Vortex structure and magnetoresistance of granular YBa2Cu3O7 − δ high-temperature superconductors

The transverse magnetoresistance $ \frac{{\Delta \rho }} {\rho } $ (H _ext) of several series of YBa₂Cu₃O_6.95 high-temperature superconductor samples has been measured in external magnetic fields with a strength of up to H _ext = H _ext ^max ～ 500 Oe over a wide range of transport current strengths (～10 ≤ I ≤ ～1000 mA) at the temperature T = 77.3 K. It has been revealed that there are three different types of field dependences of the magnetoresistance at H _ext ⊥ I with the following typical features: (1) low critical fields of the Josephson weak links H _c2J , a high level of the magnetoresistance, and the appearance of a remanent magnetoresistance Δρ_rem/ρ with a decrease in H _ext to zero; (2) high fields H _c2J and a low level of the magnetoresistance (Δρ_rem/ρ ≡ 0); and (3) relatively high fields H _c2J and the presence of jumps in the dependences $ \frac{{\Delta \rho }} {\rho } $ (H _ext). A comparative analysis of the dependences $ \frac{{\Delta \rho }} {\rho } $ (H _ext) has made it possible to establish the nature of the revealed differences: the first type of behavior corresponds to the existence of a relatively ordered vortex structure of the Bragg-glass type over the entire range of fields H _ext, the second type corresponds to the existence of a disordered vortex structure of the vortex-glass type over the entire range of fields H _ext, and the third type corresponds to the occurrence of Bragg-glass-vortex-glass first-order phase transition in the magnetic field in the range 0 < H _BG-VG < H _ext ^max .     

Sign of the electric field gradient at 57Fe nuclei in Eu3Sc2Fe3O12 garnet

The ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect in conjunction with an external magnetic field H_ext has been used to measure the signs of quadrupole coupling constants Δ at the octahedral (a) and tetrahedral (d) iron sites in the Eu₃Sc₂Fe₃O₁₂ garnet. It is shown that application of H_ext to the sample at temperatures T above the Néel temperature T_N slows down the relaxation effects, whose influence on the spectra depends upon the temperature difference T-T_N. By comparing a spectrum measured at 203.0 K and in H_ext=62.4 kOe with theoretical spectra computed for different combinations of Δ(a), Δ(d) signs, it is concluded that Δ(d) is negative. The sign of Δ(a) could not be determined.     

Phase transition in the vortex structure of granular YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7 − δ</Subscript> HTSCs in weak magnetic fields

This study aims at establishing the interrelation between the current-carrying capacity and peculiarities of magnetoresistance of granular YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 ? δ} HTSCs (T _c = 92.5 K). The transverse magnetoresistance of several batches of YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 ? δ} HTSC samples with noticeably different values of critical supercurrent density j _c is measured in magnetic fields H _ext up to H _ext ^max ≈ 500 Oe in a wide range of transport currents (5 mA ≤ I ≤ 1600 mA) at T = 77.4 K. Samples with relatively high values of j _c (H _ext = 0) ≥ 100 A/cm² do not exhibit any anomalies in their field dependences. Magnetoresistance jumps δρ_BG-VG/ρ_273K are observed for samples with low values of j _c ≥ 20 A/cm² in fields H _BG-VG ≈ 200–260 Oe. The width ΔH _BG-VG of the anomalous resistance region increases upon an increase in I. The magnetoresistance jumps decrease with increasing I in increasing field H _ext(0 → H _ext ^max ) and increase in decreasing field H _ext(H _ext ^max → 0). It is found that these peculiarities of the field dependences of magnetoresistance are associated with a first-order phase transition (in magnetic field) in the vortex structure of YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 ? δ} HTSCs of the Bragg glass-vortex glass type.     

Magnetic phase diagram of Ni(NO3)2 6NH3

The magnetic phase diagram of Ni(NO₃)₂6NH₃ was determined from the field and temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility. The zero temperature exchange and anisotropy fields were determined to be H_E(0) ≈ 26 kOe and H_A(0) ≈ 0.7 kOe respectively.     

Single crystal magnetization studies of DySb

High resolution magnetization measurements in single crystal-spherical DySb samples have been performed versus T in fields to 23.6 kOe. Measurements with H along principal crystallographic and 〈11$\text{2}$〉 directions are interpreted in terms of the intermediate metamagnetic phase having the HoP structure. Magnetization components parallel and perpendicular to the applied field for field rotations in (110) and (111) crystallographic planes have been measured and are interpreted in terms of a simple model with a single critical field. For H ∥ 〈110〉, M and H are collinear. The (M - H - T) phase diagram has been determined for H ∥ 〈110〉. The metamagnetic transition is 1st order below a critical point P_c = (8.5 K, 14.7 kOe) becoming 2nd order above. Field induced order for T >T_N is observed in agreement with the results of Brun et al. The absence of hysteresis in M_∥(θ) for H in (110) and (111) planes is interpreted as evidence for the tunneling model in DySb.     

Magnetoresistance hysteresis of granular YBa2Cu3O7−δ high-temperature superconductor in weak magnetic fields

The variation of the transverse magnetoresistance of YBa₂Cu₃O_～6.95 high-temperature superconducting ceramic with external magnetic field intensity H _ext first increasing from zero to ～500 Oe (Δρ⁺ / ρ_{273 K}) and then decreasing from about 500 Oe to zero (Δρ^? / ρ_{273 K}) is studied for transport current densities varying from j/j _c ≈ 0.01 to ≈0.99 (where j _c is the critical current density in the absence of the magnetic field) at 77.3 K. It is found that the field dependence of the magnetoresistance of YBa₂Cu₃O_～6.95 high-temperature superconductor is characterized by pronounced hysteresis, the difference Δρ⁺ / ρ_{273 K} ? Δρ^? / ρ_{273 K} increasing with j/j _c. As j/j _c grows, the effective critical fields of Josephson weak links, H _c2J , and the lower critical fields of superconducting grains, H _c1A , decline. When field H _ext rises, the critical fields are lower than when H _ext diminishes: H _c2J ⁺ < H _c2J ^? and H _c1A ⁺ < H _c1A ^? .     

Phase transitions in a MgB<Subscript>2</Subscript> granular BCS superconductor in weak magnetic fields

The character of temperature dependences of the electric conductivity of MgB₂ granular BCS superconductors at temperatures of ~35–45 K in external magnetic fields H _ext of up to ~2 kOe is studied. An increase in the superconducting transition width ΔT _c with an increase in Hext is found. The presence of a system of weak links in MgB₂-based granular superconductors is established. On the basis of experimental data, MgB₂ granular superconductor is assigned to two-level superconducting systems and the H–T phase diagram is constructed.     

Magnetic properties of neptunium diarsenide

The magnetic properties of a collection of single crystals of NpAs₂ have been investigated in the temperature range 4.2-300 K and in applied fields up to 100 kOe. For small magnetic fields (3 kOe), NpAs₂ is ferromagnetic up to T_IC=18 K, antiferromagnetic from 28 K to T_N=52 K, then paramagnetic. Both transitions are first order. When the applied field increases T_IC is shifted towards T_N. The antiferromagnetic phase disappears for H#62;30 kOe. The ferromagnetic range is characterized by a very large anisotropy. In the paramagnetic state, NpAs₂ has an effective moment 1.88 μ_B.     

Numerical simulation of magnetic interactions in polycrystalline YFeO3

The magnetic behavior of polycrystalline yttrium orthoferrite was studied from the experimental and theoretical points of view. Magnetization measurements up to 170 kOe were carried out on a single-phase YFeO₃ sample synthesized from heterobimetallic alkoxides. The complex interplay between weak-ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions, observed in the experimental M(H) curves, was successfully simulated by locally minimizing the magnetic energy of two interacting Fe sublattices. The resulting values of exchange field (H_E=5590 kOe), anisotropy field (H_A=0.5 kOe) and Dzyaloshinsky–Moriya antisymmetric field (H_D=149 kOe) are in good agreement with previous reports on this system.     

Effect of temperature and magnetic field on the evolution of a vortex structure of the granular YBa2Cu3O7 − δ high-temperature superconductor

The temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity ρ(T) _{H = const} have been measured in external magnetic fields H _ext (0 ≤ H _ext ≤ 1420 Oe) at temperatures ranging from 70 to 273 K for samples of the granular YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 ? δ} high-temperature superconductor (HTSC). Cooling of the samples to the minimum temperature T _min (70 K) has been performed in external magnetic fields (FC mode) and in the absence of a magnetic field (ZFC mode). Moreover, the dependences ρ(T) _{H = 0} for samples cooled in the FC mode have been measured in a zero field. The curves ρ(T)H = const have been converted into isotherms of the magnetore-sistance ρ(H _ext) _{T = const}. A comparative analysis of the specific features in the behavior of the curves ρ(H) _{T = const} for samples with different “magnetic prehistories” has made it possible to elucidate the nature and mechanisms of the influence of the particular scenario of the magnetic treatment of granular HTSCs on the behavior of their galvanomagnetic properties. The temperature dependences of the critical magnetic fields of superconducting grains (H _c1g , H _c2g ) and Josephson weak links (H _c2J ) have been determined, and the H-T phase diagrams of granular YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 ? δ} HTSCs have been recovered.     

Magnetic transitions in K2MnCl4·2H2O

Results of (dM/dH) measurements on tetrahedral K₂MnCl₄·2H₂O as a function of temperature and magnetic field, are presented. An antiferromagnetic transition along the tetragonal axis is observed at T_N = (3.05±0.05) K. The H-T magnetic phase diagram was completely determined, and shows the usual characteristics of that of a low anisotropy antiferromagnet. The T = 0 critical fields are compatible with the values H_E = (29.2±0.3) kOe and H_A = (5.9±0.6) kOe for the exchange and anisotropy fields.     

Magnetoresistance of granular YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7 − δ</Subscript> HTSC in weak magnetic field: Angular dependence

The magnetoresistance of ceramic YBa₂Cu₃O_～6.5 HTSC samples is studied as a function of the mutual orientation of the current I and external magnetic field H _ext at T = 77.3 K in magnetic fields of up to ～500 Oe. It is found that, if the demagnetization factor D is taken into account, the effective critical field of complete penetration of Josephson vortices into weak links H _c2J ^eff does not depend on the mutual orientation of I and H _ext. The lower critical field H _c1A ^eff associated with the beginning of penetration of Abrikosov vortices into superconducting grains increases substantially with the angle between I and H _ext. The strongest variation with the mutual orientation of I and H _ext is exhibited by the critical field of the Bragg glass-vortex glass first-order phase transition H _BG-VG ^eff and by the magnetoresistance jump at this phase transition.     

Raman-Nath acoustooptical diffraction in antiferromagnet α-Fe2O3 induced by modulation of the polarizations of optical normal modes

Raman-Nath acoustooptical diffraction was experimentally revealed in easy-plane antiferromagnet α-Fe₂O₃. The diffraction is due to linear modulation of the polarizations of the optical normal modes propagating along trigonal axis C₃ of the crystal due to oscillations of the antiferromagnetism vector L caused by magnetoelastic interaction. The dependence of the diffraction parameters on a dc magnetic field H _⊥ applied in the basal plane was studied. The dependence obtained is in good agreement with the field dependence of the exchange enhancement coefficient of magnetoelastic coupling in fields higher than that at which hematite transforms to a single-domain state (H _D ～ 1.8 kOe). for a sound flux power of about 1 W/cm² in a sample, the maximum intensity of the diffracted wave at H _⊥ = H _D is about 0.9% of the input light intensity and its polarization is perpendicular to that of the incoming linearly polarized wave. The results obtained agree qualitatively with the theory of acoustooptical diffraction in antiferromagnets and confirm the antiferromagnetic mechanism of diffraction in the experimental geometry under study.     

On the character of the unusual morin type transition in a cobalt-substituted dysprosium orthoferrite

Magnetic measurements and Mössbauer spectroscopy revealed two types of spin reorientation in DyFe_0.9975Co_0.0025O₃ in the temperature range 77–300 K. The higher temperature transition was a continuous rotation of Fe³⁺ spins from the a to the c axes of the single crystal in the region 260-145 K. The lower temperature transition was from a weakly ferromagnetic to the purely antiferromagnetic state. A peculiarity was observed with both methods. When the Fe³⁺ spins, turning from the a towards the c axis, form an angle of about 20° with the latter, they do not proceed to reach c, but jump to the b axis and the crystal becomes a pure antiferromagnet. An external magnetic field of 10 kOe, H_ext  c, does not change this reorientation pattern, but a smaller field along a completes the reorientation along the c axis. Mössbauer spectra indicate two hyperfine fields during the continuous spin reorientation.     

Ultrasonic attenuation measurements in ErRh4B4 near 1 K

Ultrasonic attenuation measurements on a polycrystalline specimen of ErRh₄B₄ near 1° K and in magnetic fields up to 14 kOe are reported. A broad peak in zero-field attenuation is observed near T_c2, the temperature at which ferromagnetic order appears. At large magnetic fields ( > H_c2) a larger attenuation is observed when the propagation vector of the sound wave is perpendicular to the field direction than when it is parallel. The interpretation of these results is discussed.     

Phase Transitions of Fel2 in high magnetic field parallel to the spin direction,static field up to 150 kOe,pulsed field up to 250 kOe

Study of parallel and perpendicular susceptibilities shows that ferrous iodide presents at low temperature an antiferromagnetic order, with spins oriented along the anisotropy axis (c axis).Phase transitions of Fel₂ in a magnetic field parallel to c axis are studied by help of magnetization measurements. At low temperature (2.2 K) saturation is reached only for a magnetic field of 140 kOe. Results obtained in high static fields (Bitter and supraconductive coils allowing respectively 140 and 150 kOe) and in pulsed field are presented.At low temperature, two successive first order phase transitions are observed at 46 and 120 kOe. In the intermediate phase, the magnetization presents two minor discontinuities. An original phase diagram is given.The complexity of the Fel₂ behavior, in parallel magnetic field shows that the magnetic structure is not the same as the two sublattices one characteristic of FeCl₂ and FeBr₂. An estimate of the principal exchange coupling parameters and a study by neutron diffraction measurements (to be published) confirm an original magnetic structure.     

Peculiarities in galvanomagnetic properties of granular YBa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>7−δ</Subscript> high-temperature superconductors in very weak magnetic fields

The character of the evolution of a system of weak links in granular high-temperature superconductors under the action of an external magnetic field H _ext has been studied by measuring the current-voltage characteristics E(j)_{Hext = const}E{(j)_{{H_{ext}} = const}} of YBa₂Cu₃O_{7 − δ} (δ ≈ 0.05) ceramic samples. The measurements have been performed at T = 77.3 K in a range of very weak magnetic fields 0 < H _ext ≲ 0.5H _c2J, where H _c2J is the upper critical field of the Josephson weak links. The results have been used to construct the field dependences of the magnetoresistance Δρ(H _ext) of the superconducting ceramics. It has been established that the parameters of the power equation E = A(j − j _cJ)^ν and the magnetoresistance Δρ are nonmonotonic functions of the external magnetic field. The presence of extrema in the curves A(H _ext), j _cJ(H _ext), ν(H _ext), and Δρ(H _ext) indicates that different systems of weak links between grain boundaries, which are capable of forming extended Josephson contacts, undergo sequential transitions to a resistive state with an increase in H _ext.     

Giant magnetoresistance of MexMn1−x S (Me=Fe, Cr) sulfides

The structural, electrical, and magnetic properties, as well as the magnetoresistance of polycrystalline Me_xMn_1?x S (Me=Fe and Cr) sulfides were investigated in longitudinal magnetic fields of up to 50 kOe over the temperature range 4.2–300 K. The ferromagnetic compound Fe_xMn_1?x S (x=0.29) exhibits the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) effect with magnitude δ_H=?450% in a field of 30 kOe at 50 K. Antiferromagnetic Cr_xMn_1?x S (x=0.5) sulfide undergoes a transition to the GMR state δ_H～?25% in a field of 30 kOe at 4.2 K) in the region of antiferromagnet-ferromagnet transition (T _c ～66 K). A mechanism of the GMR in these compounds is discussed.     

Analysis of paramagnetic Mössbauer relaxation spectra by ab initio methods

Mössbauer spectra of LiNbO₃:Fe(III)-single crystals at various external fields and temperatures are least-squares fitted using a static spin-Hamiltonian and appropriate relaxation matrices. An electronic secular approximation is used to reduce the number of the relaxation matrix elements. The results forH _ext=0 cannot be explained by a dynamical spin-Hamiltonian. The relaxation frequency for the spectra withH _ext=1.5 and 3 T is independent of energy and proportional toT ², thus excluding a direct process.