The upper critical magnetic field Bc2(T) of amorphous molybdenum films

Molybdenum films are obtained by quenched condensation of the metal vapour onto a He-cooled substrate. During annealing the electrical resistance decreases over a small temperature range; this is the typical behaviour of amorphous metals. The films, about 300 Å thick and with a high resistivity, have a positive Hall effect. The transition temperature T_c = 8.0 K is strongly enhanced compared to crystalline Mo. The upper critical field strongly enhanced compared to crystalline Mo. The upper critical field B_c2(T) has been measured. In the examined field range up to 80 kG, B_c2 is a linear function of temperature; the slope has the large value dB_c2/dT = -45 kG/K.     

Effect of pressure and magnetic field on bilayer La1.25Sr1.75Mn2O7 single crystal

We report the temperature dependence of susceptibility for various pressures, magnetic fields and constant magnetic field of 5 T with various pressures on La_2−2xSr_1+2xMn₂O₇ single crystal to understand the effectiveness of pressure and magnetic field in altering the magnetic properties. We find that the Curie temperature, T_c, increases under pressure (dT_c/dP=10.9 K/GPa) and it indicates the enhancement of ferromagnetic phase under pressure up to 2 GPa. The magnetic field dependence of T_c is about 26 K for 3 T. The combined effect of pressure and constant magnetic field (5 T) shows dT_c/dP=11.3 K/GPa and the peak structure is suppressed and broadened. The application of magnetic field of 5 T realizes 3D spin ordered state below T_c at atmospheric pressure. Both peak structure in χ_c and 3D spin ordered state are suppressed, and changes to 2D-like spin ordered state by increase of pressure. These results reveal that the pressure and the magnetic field are more competitive in altering the magnetic properties of bilayer manganite La_1.25Sr_1.75Mn₂O₇ single crystal.     

Phase transitions and vortex structure evolution in two-level high-temperature granular superconductor YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7 – δ</Subscript> under temperature and magnetic field

Temperature dependences of the resistivity ρ(T) of samples of granular high-temperature superconductor YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 – δ} are measured at various transverse external magnetic fields at 0 < H _ext < 1900 Оe in the temperature range from the upper Josephson critical temperature of “weak bonds” T _c2J to temperatures slightly exceeding the superconducting transition temperature T _c . Based on the data obtained, the behavior of the field dependences of the critical temperatures of superconducting grains and “weak bonds,” and temperature and field dependences of the magnetic contribution to the resistivity \(\left[ {\Delta \rho \left( {T,H} \right) = \rho {{\left( T \right)}_{{H_{ext}} = const}} - \rho {{\left( T \right)}_{{H_{ext}} = 0}}} \right]\). It is shown that the behavior of the magnetic contribution to the resistivity Δρ along the line of the phase transition related to the onset of the magnetic field penetration in the form of Abrikosov vortices into the subsystem of superconducting grains T _c1g (H _ext) is anomalous. The concepts on the magnetic flux redistribution between both subsystems of two-level HTSC near in the vicinity of T _c1g : the Josephson vortex decreases, and the Abrikosov vortex density increases.     

Electrical conduction and critical magnetic field for superconductivity of a Nb3Se4 single crystal

With respect to the quasi-one dimensionality of single crystals of Nb₃Se₄, the electrical resistivity from 1.3 to 320 K and the critical magnetic field for superconductivity are measured. The resistivity along the Nb-chain direction is represented as a sum of a temperature independent and an intrinsic temperature dependent term. The temperature dependence of the intrinsic resistivity subjects to T³ form between 10 and 80 K above which it tends to a T linear form. The critical magnetic field is proportional to the temperature difference from the transition temperature. Its dependence is well fitted by the elliptical fluxoid model of Ginzburg-Landau theory. The ratio of the parallel and the perpendicular to the c-axis is 5.7.     

Magnetic properties and hydrostatic pressure effect on the curie temperature of (Co,Mn)2B amorphous alloys

The temperature dependence of magnetization and magnetic susceptibility and hydrostatic pressure effect on the Surie temperature (dT_c/dP) are measured for (Co_1-xMn_x)₂B (0?x?0.4) amorphous alloys and the results are compared with those of crystalline compounds with the same composition. The Curie temperature decreases linearly with an increasing Mn content but magnetization shows a maximum around x=0.15. The reciprocal magnetic susceptibility of all the prepared alloys obeys the Curie-Weiss law above T_c. The magnitude of the negative value of dT_c/dP decreases linearly with increasing x from about 1.1 K/kbar (x=0) to zero (x=0.4), the composition dependence of which is opposite to that of the crystalline compound. The composition dependence of the average magnetic moment per transition metal atom and the Curie temperature and dT_c/dP are analysed on the basis of the local environment and the pair order interaction mode, respectively.     

Relation between the critical magnetic field and energy gap of a superconductor

A dynamical model is used to derive a relationship between the slope of the reduced critical magnetic field for T = T_c and the energy gap Δ_o of a superconductor. Good agreement with the relation |dh/dt|_t=1 = Δ_o/ k T_c proposed by Toxen is found up to Δ_o/k T_c = 4.     

Heat capacity and resistivity of Sm0.55Sr0.45MnO3 in magnetic fields of up to 26 kOe

Heat capacity and resistivity of Sm_0.55Sr_0.45MnO₃ ceramics were measured over the temperature range 80–300 K in magnetic fields of up to 26 kOe. These quantities show anomalies caused by the magnetic and structural phase transitions. The critical temperature T _c and the heat capacity jump ΔC _p (T _c ) at T _c increase with increasing applied magnetic field H, while the resistivity decreases. The temperature dependences of the measured quantities show hysteresis, which is strongly suppressed in a field of 26 kOe but is sensitive nor to the temperature range neither to the rate of temperature change. The hysteresis of the heat capacity and resistivity of Sm_0.55Sr_0.45MnO₃ is caused by a change in T _c with changing lattice parameters upon second-order structural phase transition. The results are discussed in terms of the electron phase separation model.     

Supraleitung von Pb- und Sn-Schichten nach Implantation von Mn-Ionen

Ion-implantation is a useful method when preparing dilute alloys, especially of elements with very low solubility like 3d-transition-elements in most non-transition superconductors. A strong decrease inT _c and an increase in the residual resistivity were observed in Pb- and Sn-films doped with Mn-ions. Nonlinearity in theT _c -dependence which was found at very low concentrations (0-100 ppm) is caused by lattice defects. They cannot be avoided if implantation method is used. This was proved by irradiation with nonmagnetic ions of comparable mass (such as Cu or Zn). The linear part in theT _c -depression is compared with results obtained with the quenched film technique by Barth (Pb-Mn) and Schertel (Sn-Mn). A discrepancy to these measurements is found in the case of Sn-Mn. The increase in film resistivity is due to lattice defects as well as magnetic impurities. The magnetic contribution (p/c) _m =(4.5 ± 0.2) μΩ cm/at-% agrees well with a theoretical calculation. Heavily doped Sn-films show a small Kondo-resistance-minimum at 7 K with a depth of 2.5‰ of the residual resistivity.     

Spin glass behavior and critical analysis across the magnetic phase transition in Gd2CoMnO6: dc magnetization and ac susceptibility study

We report here on critical analysis across magnetic phase transition and spin dynamics in Gd₂CoMnO₆. We found that this material behaves differently below and above the applied magnetic field of 20 kOe. The magnetic phase transition switches from nearly mean-field type to unusual class and T_c shifts towards the high temperature above 20 kOe field. The nature of the magnetic phase transition is explored by carrying out critical analysis at low as well as at high magnetic field. The critical exponents obtained at low field using Kouvel-Fisher method are β = 0.65 (2) γ = 0.90 (2), δ = 2.43 and T_c = 120 K. Apparently, these values of critical exponents appear close to mean-field model. For high field the critical exponents are β = 1.24 (2) γ = 0.64 (5), δ = 1.51 (3) and T_c = 128 K. The critical exponents show significant deviation from any universal class. This switchover in the nature of the magnetic phase transition is unique and not seen in many compounds. The formation of non-Griffiths-like clusters in this compound can be a reason for such unique behavior. Further, ac susceptibility has been measured to understand the spin dynamics in detail. The dispersion of frequency-dependent χ_ac below T_c confirms a spin glass state in this material. The observed value of τ_o and T_o indicate the slow dynamic spin which is caused by co-existence of Co/Mn spin magnetic moments. The magneto-caloric effect is also presented for Gd₂CoMnO₆ in this study. The magnetic study and critical analysis across the phase transition reveal a switchover in the nature of phase transition in this material. A non-Griffiths like cluster formation above T_c is found and dynamic susceptibility study reveals a spin glass state below T_c in Gd₂CoMnO₆.     

Effect of an external electric field on liquid crystalline polymers

The effect of an external electric field on the order parameter and on the isotropic-anisotropic phase transition temperature for semi-flexible liquid crystalline polymers is studied by a mean-field approximation. For the polymers whose electric dipole moments are parallel to the chain backbone, the critical transition temperature T_c is extensively changed by gDT ∼ ∥E∥², where E is the external electric field.     

Electrical resistivity of iron-vanadium alloys between 78 and 1200 K

Electrical resistivity (?) of FeV alloys containing 0.5, 0.9, 2.7, and 6.1 at% V has been measured as a function of temperature (T) between 78 and 1200 K. The ? vs. T curves exhibit a change in the slope at the ferromagnetic Currie temperature (T_c). The d?/dT vs. T curves in the neibhorhood of T_c are similar to the corresponding plot for pure Fe. Our studies confirm the previously observed anomalous effect of V on T_c of Fe, i.e., that T_c increase with small additions of V to Fe. The critical index λ⁺ associated with the power law of d?/dT just above T_c has been determined as a function of V concentration.     

Critical behavior of electrical resistivity in amorphous Fe-Zr alloys

Electrical resistivity (ρ) of the amorphous (a-)Fe_100−c Zr _c (c=8.5, 9.5 and 10) alloys has been measured in the temperature range 77 to 300 K, which embraces the second-order magnetic phase transition at the Curie temperature point T _c. Analysis of the resistivity data particularly in the critical region reveals that these systems have a much wider range of critical region compared to other crystalline ferromagnetic materials. The value of T _c and specific heat critical exponent, α has the same values as those determined from our earlier magnetic measurements. The value of α for all the present investigated alloys are in close agreement with the values predicted for three-dimensional (3D) Heisenberg ferromagnet systems, which gives contradiction to the earlier results on similar alloys. It is observed from the analysis that the presence of quenched disorder does not have any influence on critical behavior.     

Upper critical fields of superconducting Gd and Tm doped LaSn3: Effects of crystalline electric fields

The temperature dependence of the upper critical fields, H_c²(T), are presented for (La_1-xGd_x)Sn₃ and (La_1-xTm_x)Sn₃. For samples with nearly the same T_c, H_c²(T) of the Tm-doped LaSn₃ samples are always larger than those for the Gd-doped samples. The results are interpreted in terms of crystalline electric field splitting of magnetic levels of the Tm³⁺. Pure LaSn₃ is found to be a Type I superconductor.     

Superconductivity and magnetism in Ir-doped GdFeAsO

The 5d-transition metal, Ir has successfully been doped at Fe site and induced superconductivity in GdFeAsO at T_c = 18.9 K and ∼20 atom%. The Ir-doping shortened the c-axis length and stretched the a-axis one, which led to enhance the coupling between the FeAs- and SmO-layer, and to weaken the bonding between Fe and As atom. Paramagnetism was observed in all of the samples, which was resulted from the magnetic Gd ion as in the F-doped GdFeAsO. An upper critical field of GdFe_0.8Ir_0.2AsO was extrapolated to around 24 T, much smaller than that of F-doped GdFeAsO owing to a relatively low T_c and small value of dH_c2/dT.     

Superconductivity of (Sn1−z Pbz)1−x InxTe alloys

The temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity of (Sn_1?z Pb_z)_1?x In_xTe alloys with different concentrations of lead (z=0–0.60) and indium (x=0.03–0.20) were studied at temperatures T=0.4–4.2 K in magnetic fields from zero to H=15 kOe. A resistivity drop of no less than three-four orders of magnitude was observed in this range of alloy compositions. Application of a magnetic field above a critical level resulted in a recovery of the sample resistivity to the original value. The observed resistivity drop is identified with a superconducting transition. The critical parameters of the superconducting transition (T _c and H _c2) were determined at the drop to one half the normal resistivity level. Experimental dependences of the critical supercon-ducting-transition temperature T _c and of the second critical magnetic field H _c2 on the contents of lead (z) and indium (x) were measured. The data obtained confirm a strong localization of the In impurity states and are evidence of the extrinsic nature of superconductivity in the class of materials under study. It was established that as the Pb content in (Sn_1?z Pb_z)_1?x In_xTe increases, T _c and H _c2 decrease as the Fermi level E _F (fixed in the In impurity resonance band) leaves the Δ extremum and the superconductivity breaks down when E _F leaves the LΣ saddle point in the valence-band energy spectrum.     

Transport properties in the pseudobinary (Gd,Y) Al2 series

The temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity, the thermal conductivity and the thermopower of the cubic isostructural (Gd_xY_1–x)Al₂ series will be presented. The magnetic properties of this system are characterized by the existence of ferromagnetism for Gd concentrations x>0.3 while for low Gd contents cluster and spinglass behaviour is observed. The spin dependent scattering contribution to the transport phenomena has been obtained by comparing the experimental data of the magnetic compounds with those of the isostructural nonmagnetic YAl₂. For the ferromagnetic concentration range and forT>T _c (T _c =Curie temperature) we revealed a temperature independent contribution to the electrical resistivity, a contribution with a temperature variation of 1/T to the thermal resistivity and a linear temperature dependence of this part to the thermopower. These results are in good agreement with the temperature dependence calculated by solving the linearized Boltzmann equation for this type of scattering processes.     

Magnetic properties of NdAu2Ge2

Physical properties of NdAu₂Ge₂, crystallising with the tetragonal ThCr₂Si₂-type crystal structure, were investigated by means of magnetic, calorimetric and electrical transport measurements as well as by neutron diffraction. The compound exhibits antiferromagnetic ordering below T_N=4.5 K with a collinear magnetic structure of the AFI-type. The neodymium magnetic moments are parallel to the c-axis and amount to 1.04(4) μ_B at 1.5 K. The observed magnetic behaviour is strongly influenced by crystalline electric field effect.     

Electrical transport and superconducting properties of Pb3BiSx film compounds

The electrical resistivity and superconducting properties of a newly synthesized superconducting material of the form Pb₃BiS_x (x = 1.5–3.0) composed of all non-transition elements are presented. The sample film is fabricated by quick evaporation of the original sintered material. It is found that temperature dependence of electrical resistivity has anomalous behavior as represented by broad maximum in higher temperature region and minimum in lower temperature region. The critical temperature is about 8K and the critical field is 35 kOe at 4.2 K for the sample with x = 1.9. The transition width is very broad for the magnetic transition, in contrast to the sharp transition at T_c. The gap structure of a Pb₃BiS_x-I-Sn tunnel junction is also presented.     

The a.c. susceptibility third harmonic component of NdO1−0.14F0.14FeAs: A flux dynamic magnetic analysis

In this contribution we present the analysis of the third harmonic susceptibility data of the new superconductor NdFeAs_1−0.14F_0.14. ‘Cole-Cole’ polar plots respect to the magnetic frequency of the exciting field are presented and discussed. Data show that NdFeAs_1−0.14F_0.14 exhibit a ‘bulk pinning’ with a 3D flux dynamic character. A comparison of the responses of high T_c materials and an evaluation of theoretical critical states is also presented.     

Extension of the 3D-scaling rule for resistivity as a function of magnetic field and its orientation for anisotropic high-temperature superconductors

The measurement of the c-axis resistivity of single crystalline La_1.86Sr_0.14CuO₄ is performed at different constant temperatures as a function of magnetic field H and angle θ between H and the ab-plane. It is shown that the 2D- or 3D-scaling rule proposed for high-T _c superconductors does not work well for the present system. Taking into account unusual vortex dynamics in the high-T _c systems, an extension is made to the 3D-scaling rule developed on the basis of the effective-mass model. Based on this extended rule, it is shown that at each given temperature the observed resistivity as a function of H and θ could be consistently scaled onto the corresponding Lorentz-force-free magnetoresistivity curves directly measured in H‖I‖c.