Superconducting energy gap in Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+δ (Bi2223) single crystals

Current-voltage characteristics of S-I-S tunnel break junctions fabricated from pure undoped Bi2223 single crystals (T _c =110 K) were measured. High quality of the crystals enabled production of good tunnel junctions with a low or almost zero leakage current and well developed gap structure in the tunneling spectra. The peak-to-peak energy gap values 2Δ_p-p in different crystals and the tunnel junctions ranged from 80 to 105 meV. The tunneling conductance in the superconducting state was normalized to that in the normal state and compared to a smeared BCS density of states. A simple fit of the data gave the average value of Δ=38.5 meV and reduced gap 2Δ/kT _c ?8, consistent with a very strong coupling mechanism.     

Cu-EPR in YBa2Cu3O6+δ single crystals

We report on the observation of Cu-EPR signals in single crystalline material of YBa₂Cu₃O₆₊ in the narrow oxygen concentration range 0.7<<0.9 and for temperatures 80 K<T<200 K. We provide evidence that the signal results from Cu²⁺ ions located in Cu(1)OCu(1) chain fragments.     

Transverse resistance of YBa2Cu3O7−δ single crystals

Measured is the transverse electrical resistance of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ single crystals with different oxygen deficiency values (δ) in the temperature range T_c − 300 K. The experimental data are approximated by an empiric expression accounting for the fluctuation conductivity near T_c and the semiconductor-like resistance regime. Our analysis of the concentration dependences of the fitting parameters, in particular, reveals that the resistance temperature dependence is largely affected by the sample's non-homogeneity. The latter, in turn, causes a T_c anisotropy and variable-range hopping conductivity between different phases. The deduced maximal values of the basal-plane coherence length, ξ_xy(0), are comparable with those for low-temperature superconductors.     

Geometry dependent resistivity behavior in mesoscopic Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ single crystals

In order to investigate the interaction between Josephson vortices and pancake vortices in a layered Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ superconductor, c-axis resistivity measurements were carried out on fabricated mesoscopic single crystals for two experimental geometries, when an applied high magnetic field of 14 T is perpendicular (B_ex⊥L) and parallel (B_ex∥L) to the width of sample. In the first case, the angular dependence of the resistance obtained near the ab-plane at T = 30 K exhibited hysteretic non-monotonic behavior with local maxima at θ = 0.6° away from the ab-plane and dips and spikes at θ = 0.2° marking a vortex lock-in transition. In the second geometry (B_ex∥L), instead of a local maximum, peculiar resistance shoulders were observed. At higher temperatures, hysteresis is reduced, while the vortex lock-in transition becomes considerably broader indicating the interaction of pancake and Josephson vortices.     

Transport Barkhausen-like noise in uniaxially pressed Bi1.65Pb0.35Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+δ ceramic samples

We report on the detection of the transport Barkhausen-like noise (TBN) in polycrystalline samples of Bi_1.65Pb_0.35Sr₂Ca₂ Cu₃O_10+δ (Bi-2223) which were subjected to different uniaxial compacting pressures. The transport Barkhausen-like noise was measured when the sample was subjected to an ac triangular-shape magnetic field (f ～ 1 Hz) with maximum amplitude B_max ≈ 5.5 mT, in order to avoid the flux penetration within the superconducting grains. Analysis of the TBN signal, measured for several values of excitation current density, indicated that the applied magnetic field in which the noise signal first appears, B_a(t_i), is closely related to the magnetic-flux pinning capability of the material. The combined results are consistent with the existence of three different superconducting levels within the samples: (i) the superconducting grains; (ii) the superconducting clusters; and (iii) the weak-links. We finally argue that TBN measurements constitute a powerful tool for probing features of the intergranular transport properties in polycrystalline samples of high-T_c superconductors.     

Positron annihilation and magnetization studies of proton irradiated polycrystalline textured Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ and Bi1.84Pb0.34Sr1.91Ca2.03Cu3.06O10+δ superconductors

Proton irradiations on polycrystalline textured Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ (Bi-2212) and Bi_1.84Pb_0.34Sr_1.91Ca_2.03Cu_3.06O_10+δ (Bi-2223) samples have been carried out. The irradiation induced defect size increases with dose up to 5×10¹⁵ protons/cm² in Bi-2212, but remains effectively constant in Bi-2223 as revealed from positron lifetime measurements. Magnetization studies show that at moderate dose, there is no significant change in intergranular critical current density (J_c^int) in both systems. But intragranular critical current density (J_c) increases with dose in Bi-2212. A drastic fall in both J_c^int and J_c is observed at high dose in Bi-2223 as compared to Bi-2212.     

Tunneling in single-layer Bi2Sr2CuO6+δ single crystals in high magnetic field

In tunneling experiments with high-quality single crystals of a single-layer cuprate superconductor Bi₂Sr₂CuO_6+δ using the break junction and point-contact techniques at T<T _c, the coexistence of the superconducting-state gap and the normal-state gap was observed. The values of the superconducting energy gap 2Δ_p?p are in the range from 13.4 to 15 meV (Δ_p?p=6.7–7.5 meV). The values of 2Δ_p?p are similar for two samples with T _c=4 K and for two samples with T _c=9–10 K and are independent of the carrier concentration. The normal-state gap, with the magnitude approximately equal to 50 meV, persists at T<T _c and in the magnetic field H?H _c2 up to 28 T. After the transition of the sample to the normal state, the intensity of the tunneling conductance rapidly decreases with increasing magnetic field strength and temperature. The observed large broadening of the tunneling spectra and large zero-bias conductances can be caused by a strong angular dependence of the superconducting gap. The tunneling results are in full agreement with the data of the angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements.     

Superconductivity of Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca3Cu4O12

The superconducting ceramics Bi1.6Pb0.4Sr2Ca3Cu4O12 have been prepared by the melt-casting method.A zero resistance temperature at 60K has been observed.It has been found that the superconducting phase temperature Tc increases with increasing sintering temperature,The effect of Pb content on the superconductivity of the ceramic has been studied.The microstructure of the Sample has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy.Phase analysis has been carried out by x-ray diffraction patterns and energy dispersive analysis through x-ray spectroscopy.     

c-axis penetration depth in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ single crystals measured by ac-susceptibility and cavity perturbation technique

The c-axis penetration depth Δλ_c in Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_8+δ (BSCCO) single crystals as a function of temperature has been determined using two techniques, namely, measurements of the ac-susceptibility at a frequency of 100 kHz and the surface impedance at 9.4 GHz. Both techniques yield an almost linear function Δλ_c(T)∝T in the temperature range T<0.5T _c. Electrodynamic analysis of the impedance anisotropy has allowed us to estimate λ_c(0)≈50 µm in BSCCO crystals overdoped with oxygen (T _c≈84 K) and λ_c(0)≈150 µm at the optimal doping level (T _c≈90 K).     

Effect of γ-irradiation on the transport and structural properties of polycrystalline Bi1.2 Pb0.33 Sr1.54 Ca2.06 Cu3 O10+δ superconductor

The effect of γ-irradiation on the transport and structural properties of polycrystalline Bi_1.2 Pb_0.33 Sr_1.54 Ca_2.06 Cu₃ O_10+δ superconductor, synthesized by nitrate route is studied. The sample has been irradiated by γ-ray upto a dose 400 MR using a ⁶⁰Co isotope source of 2 kCi strength with a dose-rate of 6.26 Gy/min. Its X-ray diffraction pattern, resistivity–temperature behaviour as well as elemental and morphological analyses using scanning electron microscope have been examined before and after the irradiation. It is observed that the normal state resistivity increases as the dose is increased. The transition width of the sample is found to get broadened with the increasing dose. Using the theories of Aslamazov–Larkin and Maki–Thompson, we present an analysis of the excess conductivity of our sample and the effect of γ-irradiation on it. It is found that the coherence length of the sample gets increased with the increase of the irradiation dose.     

Reconstructed Fermi surface of underdoped Bi2Sr2CaCu2O(8+δ) cuprate superconductors

The Fermi surface topologies of underdoped samples of the high-T(c) superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O(8+δ) have been measured with angle resolved photoemission. By examining thermally excited states above the Fermi level, we show that the observed Fermi surfaces in the pseudogap phase are actually components of fully enclosed hole pockets. The spectral weight of these pockets is vanishingly small at the magnetic zone boundary, creating the illusion of Fermi "arcs." The area of the pockets as measured in this study is consistent with the doping level, and hence carrier density, of the samples measured. Furthermore, the shape and area of the pockets is well reproduced by phenomenological models of the pseudogap phase as a spin liquid.     

Formation of the (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+δphase: reaction mechanism and kinetics

In order to elucidate the formation mechanism of the Bi, Pb(2223) phase, extensive investigations have been performed by means of combined differential thermal analysis and thermo-gravimetric measurements, X-ray diffraction as well as scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis.Starting from co-precipitated oxalate powders, the transformations leading to the formation of the Bi, Pb(2223) phase were studied. Based on these investigations the Bi,  Pb(2223) phase formation process, involving the Bi, Pb(2212), Ca₂PbO₄and alkaline-earth cuprate phases as precursors has been separated into elemental steps. A new model for the formation mechanism of the Bi, Pb(2223) phase will be presented.The Bi, Pb(2223) phase formation kinetics has been studied using the Avrami relation for isothermal phase transformations. The analysis of the Bi, Pb(2223) phase evolution revealed a marked change of the Avrami exponent during the course of the Bi, Pb(2223) phase formation after about 12 hours sintering at 857 ° C.The activation energy for the formation of the Bi, Pb(2223) phase has been determined under various experimental conditions. The nominal composition of the precursor powders, the temperature at which they were calcined as well as the size of their constituents were found to have a significant influence on the value of the activation energy.     

Tunneling conductance of a Bi2−xPbxSr2Ca2Cu3O10−y-SnO2 junction

Fine structures were observed in the tunneling conductance of a sintered Bi 2223-SnO₂ junction. The structures are weaker than those of a single crystalline Bi2212. They correspond to the Raman spectrum of Bi2223 and approximately to the phonon density of states of Bi2212. The structures must therefore be phonon structures, and phonons may contribute substantially to highT _c superconductivity. Multiphonon structures are scarcely discernible. Hence we propose a new model, in place of the prior multiphonon model, to explain the rapid increase inT _c with the CuO₂ layer number. 2 (21 K)=68±4 meV inT _c=98±5 K. 2 (0)/k _B T _c is 8.1±0.9. The temperature dependence of the gap was also observed and discussed.     

The urea combustion method in the preparation of precursors for high-TC single phase HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+δ superconductors

An alternative sol–gel route for synthesizing precursors of mercury based superconductors is presented. This route is based on urea as a combustion agent and has been applied in the synthesis of HgBa₂Ca₂Cu₃O_8+δ (Hg-1223). Moreover, the effects of the precursor preparation on the synthesis of Hg-1223 were studied. This method is further compared with other sol–gel routes used in the synthesis of this family of compounds.