Coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism in the La0.87−xLnxSr0.13FeAsO (Ln=Sm, Gd, Dy) system

The interplay between the superconducting phase and spin density wave order phase was studied. We report the magnetic and superconducting properties of the hole-doped FeAs-based superconducting compound La_0.87−xLn_xSr_0.13FeAsO (Ln=Sm, Gd, Dy; 0≤x≤0.06). Both resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the superconducting transition temperature decreases with increase in composition of magnetic ions. The hysteresis loop of the La_0.87−xLn_xSr_0.13FeAsO sample shows a superconducting hysteresis in addition to a paramagnetic background. The experiment demonstrates that the magnetism and superconductivity coexist in hole-doped FeAs-based superconducting compounds. Among these three magnetic rare-earth elements, the influence of Dy³⁺ doping on superconductivity is more evident than that of Gd³⁺ doping, while the influence of Sm³⁺ doping is the weakest. The trend is consistent with the variation of the lattice parameter along c-axis.     

Anomalous magnetic and superconducting properties in a Ru-based double perovskite

We have studied the double perovskite [1] structure Sr₂Y(Ru_1-x Cu_x)O₆ system. The parent compound is an antiferromagnetic insulator with Neel temperature ～ 26 K. Partially substituted the Ru ion by Cu the compounds increase their conductivity drastically and eventually become superconducting. More intriguingly is the observation of the coexistence of superconductivity and magnetic ordering. The superconducting transition temperature T _c and the magnetic ordering temperature T _m are of the same order. The observed magnetic structure and superconductivity of these compounds can be understood in terms of a plausible theoretical model based on the double exchange idea.     

Coexistence of superconductivity and magnetic ordering in the borocarbide superconducting system

The investigation of the intermetallic compounds Y_1−xRE_xNi₂B₂C and Y_1−xRE_xPd₅B₃C_0.4 (RE=Gd, Dy, Ho, Er; 0≤x≤1.0) demonstrates that the coexistence of the long-range-magnetic-ordering and the superconductivity is possible The normal-state magnetic susceptibility shows a Curie-Weiss-like temperature dependence and a small paramagnetic Curie temperature. The value of the effective moment is close to that of the free RE⁺³ ion. Both results suggest that the coupling between the conduction electron and magnetic ion is not strong, but the coupling is still strong enough to cause the depression of superconductivity. The Abrikosov-Gor‘kov magnetic pair-breaking theory can be applied to those systems. The corresponding magnetic-ordering temperature increases with increasing magnetic moment concentration while the superconducting transition temperature decreases. The long-range-magnetic-ordering is mainly caused by the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida indirect exchange interaction via conduction electrons. This indirect exchange coupling strongly depends on the concentration of RE⁺³-moment and de Gennes factor.     

新超导体MgCNi3的虚晶掺杂研究

用全势线性缀加平面波方法,考虑局域自旋密度近似研究虚晶掺杂MgCNi₃的超导电性和磁性.计算了自旋极化能带结构、体弹性模量和它对压力的导数、原子磁矩m及其变化率.计算结果表明，对于电子掺杂的Mg_1-xAl_xCNi₃(0≤x≤0.5)，超导电性和磁涨落随掺杂量的增加逐渐减小.空穴掺杂的Mg_1-xNa_xCNi₃,在x＝0.12处出现铁磁相变，超导电性消失.在MgCNi₃少量空穴掺杂区域(0≤x<0.12)，表现为超导与磁涨落共存的不稳定状态. 关键词： 超导电性 能带结构 态密度 磁性     

Insulator-superconductor-metal transitions induced by spin fluctuations in the paramagnetic phase of doped insulators

AbstractThe band structure of cuprates as a doped 2D insulator is modeled assuming that the excess charge carriers are associated with the corresponding substitution atoms, and the phase diagram of the paramagnetic states as a function of the degree x of doping at zero temperature is studied. The Hamiltonian contains electronic correlations on impurity orbitals and hybridization between them and the initial band states of the insulator. It is shown that the change in the electronic structure of a doped compound includes the formation of impurity bands of distributed and localized electronic states in the initial insulator gap. It is established that in the case of one excess electron per substitution atom the spin fluctuations (1) give rise to an insulator state of the doped compound for x < x _thr, 1, (2) lead to a superconducting state for x _thr, 1 < x < x _thr, 2, and (3) decay as x > x _thr, 2 increases further, and the doped compound transforms into a paramagnetic state of a “poor” metal with a high density of localized electronic states at the Fermi level.     

Pressure induced lattice anomalies in pnictides

Hydrostatic pressure Raman and synchrotron XRD measurements at room temperature have been carried out on a series of NdFeAsO_1−xF_y (Nd1111) oxypnictides in order to investigate pressure-induced lattice modifications. The synchrotron XRD data indicate that there is an increased deviation of the lattice constants from smooth pressure dependence in the superconducting compound, in close agreement with the results from SmFeAsO_1−xF_x (Sm1111), although the effect is less pronounced in Nd1111. As in Sm1111 the hydrostatic pressure Raman measurements show that the A_1g mode of the rare earth atom deviates from the linear pressure dependence. Anomalous pressure dependence and a hysteresis is observed in the phonon width of the phonon modes. The calculated Grüneisen parameter for the Nd phonon is very similar to the corresponding value for SmFeAsO_1−xF_x compound and it does not vary with substitution. For the As mode it has a lower value indicating a stiffer phonon with the increased ion size. In connection with the XRD measurements the Raman data show a sudden increase of the pressure-induced lattice anomalies close to doping where the compounds become superconducting.     

Reentrant superconductivity in the orthorhombic system (Tm1−xLux)RuB2

The boundaries between the paramagnetic, superconducting and magnetically ordered phases in the orthorhombic pseudoternary system (Tm_1?xLu_x)RuB₂ have been established by means of ac magnetic susceptibility measurements down to 1.2 K. Reentrant superconductivity occurs between x = 0.52 and x ? 0.68. The absence of coexistence between superconductivity and long range magnetic order in this region suggests a ferromagnetic-like nature of the magnetic state. The initial linear depression of superconducting transition temperature (T_c) gives a coupling constant value N(E_F)$\text{J}$² between conduction electrons and magnetic Tm³⁺ moments of 6.7 × 10^?4 eV-atom-states/ spin direction.     

Influence of partial rare-earth substitution for Sm in the giant intrinsic magnetic hardness compound SmCo2Ni3

The phenomenon of giant intrinsic magnetic hardness is investigated in compounds R_1?x Sm _x Co₂Ni₃ with R=Y, Pr, Gd, Tb, Er. Partial Er substitution for Sm actually increases magnetic hardness while all other substitutions decrease magnetic hardness. The strength of coercivity is thus dependent on both the sign and magnitude of the crystal field interaction. The temperature dependence of coercivity is complex in the case of Pr substitution as a result of competing effects from thermal activation and a decrease in anisotropy at low temperatures.     

Effects of Zn on the grain boundary properties of La2−xSrxCu1−yZnyO4 superconductors

The properties of the grain boundaries (GBs) are of significant importance in high-T_c cuprates. Most large scale applications of cuprate superconductors involve usage of sintered compounds. The critical current density and the ability to trap high magnetic flux inside the sample depend largely on the quality of the GBs. Zn has the ability to pin vortices but it also degrades superconductivity. In this study we have investigated the effect of Zn impurity on the intergrain coupling properties in high-quality La_2−xSr_xCu_1−yZn_yO₄ sintered samples with different hole concentrations, p (≡x), over a wide range of Zn contents (y) using field-dependent AC susceptibility (ACS) measurements. The ACS results enabled us to determine the superconducting transition temperature T_c, and the temperature T_gcp, at which the randomly oriented superconducting grains become coupled as a function of hole and disorder contents. We have analyzed the behavior of the GBs from the systematic evolution of the values of T_gcp(p, y), T_c(p, y), and from the contribution to the field-dependent ACS signal coming from the intergrain shielding current. Zn suppresses both T_c and T_gcp in a similar fashion. The hole content and the carrier localization due to Zn substitution seem to have significant effect on the coupling properties of the GBs. We have discussed the possible implications of these findings in detail in this article.     

Electrical and magnetic properties of Nd3+-substituted GdBaSrCu3O7 superconductor

The compounds GdBaSr_1?xNd_xCu₃O_y (where x = 0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) were prepared using the solid-state reaction technique. The single phase and microrange crystalline nature of the compounds were studied by powder X-ray diffraction and SEM analysis. The electrical resistivity and magnetic properties of the compounds were studied as a function of temperature. A decrease in superconducting transition temperature for an increase in Nd substitution was observed. A decreasing trend of diamagnetic strength and an increasing trend of magnetic moment of the samples with Nd substitution were observed from magnetization measurement. The optimal sintering temperature of the compounds was found to be 950 °C.     

Magnetic and superconducting properties of Tl(Sr1.5R0.5)CaCu2O7−δ compounds

DC magnetic susceptibility and resistivity measurements have been performed on 14 Tl(Sr_1.5R_0.5)CaCu₂O_7−δ compounds with R=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu. All samples except the Ce-doped compound show superconducting phase transition temperature around 80–90 K. The rare-earth atoms behave as local moments above the superconducting transition temperature of these compounds. Mechanism of filling of holes in the CuO₂ plane can be employed to interpret the suppression or enhancement of superconductivity by rare-earth ions in Tl(Sr_1.5R_0.5)CaCu₂O_7−δ.     

Mössbauer study of 1/8 anomaly in La2−x Ba x CuO4

The measurements of Mössbauer effect, magnetic susceptibility and muon spin relaxation have been carried out for the high-T _c superconductor La_2?x Ba _x CuO₄. The intensity of Mössbauer doublet spectrum of the sample of x～1/8 begins to decrease rapidly at a certain temperature T _m, which we define as a magnetic transition temperature T _Möss. This temperature almost agrees with T _μSR determined from muon spin relaxation. The quadrupole doublet disappears at low temperature below T _m but a clearly splitted spectrum is not observed even at 4.2 K, which indicates a peculiar magnetic state with a wide distribution of internal magnetic field. Around x～1/8, the superconducting critical temperature T _c and T _m are competed each other. In conclusion, superconductivity disappears around 1/8 hole concentration and a peculiar magnetic state such as spin density wave appears.     

Interplay between the magnetic fluctuations and superconductivity in lanthanum cuprates

We report an analysis of the magnetic fluctuations in superconducting La_2?xSr_xCuO₄ and related lanthanum cuprates that have different symmetry of the low-temperature structure. NMR and ESR investigations revealed a dynamical coexistence of superconductivity and the antiferromagnetic correlations in most of the superconductivity region of the phase diagram. We show that, for all compounds, regardless of their low-temperature symmetry and their superconducting properties, the enhancement of the spin stiffness near 1/8 doping takes place.     

The effect of Fe doping on superconductivity in ZrRuP

This work reports the structure and superconducting properties of the superconductor ZrRuP doped with Fe; the ZrRu_1−xFe_xP solid solution was investigated by means of X-ray powder diffraction, SQUID magnetometry and Mößbauer spectroscopy. It is shown that the modification of the superconducting properties by doping with Fe is similar to the effect of chemical pressure and that the Fe doped compounds do not show any magnetic ordering.     

Charge order melting and magnetic transition in Nd0.5(1+x)Ca0.5(1−x)Mn(1−x)CrxO3 system

The magnetic property of double doped manganite Nd_0.5(1+x)Ca_0.5(1−x)Mn_(1−x)Cr_xO₃ with a fixed ratio of Mn³⁺:Mn⁴⁺=1:1 has been investigated. For the undoped sample, it undergoes one transition from charge disordering to charge ordering (CO) associated with paramagnetic (PM)-antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase transition at T<250 K. The long range AFM ordering seems to form at 35 K, rather than previously reported 150 K. At low temperature, an asymmetrical M-H hysteresis loop occurs due to weak AFM coupling. For the doped samples, the substitution of Cr³⁺ for Mn³⁺ ions causes the increase of magnetization and the rise of T_c. As the Cr³⁺ concentration increases, the CO domain gradually becomes smaller and the CO melting process emerges. At low temperature, the FM superexchange interaction between Mn³⁺ and Cr³⁺ ions causes a magnetic upturn, namely, the second FM phase transition.     

Materials and mechanisms of hole superconductivity

The theory of hole superconductivity proposes that there is a single mechanism of superconductivity that applies to all superconducting materials. This paper discusses several material families where superconductivity occurs and how they can be understood within this theory. Materials discussed include the elements, transition metal alloys, high T_c cuprates both hole-doped and electron-doped, MgB₂, iron pnictides and iron chalcogenides, doped semiconductors, and elements under high pressure.     

Correlation between electron spin resonance and superconductivity in GdxB1−xRu2 (B=Th,Ce, La)

Correlation between EPR and superconductivity in Gd_xB_1?xRu₂ (B=Th, Ce, La) enables us to interpret the behavior of the superconducting transition temperature as a function of Gd concentration in these cubic intermetallic compounds.     

NMR and NQR studies of spin dynamics and superconductivity in High-T c oxides

The magnetic and superconducting properties in the high-T _c cuprates have been investigated over a wide hole doping range by⁶³Cu,¹⁷O and²⁰⁵Tl NMR and NQR in the lightly-doped La_2?xSr_xCuO₄ (LSCO), the heavily-doped Tl₂Ba₂CuO_6+y (TBCO) and the Zn-doped YBa₂Cu₃O₇ (YBCO₇). In low doping region, the large antiferromagnetic (AF) spin correlation around the zone boundary (q=Q) causes the Curie-Weiss behavior of⁶³(1/T ₁ T) associated with that of the staggered susceptibility χ_O(T) in LSCO. In the vicinity of the hole content whereT _c has a peak, the AF spin correlation still survives, although the magnetic coherence length ξ_M is considerably short being presumably (ξ_M/a) ～ 1. The further doping destroys progressively the AF spin correlation, which is no longer present is non-superconducting TBCO compounds. These NMR evidences signify that there is an intimate relation between the presence of the AF spin correlation and the onset of the superconductivity. The local collapse of AF spin correlation is a primary cause for the unexpected strong reduction ofT _c in case of the substitution of Zn impurities into the CuO₂ plane. The superconducting properties clarified by NMR experiments cannot be accounted for by the conventional BCS model or other isotropic s-wave models. A d-wave model is applicable in interpreting consistently most of the NMR results, if the finite density of states at the Fermi level is taken into consideration and is associated with the pair breaking effect. There are increasing evidences that the magnetic mechanism for the superconductivity is promising in high-T _c cuprates.     

Hall effect of FeTe and Fe(Se1–xTex) thin films

The Hall effect is investigated in thin-film samples of iron–chalcogenide superconductors in detail. The Hall coefficient (R_H) of FeTe and Fe(Se_1–xTe_x) exhibits a similar positive value around 300 K, indicating that the high-temperature normal state is dominated by hole-channel transport. FeTe exhibits a sign reversal from positive to negative across the transition to the low-temperature antiferromagnetic state, indicating the occurrence of drastic reconstruction in the band structure. The mobility analysis using the carrier density theoretically calculated reveals that the mobility of holes is strongly suppressed to zero, and hence the electric transport looks to be dominated by electrons. The Se substitution to Te suppresses the antiferromagnetic long-range order and induces superconductivity instead. The similar mobility analysis for Fe(Se_0.4Te_0.6) and Fe(Se_0.5Te_0.5) thin films shows that the mobility of electrons increases with decreasing temperature even in the paramagnetic state, and keeps sufficiently high values down to the superconducting transition temperature. From the comparison between FeTe and Fe(Se_1–xTe_x), it is suggested that the coexistence of ‘itinerant’ carriers both in electron and hole channels is indispensable for the occurrence of superconductivity.