Intrinsic gapless superconductivity in overdoped (Y,Ca)Ba2Cu3Oy: Study of in-plane optical spectra

In this study we present the temperature dependent E//a-axis optical conductivity spectra of detwinned Y_1?xCa_xBa₂Cu₃O_y single crystals (x = 0, 0.11 and 0.16) in the optimally doped and overdoped region. The optical conductivity spectra show Drude like residual conductivity, in the far-infrared region, even well below the superconducting transition temperature, which indicates the increase of the non-superconducting component at the superconducting regime. The origin of the residual conductivity can be either carrier-overdoping or pair-breaking effects due to Ca-disorder. Comparing the spectra for various Ca-content at the optimum doping, we found that Ca-substitution enhances the residual conductivity. In addition, from comparison of the spectra in the optimally doped and overdoped samples at a fixed Ca-content, we can conclude that there is an intrinsic overdoping effect of the residual conductivity.     

Shape of the Cu(2) NQR spectra in YBa2Cu3O7, TmBa2Cu3O7 and TmBa2Cu4O8

We present a study of shape of the Cu(2) NQR spectra in YBa₂Cu₃O₇, TmBa₂Cum₃O₇, and TmBa₂Cu₄O₈ compounds at temperatures of 4.2–300 K. The results of the quantitative analysis lead us to conclude that the shape of the Cu(2) NQR spectra in all the samples studied can be described in the framework of the “motional narrowing” model, which implies that the Cu(2) nucleus possesses two different NQR frequencies between which it can rapidly jump. The difference in frequencies seems to be related to the charge-stripe correlations in CuO₂ planes resulting in a dynamical modulation of the electric field gradients at the Cu(2) nuclei. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 66, No. 9, 594–598 (10 November 1997)     

Superconductor-to-insulator transition and transport properties of underdoped YBa2Cu3O(y) crystals

The carrier-concentration-driven superconductor-to-insulator (SI) transition as well as transport properties in underdoped YBa2Cu3O(y) twinned crystals is studied. The SI transition takes place at y approximately 6.3, carrier concentration n(SI)H approximately 3x10(20) cm(-3), anisotropy rho(c)/rho(ab) approximately 10(3), and the threshold resistivity rho(SI)ab approximately 0.8 mOmega cm which corresponds to a critical sheet resistance h/4e2 approximately 6.5 kOmega per CuO2 bilayer. The evolution of a carrier, nH infiniti y - 6.2, is clearly observed in the underdoped region. The resistivity and Hall coefficient abruptly acquire strong temperature dependence at y approximately 6.5 indicating a radical change in the electronic state.     

脉冲激光沉积法制备(Cu,C)Ba2Ca3Cu4Oy 涂层导体

(Cu,C)Ba2Ca3Cu4Oy 是超导转变温度Tc 约为116 K 的无毒铜氧化物超导材料, 在迄今为止的超导材料中, 高压法制备的(Cu,C)Ba2Ca3Cu4Oy 多晶块材在液氮温区具有最高的不可逆场 Hirr ~ 15 T. 为了实现(Cu,C)Ba2Ca3Cu4Oy 超导材料的规模化制备, 本文利用脉冲激光沉积技术在 LaMnO3/MgO/Y2 O3/Al2 O3/Hastelloy 柔性金属基底上依次外延生长了 LaAlO3 帽子层和(Cu,C)Ba2Ca3Cu4Oy 超导薄膜. X 射线衍射实验结果表明(Cu,C)Ba2Ca3Cu4Oy 薄膜沿a 轴外延生长, 电学输运数据表明(Cu,C)Ba2Ca3Cu4Oy 薄膜的超导转变温度Tc onset 为115K, 零电阻温度Tc0 为52 K, 不可逆场为9 T@35 K. 本文首次报道了(Cu,C)Ba2Ca3Cu4Oy 在柔性金属缓冲层衬底的成功制备, 推动了(Cu,C)Ba2Ca3Cu4Oy 超导材料的实用化进程.     

Common energy scale for magnetism and superconductivity in underdoped cuprates: a muon spin resonance investigation of (Ca(x)La(1-x)) (Ba(1.75-x)La(0.25+x))Cu3O(y)

We characterize the spontaneous magnetic field, and determine the associated temperature T(g), in the superconducting state of (Ca(x)La(1-x)) (Ba(1.75-x)La(0.25+x)) Cu(3)O(y) using zero and longitudinal field muon spin resonance measurements for various values of x and y. Our major findings are (i) T(g) and T(c) are controlled by the same energy scale, (ii) the phase separation between hole poor and hole rich regions is a microscopic one, and (iii) spontaneous magnetic fields appear gradually with no moment size evolution.     

Infrared reflectance spectra and optical conductivity of Tl2CaBa2Cu2O8 and Tl2Ca2Ba2Cu3O10 superconducting thin film samples

Films of the Tl₂CaBa₂Cu₂O₈ (Tl2122 phase) and Tl₂Ca₂Ba₂Cu₃O₁₀ (Tl2223 phase) superconductors were prepared by d.c. magnetron sputtering method. Their C-axes were perpendicular to the surface. We measured their infrared (IR) reflectivity spectra and assignments of the phonon oscillators were made. The optical conductivity of Tl2122 and Tl2223 phases in the normal state have been obtained from measurements of the reflectivity over a wide frequency range. The position of the plasma peak is tentatively determined.     

Comparative photoemission study of Bi2(Sr,Ca)3Cu2O8+y and Bi1.7Pb0.3Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+y

The electronic structure of Bi-based 2223 single phase superconductor has been studied by ultraviolet and X-ray photoemission. By comparison with that of 2212 phase superconductor, we find a higher density of states nearE _F for 2223 phase. From analysis of the Cu 2p core-level spectroscopy, we obtain a relatively smaller charge transfer energy between copper and oxygen as well as the Coulomb repulsion energy on Cu site for 2223 phase. We relate these changes to the increase of hole concentration from 2212 to 2223 phase. The experimental results support the viewpoint that the transition temperature should be correlated with the density of states atE _F .     

Oxygen superstructures throughout the phase diagram of (Y,Ca)Ba2Cu3O6+x

The doping dependence of short-range lattice superstructures in (Y,Ca)Ba2Cu3O6+x has been studied with high-energy x-ray scattering. We observe diffuse features with a well defined periodicity which depend on the oxygen concentration but not on the charge carrier concentration. In addition, we find that diffuse scattering is absent in underdoped YBa2Cu4O8, which does not sustain oxygen defects. Our combined data highlight that the diffuse scattering arises from short-range oxygen ordering and associated lattice distortions. Signatures of stripe ordering or fluctuations are not seen and therefore must be much weaker.     

Oxygen isotope effect in the ab-plane reflectance of underdoped YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-delta)

We have measured the effect of oxygen isotope substitution on the ab-plane reflectance of underdoped YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-delta). The frequency shift of the transverse optic phonons due to the substitution of 16O by 18O yields an isotope effect of the expected magnitude for copper-oxygen stretching modes with alpha=0.5+/-0.1. The reflectance shoulder at 400-500 cm(-1) shows a much smaller exponent of alpha=0.1+/-0.1 in the normal state and alpha=0.23+/-0.1 in the superconducting state. These observations suggest that the shoulder is of electronic origin and not due to a phonon mode as has been suggested recently.     

Transverse-and zero-field μSR investigation of magnetism and superconductivity in (Y1−xPr x )Ba2Cu3O7

Zero-field muon-spin-rotation (μSR) measurements on (Y₁? _x Pr _x )Ba₂Cu₃O₇ [x=1.0, 0.8, 0.6, and 0.54] show evidence for antiferromagnetic ordering of the Cu moments within the Cu?O planes, with Néel temperatures 285, 220, 35. 30 and 20 K, respectively. Forx=1.0 the local muon magnetic field is ≈16 mT, but decreases to ≈12 mT at 17K, due to additional magnetic ordering. The zero-field data, in conjunction with transport data, allow construction of a complete phase diagram for this system. Transverse-field (1 kOe) μSR data forx=0.2 (T _c =75 K) show that the muon depolarization is determined primarily by the Cu nuclear moments forT>T _c , and by the vortex state forT _c . Fitting the superconducting-state data to a BCS model yields an extrapolated zero-temperature magnetic penetration depth of 2170 Å.