Metal-insulator transition in electron-doped Ba1−x La x MnO3 compounds

Electron-doped (Ba_1−x La _x )MnO₃ compounds were prepared for x=0−0.5. Measurements of X-ray diffraction (XRD) at room temperature and temperature variation of dc electrical resistivity down to 20 K were carried out. Samples with x=0.2–0.5 exhibit metal-insulator (M-I) transition. The maximum M-I transition temperature (T _c) of 289 K was observed for 30% of La doping (x=0.3). XRD patterns of these samples (x=0.2−0.5) were analyzed using Rietveld refinement. These samples are found to be mostly in single-phase form with orthorhombic symmetry (space group Pbnm). We have found strong correlation between Mn-O-Mn bond angles and T _c of M-I transition. The resistivity data below T _c could be fitted to the expression ρ=ρ ₁+ρ ₂ T ² and this shows that double exchange interaction plays a major role even in Mn⁴⁺-rich compound. Above T _c the resistivity data were fitted to variable range hopping and small polaron models.     

Polarons in axial transport in single-layer high-T<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis></Subscript> superconductors

The temperatureT dependencies ρ(T) of normal state electric resistivitiesρ _c (axial) andρ _ab (in plane) of single-layer high-T _c superconductors show common trends: AsT is raised, the resistivity first drops steeply before it starts rising αT above an apparent semiconductor-to-metal crossoverT _cross . To analyze ρ(T) we plottT/ρ againstT at various dopingsx for bothρ _c andρ _ab .T/ρ is inversely proportional to the traversal time across a potential barrier as an ionic particle drifts in an electric field. We findT/ρ in good agreement with theT dependence of the quantum rate of migrating particles: AsT is raised, a zero-point rate at the lowestT is extended to a nearly flat plateau before a thermally activated branch sets in. We also find evidence for the admixture of 1- & 2-phonon absorptions below the Arrhenius range. These features shape the semiconductor-like branch below T _cross . AboveT _cross a metallic-like branch sets in, its αT character deriving from the field coupling of the migrating particle. Our analysis suggests that metal physics may not suffice if ionic features play a role in transport. We attribute our conclusions to the drift of strong-coupling polarons along Cu−O bonds. These “bond polarons” originate from carrier scattering by double-well potentials associated with the bonds. A bond polaron dissociates to a free hole as it passes onto a neighboring O-O link.     

Transport studies at the Mott transition of the two-dimensional organic metal κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu[N(CN)2]BrxCl1-x

The two-dimensional organic conductor κ-(BEDT-TTF)₂Cu[N(CN)₂]Br _x Cl_{1- x} undergoes a transition from an insulator to a superconductor upon substituting Cl by Br. We have performed in- and out-of-plane electric-transport measurements on the alloyed series with x = 20%, 40%, 70%, 80%, 85%, and 90% as a function of temperature in order to explore the bandwidth-controlled phase transition between the Mott insulator and the Fermi-liquid. All crystals exhibit a similar semiconducting behavior of ρ(T) from room temperature down to 100 K. Below approximately 50 K, a metal-to-insulator transition is found for compounds with x < 70%. Out of this Mott insulating state, magnetic order develops below T _N ≈ 25 K. The Br-rich samples cross a bad-metal regime before they become coherent metals and eventually superconducting at T _c ≈ 12 K. For these systems the resistivity at T _c ≤ T ≤ T ₀ reveals a ρ(T) ∝ T ² dependence associated with a strongly correlated Fermi-liquid, limited by some characteristic temperature T ₀. The conclusions are corroborated by data from microwave, magnetic and optical experiments.     

Temperature dependences of the high-field magnetization of dilute frustrated ferrimagnetic spinels

Results are presented of an investigation of the magnetic properties of dilute frustrated ferrimagnetic spinels Li_0.5Fe_2.5−x Ga_xO₄ (x=0.8–1.2), which characterize the main parameters of the ferrimagnetic state and provide evidence of local violation of collinear spin ordering and frustrations. In particular, measurements were made of the concentration dependences of the magnetic moment n ₀(x) and the Curie point T _c (x), the magnetization isotherms σ _T (H) at T=4.2 K and H⩽10 kOe, and also the low-and high-field magnetization polytherms σ _H (T). It was established that for x⩾0.8 in fields exceeding the technical saturation field H _s ∼2 kOe, the temperature dependences of the high-field magnetization σ _H (T) between 4.2 and 230 K cannot be described by the Bloch T ^3/2 law whereas this law is satisfied for undiluted Li spinel (x=0). Over the entire temperature range (4.2–230 K) the experimental curves σ _H (T) may be approximated by σ _H (T)=σ ₀(1−AT ^3/2 − BT ^5/2) for x=0.8–1.0 and σ _H (T)=σ ₀[1−CT ^3/2exp(μ(H−H ₀)/k _B T)] for x=1.1, 1.2, where μH ₀∼15 K is the internal field produced by competition between exchange interactions and frustrations. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 1075–1079 (June 1998)     

Muon spin relaxation study on magnetism in high quality single crystal of a high transition temperature superconductor La2−xSrxCuO4−σ (0.11≤x≤0.14)

The positive muon spin relaxation method is applied to probe magnetic ordering in the superconducting phase of a high quality single crystal of La_2−xSr_xCuO_4−σ (0.11≤x≤0.14). The well characterized crystal ofx=0.11 (T _c=34.5 K) with nearly complete flux exclusion exhibits spin freezing at 8K(T _f) with significant spin fluctuation up to 20 K. The onset of spin fluctuation andT _f decrease against increasingx towardsx=0.15, suggesting an existence of a magnetic phase boundary aroundx whereT _c becomes maximum.     

μSR in oxygen deficient YBa2Cu3O x (6.5⩽x⩽7.0)

A systematic μSR study of the local magnetic field distribution in a series of oxygen deficient YBa₂Cu₃O _x samples with 6.5⩽x⩽7.0 is reported. Special attention was given to perform the experiments under the same conditions, so that the oxygen content of the measured samples was the only parameter varied. The behavior of the depolarization rate σ as a function of the oxygen contentx was found to have strong similarities with the behavior of the critical temperatureT _c as a function ofx. In particular, two step-like increases of σ were observed abovex=6.7 and 6.9. The temperature dependence of the normalized depolarization rate σ(T)/σ(0) is well described by the two-fluid model forx⩾6.781(1) and clearly deviates from this behavior forx⩽6.704(1). Our results are compared to those obtained by other groups.     

Quantum Monte Carlo investigation of the 2D Heisenberg model with S=1/2

The two-dimensional (2D) Heisenberg model with anisotropic exchange (Δ = 1−J _x /J _z ) and S=1/2 is investigated by the quantum Monte Carlo method. The energy, susceptibility, specific heat, spin-spin correlation functions, and correlation radius are calculated. The sublattice magnetization (σ) and the Néel temperature of the anisotropic antiferromagnet are logarithmic functions of the exchange anisotropy: 1/σ+1+0.13(1)ln(1/Δ). Crossover of the static magnetic structural factor as a function of temperature from power-law to exponential occurs for T _c /J≈0.4. The correlation radius can be approximated by 1/ξ=2.05T ^1.0(6)/exp(1.0(4)/T). For La₂CuO₄ the sublattice magnetization is calculated as σ=0.45, the exchange is J=(1125–1305) K; for Er₂CuO₄ J∼625 K and the exchange anisotropy Δ∼0.003. The temperature dependence of the static structural magnetic factor and the correlation radius above the Néel temperature in these compounds can be explained by the formation of topological excitations (spinons). Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 116–121 (January 1999)     

μ+SR studies on superconducting YBa2(Cu1−xFex)3Oy system

Spin-glass like magnetic ordering of iron moments was observed in both orthorhombic and tetragonal YBa₂(Cu_1−xFe_x)₃O_y (x=0.08) by μ⁺SR measurements. In a “Tetra” sample, all the muons sense the superconducting transition at 60 K and magnetic ordering at around 15 K, while in an “Ortho” sample they reveal that two magnetically different parts exist in the sample: about 40% of the sample is superconducting withT _c ≈90K and the remaining part is magnetic withT _M≈33K. These phenomena can be explained in terms of clustering of the Fe atoms in the “Ortho” sample.     

Superconductivity of A15-and σ-phase of Nb-Ir

The superconducting properties of A15-, σ-, and tetragonal phases of the system Nb−Ir were investigated. The alloys were prepared by sintering and arc melting. They were subjected to optical and scanning electron microscopy. The lattice parameters were determined by x-ray diffraction technique. Superconducting transition temperatures,T _c , as well as upper critical fields,H _c2, were measured inductively and resistively. TheT _c -values of the σ-phase vary between 2.15 and 2.40 K whereas for the A15-phase they vary between 1.83 and 2.73 K. TheT _c -value of the tetragonal phase is 3.81 K. The upper critical fields of the tetragonal and the A 15-phase are nearly the same (≈13 kG) and lower compared with that of the σ-phase (≈18 kG). Several theoretically predicted values ofH _c2(0) are evaluated and compared with the experimental ones.     

Insulator-metal transition in the single-crystal high-T c superconductor Bi-2201

Variations in the temperature behavior of resistivity, ρ(T), in the ab plane of the anisotropic single-crystal high-T _c superconductor BiSrCuO (2201 phase) have been observed at the insulator-metal (IM) transition. At low temperatures, as one approaches the transition, the Mott relation for two dimensions, ln ρ ∝ T ^−1/3, changes to ln ρ ∝ T ^−1/2, which corresponds to hopping conduction with a Coulomb gap in the density of states. Negative temperature slopes were revealed in the samples near the transition. Estimates suggest that superconductivity in these samples sets in from the Anderson insulator state. The behavior of the width of the superconducting transition and of the temperature of its onset, T _con, at the IM transition has been studied from measurements of the ac magnetic susceptibility. It is shown that in the vicinity of the IM transition the superconducting transition becomes broader, and the onset of the transition T _con shifts toward higher temperatures. This behavior is attributed to nonuniform superconductivity resulting from formation in the crystal of superconducting droplets with different values of T _c , which is caused by fluctuations in the local density of states due to the inherent disorder in the crystal. In these conditions, superconductivity has a percolation character. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 1190–1194 (July 1998)     

Correlation between the electric-field effect and weak-link type in YBa2Cu3−x Oy and YBa2Cu3−x Oy /Agx high-T c superconducting ceramics

An experimental study is reported of the effect of an electric field E⩽120 MV/m and of temperature T on the critical current I _c and I-V characteristics of yttrium-based high-T _c superconducting ceramics. The materials studied were copper-deficient ceramics, YBa₂Cu_3−x O_y (D samples), and YBa₂Cu_3−x O_y/Ag_x ceramics [S samples with silver present in amounts equal to the copper deficiency (0⩽x⩽0.4)]. It has been established that in D samples at 77 K, the electric field increases I _c and reduces substantially R for I>I _c, whereas in S samples no field effect is observed. Measurements of the I _c(T) dependence near the critical temperature showed that they can be described for all samples by a relation of the type I _c =const(1−T/T _c )^α, where α≈1 for the D samples, and α≈2 for the S samples. The results obtained suggest that the electric-field effect correlates with the existence in the ceramic of SIS-type weak links at grain boundaries. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 1195–1198 (July 1998)     

Anomalous temperature behavior of the resistivity in lightly doped manganites around a metal-insulator phase transition

An unusual temperature and concentration behavior of the resistivity ρ(T, x) in La_0.7Ca_0.3Mn_1−2x Cu_xO₃ is observed at slight Cu doping (0≤x≤0.05). Namely, the introduction of copper results in a splitting of the resistivity maximum around the metal-insulator transition temperature T ₀(x) into two differently evolving peaks. Unlike the original Cu-free maximum, which steadily increases with doping, the second (satellite) peak remains virtually unchanged for x<x _c , increases for x≥x _c , and finally disappears at x _m ≃2x _c , with x _c ≃ 0.03. The observed phenomenon is thought to arise from a competition between substitution-induced strengthening of the potential barriers (which hinder the charge hopping between neighboring Mn sites) and weakening of the kinetic energy of the carriers. The data are well fitted by assuming a nonthermal tunneling conductivity theory with randomly distributed hopping sites. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 70, No. 7, 473–478 (10 October 1999) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.     

Electrical conductivity and magnetic properties of La1 ? xCaxMn1 ? yFeyO3 ceramic samples (x = 0.67, y = 0, 0.05)

The temperature dependences of the magnetic susceptibility χ(T) and the electrical resistivity ρ(T) of ceramic samples of La_{1 − x} Ca _x MnO₃ with x = 0.67 (LCMO) and La_{1 − x} Ca _x Mn_{1 − y} Fe _y O₃ with x = 0.67 and y = 0.05 (LCMFO) are investigated in magnetic fields B = 50–10⁵ G and the temperature range T = 4.2–400 K. Both samples undergo a transition from the paramagnetic state to a state with charge (orbital) ordering (CO) at temperatures T _CO ≈ 272 K for LCMO and T _CO ≈ 222 K for LCMFO. The behavior of the paramagnetic phase in the temperature range 320–400 K for LCMO and 260–400 K for LCMFO is described by the Curie-Weiss law with effective Bohr magneton numbers p _eff = 4.83 μ_B (LCMO) and 4.77 μ_B (LCMFO), respectively. The disagreement between the observed positive Weiss temperatures (θ ≈ 175 K (LCMO) and θ ≈ 134 K (LCMFO)) and negative Weiss temperatures required for the antiferromagnetic ground state can be explained by the phase separation and transition to the charge-ordered state. The magnetic irreversibility for T < T _CO is accounted for by the existence of a mixture of the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases, as well as the cluster glass phase. At low temperatures, doping with iron enhances the frustration of the system, which manifests itself in a more regular behavior of the decay rate of the remanent magnetization with time. The temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity in the range of the charge-ordered phase conforms to the variable-range hopping model. The behavior of the electrical resistivity is governed by the complex structure of the density of localized states near the Fermi level, which includes a soft Coulomb gap Δ = 0.464 eV for LCMO and 0.446 eV for LCMFO. It is established that the ratio between the localization radii of charge carriers a for LCMFO and a _und for LCMO is a/a _und = 0.88. Original Russian Text ? V.S. Zakhvalinskiĭ, R. Laiho, T.S. Orlova, A.V. Khokhulin, 2008, published in Fizika Tverdogo Tela, 2008, Vol. 50, No. 1, pp. 61–68.     

Electron Raman scattering in Tl2Ba2CuO6+x crystals

It is inferred from the position of the 2Δ peak in the electron light scattering spectra that in a sample with high T _c ≈90 K the ratio 2Δ/T _c is approximately equal to 6 and 7 for different polarizations, while in overdoped samples with T _c ≈40 and 35 K the 2Δ peak is observed only in x′y′ polarization with a substantially lower ratio 2Δ/T _c ≈3.2. With decreasing T _c in Tl₂Ba₂CuO_6+x crystals, a transition occurs from strong to weak coupling; the superconducting gap remains anisotropic at different doping levels. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 64, No. 11, 760–765 (10 December 1996)     

Anisotropy of the superconducting properties of YBa2Cu3O7−x single crystals with reduced oxygen content

In an investigation of the resistivity anisotropy of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x single crystals with suboptimal oxygen content it is observed that the superconducting transition for the component ρc of the resistivity tensor is shifted to lower temperatures with respect to the transition for the component ρab. A similar shift is also observed for the transition in the temperature dependence of the dynamic magnetic susceptibility. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 68, No. 4, 309–313 (25 August 1998)     

The superconducting properties of YBa2(Cu1−xMx)3O7 for M=Zn and Ni

Transverse and zero-field μSR measurements were made on YBa₂(Cu_1−xNi_x)₃O_7−y withx=0.1 and 0.2, and YBa₂(Cu_1−x Zn _x )₃O_7−y withx=0.03, 0.06, 0.1, and 0.16, wherey≈0.1. Since doping may lead to magnetic ordering this was searched for with both zero and transverse field μSR, but no evidence was found over the temperature range studied: 10–100 K. However, depolarization rates as functions of temperature were obtained, and the low temperature values of these are σ=3.2 μs⁻¹.1.6μs⁻¹, and 1 μs⁻¹ forx=0.01, and 0.2 Ni, respectively, and σ=0.8 μs⁻¹, 0.75 μs⁻¹, 0.65 μs⁻¹, and 0.4 μs⁻¹ forx=0.03, 0.06, 0.1, and 0.16 Zn, respectively. Estimates for the effect of decreasing electron concentration for Zn are made, but these alone do not account for the drop in σ. Estimates for the effect of scattering on λ and hence σ are made. The reduction in σ for Ni dopant is in surprisingly good agreement with these estimates. For Zn the order of magnitude is correct, but the relative lack of further change in σ after the effect of the first 0.03 addition seems to imply a saturation of the effect of scattering.     

Temperature dependence of the YBa2Cu3O7 energy gap in differently oriented tunnel junctions

We have applied the break-junction technique to highly biepitaxial c-axis oriented YBa₂Cu₃O₇ thin films with T _C (ρ=0) = 91 K. Mechanically adjustable junctions with a good stability and tunneling current favored along the ab-planes have been realized. The conductance characteristics of these junctions show the presence of gap related maxima that move towards zero bias for increasing temperatures. Considering the misorientation angle α≈ 45 ^° ± 5 ^° of the junction, a maximum gap value at the Fermi level Δ ≈ 22 meV is inferred at T = 13 K. The temperature dependence of the gap related structures, shows a quasilinear behavior for T > 0.4 T _C similar to that observed in c-axis oriented, S-I-N type YBa₂Cu₃O₇ planar junctions. Received 20 July 2001     

Influence of magnetic field on the superconducting transition in a Nd1.82Ce0.18CuO4−δ film

The temperature and magnetic-field dependences of the resistivity ρ and Hall effect R(j‖ab, B‖c) in a Nd_1.82Ce_0.18CuO_4−δ single crystal film (T _c =6 K) is investigated at temperatures 1.4≤T≤20 K and magnetic fields 0≤B≤5.5 T. At the lowest temperature T=1.4 K the resistive state (exhibiting resistivity and the Hall effect) arises in a magnetic field B=0.5 T. A transition to the normal state is completed at B _c 2≃3 T, where the Hall coefficient becomes nearly constant. The negative magnetoresistance due to the weak-localization effect in the normal state is observed for B>3 T. The nonmonotonic behavior and the inversion of the sign of R(B) in the mixed state are explained in a reasonable way by the flux-flow model with the effect of pinning taken into account. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 64, No. 6, 407–411 (25 September 1996) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.     

Influence of grain boundaries on resistivity of manganites La1 − x K x MnO3

Results of investigation of resistivity and magnetoresistance of manganites La_{1 − x} K _x MnO₃ (x = 0.050–0.175) are presented. Behavior of resistivity ρ(T) in the paramagnetic and ferromagnetic phases has been described. To describe ρ(T) near the phase-transition temperature, notions of the percolation theory have been used. Two maxima have been found in the dependence ρ(T); their appearance has been attributed to the ceramic nature of the studied samples. The observed increase in magnetoresistance with a decrease in temperature is caused by intergranular spin-polarized tunneling of charge carriers.