     

Local electronic structure of Cu2O,CuO and YBa2Cu3O7−δ

Cu 3d and O 2p electronic states of Cu₂O, CuO, and the highT _c compound YBa₂Cu₃O_7– have been probed by means of high resolution x-ray emission spectroscopy (XES). The CuL and OK XES bands are compared in detail with recently reported x-ray photoelectron and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS and UPS) measurements and densities of states obtained by local density functional (LDF) theory. The XES data show that the hybridization between Cu 3d and O 2p states is completely modified in CuO and YBa₂Cu₃O_7–, whered-d correlation energy is large, as compared to LDF predictions. Such is not the case for Cu₂O where agreement between theory and experiment is good.The Cu 3d states are found to be highly localized in YBa₂Cu₃O_7– (though less so than in CuO). The O 2p states lie at lower binding energies than in the simpler oxides and are mainly situated above the Cu 3d states. The respective positions of the centre of gravity of the OK emission bands on an x-ray energy scale indicate that the oxygen sites are less well screened by the O 2p states in the highT _c compound. This provides indirect evidence for the presence ofd-like states at the oxygen sites.     

Use of a Fabry-Perot Resonator for the measurement of the surface resistance of high Tc superconductors at millimeter wave frequencies

The use of a Fabry-Perot Resonator to measure the surface resistance of bulk and thin film samples of YBa₂Cu₃O_7- at W-band frequencies is described. The Fabry-Perot measurement technique provides a more convenient size, higher Q and is capable of determining the surface resistance more accurately than cylindrical resonators at these frequencies.     

Substitutions in the Nd/Ba cation subsystem in thin films of the NdBa2Cu3Oy high-temperature superconductor

Thin films of the Nd_1+x Ba_2?x Cu₃O_y high-T _c superconductor (NBCO) with different neodymium/barium ratios have been obtained by laser ablative cosputtering of targets with different elemental compositions. The films with excess neodymium (x>0) had a low surface particle density and were rough, but their critical temperature decreased with increasing x. Conversely, barium-rich films (x<0) exhibited independence of the superconducting properties of the film composition, with an appreciable number of particles observed on the surface. Substitution of Ba for Nd in NBCO thin films is apparently impeded, so that excess barium precipitates in the form of (Ba,Cu)O_z particles. The structure and superconducting properties of NBCO reveal a strong dependence on the conditions of film saturation by oxygen.     

An investigation of the PrBa2Cu3O7-δ system

Members of the PrBa₂Cu₃O_7– system possessing the orthorhombic structure over a wide range of oxygen stoichiometry (=–0.5 to +0.5) have been prepared and characterized. Similar compositions with a tetragonal structure have also been prepared. None of the oxides is superconducting, independent of the structure or stoichiometry. Praseodymium seems to be present to a small extent in the 4+ state in oxygen-excess (negative ) samples. Orthorhombic PrBa₂Cu₃O_7– samples show the presence of twins suggesting that twins arise from orthorhombicity and have no relation to the superconductivity. A neutron diffraction study of a near-stoichiometric sample has shown a disordered orthorhombic structure with 72% occupancy of the 01 (chain) sites and with no interchange between Pr and Ba sites.Contribution No. 503 from the Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit     

Application of151Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy to studies of electric field gradients in high-temperature superconductors

The rare-earth site of samples having the compositions (Fe,Cu)Sr₂(Eu,Ce) _n Cu₂O_4+2n+z (n=2 and 3) were studied by¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy. The results obtained are compared with measurements of EuBa₂Cu₃O_7– (123) and Bi₂Sr₂(Ca_1–yEu_y)Cu₂O_8+E (2212) samples. The full quadrupole Hamiltonian of the 21.5-keV -transition was applied in analyzing the measured spectra. Simultaneous fitting of spectra recorded from crystallites oriented in various directions was used to determine the hyperfine parameters of then= 2 and 3 samples. Two different electric field gradients, not discernible in simple random crystallite measurements, were obtained for then=3 series.     

Femtosecond relaxation dynamics of electronic processes and electron-phonon coupling in YBa2Cu3O7-δ and PrBa2Cu3O7 epitaxial films

The room temperature femtosecond relaxation dynamics of reflection spectra of YBa₂Cu₃O_7- with different oxygen contents and PrBa₂Cu₃O₇ epitaxial films have been studied. The relaxation times of R(t) in YBa₂Cu₃O_7- increase from less than 100 fs to more than 1 ps with increasing and with substitution of Pr for Y. The electron and lattice temperature profiles at these quasi-equilibrium state are calculated from the nonequilibrium energy-balance model. The process of electronphonon energy transfer was found to be dominated in our experiments. These results reveal that in 123 phase superconductors decrease of carrier concentration slows down the carrier-phonon coupling and the type of the electron-phonon interaction would be localized. The dependence of electron-phonon coupling to oxygen defects in YBa₂Cu₃O_7- was found to be exp(–).