Superconducting gap in MgB(2): electronic Raman scattering measurements of single crystals

Polarization-resolved Raman scattering measurements were performed on MgB(2) single crystals to determine the magnitude, symmetry, and temperature dependence of the superconducting gap. A single sharp peak due to Cooper pair breaking appears in the electronic continuum below T(c), reaching a maximum Raman shift of 105 +/- 1 cm(-1) [2 Delta(0)/k(B)T(c) = 3.96 +/- 0.09] and showing up to 5 cm(-1) anisotropy between polarized and depolarized spectra. The temperature dependence of 2 Delta follows that predicted from BCS theory, while the anisotropy decreases with decreasing temperature. It is concluded that the Raman results are consistent with a slightly anisotropic s-wave gap in a conventional BCS superconductor.     

Optical measurements of the superconducting gap in MgB 2

Far-infrared reflectivity studies on the polycrystalline intermetallic compound MgB₂ with a superconducting transition temperature T _c = 39 K were performed at temperatures 20 K to 300 K. We observe a significant raise of the superconducting-to-normal state reflectivity ratio below 70 cm ^-1 , with a maximum at about 25-30 cm ^-1 , which gives a lower estimate of the superconducting gap of 2Δ(0) ≈ 3-4 meV. Received 7 March 2001 and Received in final form 18 April 2001     

Phase analysis of superconducting polycrystalline MgB(2)

Superconducting MgB(2) ceramics were prepared and yield superconducting transition temperatures of about 39 K. For covering the various length scales on which inhomogeneities appear in MgB(2), electron-probe micro-analysis (EPMA) and analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were applied for a phase analysis. Particularly useful were the preliminary electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) results in the TEM. It could be shown by EPMA that the microstructure consists of a Mg-B-O matrix and boron-rich secondary phases of composition close to MgB(12). It was unclear in which form oxygen was present in the superconducting matrix. By combining the acquisition of B-K and O-K edge jump ratio images and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy in the TEM, we could prove that the matrix consists of superconducting MgB(2) and MgO. Most of the MgO precipitates and grains appear with diameters between 20 and 300 nm. The size distribution of MgO was inhomogeneous and oxygen-rich areas of dimensions >1 microm were also observed. Edge jump ratio images obtained by ESI were analysed for determining the signal values and effects of multiple inelastic scattering.     

Search for E(2g) phonon modes in MgB2 single crystals by point-contact spectroscopy

The electron-phonon interaction in magnesium diboride MgB2 single crystals is investigated by point-contact (PC) spectroscopy. For the first time the electron coupling with E(2g) phonon modes is resolved in the PC spectra. The correlation between intensity of the extremely broad E(2g) modes in the PC spectra and value of the superconducting gap is established. Our observations favor current theoretical models for electron-phonon mediated superconductivity in MgB2, and they better match the harmonic phonon model.     

Resonant Raman scattering from superconducting single crystals of (BEDT-TTF)2I3

A study of low energetic resonant Raman scattering of (BEDT-TTF)₂I₃ superconducors was performed. The vanishing of phonon bands accompanied by a decrease of the electronic background was observed belowT _c . We propose a theoretical explanation for this novel effect in terms of the Balseiro-Falicov model of phonon-superconducting amplitude mode interaction.     

Growth of large superconducting CeCu2Si2single crystals

Large CeCu₂Si₂ single crystals have been grown with the cold boat technique. The transition temperature to the superconducting state is strongly dependent on the copper concentration in the crystal. Annealing under copper atmosphere shifts the transition temperature to higher values.     

Fluctuation conductivity in superconducting MgB2

According to the crystal structure of MgB₂ and band structure calculations, quasi-two-dimensional (2D) boron planes are responsible for the superconductivity. We report on critical-field and resistance measurements of 5.6-μm-thick MgB₂ films grown on a sapphire single-crystal substrate. Resistivity measurements yield a temperature dependence of the fluctuation conductivity above the critical temperature, which agrees with the Aslamazov-Larkin and Maki-Thompson theory of fluctuations in layered superconductors, indicating a quasi-two-dimensional nucleation of superconductivity in MgB₂.     

Anisotropies of the lower and upper critical fields in MgB2 single crystals

The temperature dependence of the upper (H(c2)) and lower (H(c1)) critical fields has been deduced from Hall probe magnetization measurements of high quality MgB2 single crystals along the two main crystallographic directions. We show that Gamma(H(c2))=H(c2 axially ab)/H(c2 axially c) and Gamma(H(c1))=H(c1 axially c)/H(c1 axially ab) differ significantly at low temperature (being approximately 5 and approximately 1, respectively) and have opposite temperature dependencies. We suggest that MgB2 can be described by a single field dependent anisotropy parameter gamma(H) (=lambda(c)/lambda(ab)=xi(ab)/xi(c)) that increases from Gamma(H(c1)) at low field to Gamma(H(c2)) at high field.     

Non-resonant microwave absorption studies of superconducting MgB2 and MgB2 + MgO

Non-resonant microwave absorption (NRMA) studies of superconducting MgB₂ and a sample containing ∼10% by weight of MgO in MgB₂ are reported. The NRMA results indicate near absence of intergranular weak links in the pure MgB₂ sample. A linear temperature dependence of the lower critical field H _c1 is observed indicating a non-s wave superconductivity. However, the phase reversal of the NRMA signal which could suggest d wave symmetry is also not observed. In the MgB₂ + MgO sample, much larger low field dependent absorption is observed indicating the presence of intergranular weak links. The hysteretic behavior of NRMA is compared and contrasted in the two samples. In the pure MgB₂ sample, a large hysteresis is observed between the forward and the reverse scans of the magnetic field indicating strong pinning of flux lines. This hysteresis saturates a few degrees below T _c while in the MgB₂ + MgO sample, a much slower increase of hysteresis with decreasing temperature is observed, a signature of weaker pinning.     

Boron isotope effect in superconducting MgB2

We report the preparation method of and boron isotope effect for MgB2, a new binary intermetallic superconductor with a remarkably high superconducting transition temperature T(c)(10B) = 40.2 K. Measurements of both temperature dependent magnetization and specific heat reveal a 1.0 K shift in T(c) between Mg11B2 and Mg10B2. Whereas such a high transition temperature might imply exotic coupling mechanisms, the boron isotope effect in MgB2 is consistent with the material being a phonon-mediated BCS superconductor.     

Resistance fluctuations in superconducting K_xFe_(2-y)Se_2 single crystals studied by low-frequency noise spectroscopy

Low-frequency resistance noise spectroscopy is applied to investigate bulk single crystals of the intercalated ironselenide K_xFe_(2-y)Se_2 superconductors with different iron vacancy orders.Based on a generalized fluctuation model,the well-observed resistance hump above 100 K is interpreted as an insulator-metal phase transition with a characteristic transition energy of 0.1-0.6 eV,indicating a highly inhomogeneous energy distribution configuration.In the superconducting transition regime,we find that the normalized resistance noise scales with resistance R excellently as S_R/R~2∝R~(l_(rs)) with the noise exponent l_(rs)≈1.4.With reduced iron vacancy disordering in enhanced superconductivity K_xFe_(2-y)Se_2 crystals,the level of resistance fluctuations is greatly suppressed,suggesting a geometrical phase transition for conduction channel,which is directly related to the microstructure of the crystals.     

MgB2超导薄膜制备方法对比研究

文章结合MgB2超导薄膜在电子器件中的应用,简介了混合物理化学气相沉积法、脉冲激光沉积法、磁控溅射法、分子束外延法和电子束蒸发法等MgB2超导薄膜制备方法和研究进展,并对主要的MgB2超导薄膜制备方法进行了比较,提出了改进意见.对MgB2超导薄膜的应用前景作了展望.     

MgB2超导薄膜制备方法对比研究

文章结合MgB2超导薄膜在电子器件中的应用,简介了混合物理化学气相沉积法、脉冲激光沉积法、磁控溅射法、分子束外延法和电子束蒸发法等MgB2超导薄膜制备方法和研究进展,并对主要的MgB2超导薄膜制备方法进行了比较,提出了改进意见.对MgB2超导薄膜的应用前景作了展望.     

Evidence for two superconducting energy gaps in MgB(2) by point-contact spectroscopy

Experimental support is found for the multiband model of the superconductivity in the recently discovered system MgB(2) with the transition temperature T(c) = 39 K. By means of Andreev reflection, evidence is obtained for two distinct superconducting energy gaps. The sizes of the two gaps ( Delta(S) = 2.8 meV and Delta(L) = 7 meV) are, respectively, smaller and larger than the expected weak coupling value. Because of the temperature smearing of the spectra the two gaps are hardly distinguishable at elevated temperatures, but when a magnetic field is applied the presence of two gaps can be demonstrated close to the bulk T(c) in the raw data.     

Tunneling spectroscopy in small grains of superconducting MgB(2).

We report on tunneling spectroscopy experiments in small grains of the new binary intermetallic superconductor MgB(2). Experiments have been performed at 2.5 K using a low temperature scanning tunneling microscope. Good fit to the BCS model is obtained, with a gap value of 2 meV. In the framework of this model, this value should correspond to a surface critical temperature of 13.2 K. No evidence of gap anisotropy has been found.     

关于MgB2超导多层膜间临界厚度的研究

利用多级的阶梯状势垒近似方法,应用于MgB<,2>作为超导体的SSeS结,对其临界厚度从基本原理入手并进行理论推导,获得超导多层膜的临界厚度公式,并对该公式展开讨论,取得一系列较有价值的结论.     

MgB2超导多层膜的制备方案

简要叙述了MgB2的发展和制备历史,通过对不同衬底材料上MgB2的反应情况的总结概括以及对不同衬底材料和MgB2的晶体结构和晶格常量的比较,提出一种MgB2超导多层膜的制备方案.     

Evidence for two superconducting gaps in MgB2

We have measured the Raman spectra of polycrystalline MgB2 from 25 to 1200 cm(-1). A superconductivity-induced redistribution in the electronic Raman continuum was observed. Two pair-breaking peaks appear in the spectra, suggesting the presence of two superconducting gaps. The measured spectra were analyzed using a quasi-two-dimensional model in which two s-wave superconducting gaps open on two sheets of Fermi surface. For the gap values we have obtained Delta(1) = 22 cm(-1) ( 2.7 meV) and Delta(2) = 50 cm(-1) ( 6.2 meV). Our results suggest that a conventional phonon-mediated pairing mechanism occurs in the planar boron sigma bands and is responsible for the superconductivity of MgB2.     

Penetration depth study of superconducting gap structure of 2H-NbSe2

We report measurements of the temperature dependence of both in-plane and out-of-plane penetration depths (lambda(a) and lambda(c), respectively) in 2H-NbSe2. Measurements were made with a radio-frequency tunnel diode oscillator circuit at temperatures down to 100 mK. Analysis of the anisotropic superfluid density shows that a reduced energy gap is located on one or more of the quasi-two-dimensional Nb Fermi surface sheets rather than on the Se sheet, in contrast with some previous reports. This result suggests that the gap structure is not simply related to the weak electron-phonon coupling on the Se sheet and is therefore important for microscopic models of anisotropic superconductivity in this compound.     

超导体MgB2弹性常数的第一原理计算

利用全势线性muffin-tin轨道(FP-LMTO)方法, 结合在密度泛函理论框架下的广义梯度近似, 研究了六角密堆积结构超导体MgB2的晶格参数, 弹性常数, 以及体积模量及其对压强的微分. 计算结果显示当晶格参数c和a的比率c/a大约为1.138时, MgB2的结构最稳定.本文所得到的计算结果与实验值及其他作者利用不同方法得到的计算值相符合.