Toward a topological scenario for high-temperature superconductivity of copper oxides

The structure of the joint phase diagram demonstrating high-$T_c$ superconductivity of copper oxides is studied on the basis of the theory of interaction-induced flat bands. Prerequisites for an associated topological rearrangement of the Landau state are established, and related non-Fermi-liquid (NFL) behavior of the normal states of cuprates is investigated. We focus on manifestations of this behavior in the electrical resistivity $\rho (T)$, especially the observed gradual crossover from normal-state T-linear behavior $\rho (T,x)=A_1(x)T$ at doping x below the critical value $x_c^h$ of hole doping for termination of superconductivity, to T-quadratic behavior at $x>x_c^h$, which is incompatible with predictions of the conventional quantum-critical-point scenario. It is demonstrated that the slope of the coefficient $A_1$ is universal, being the same on both boundaries of the joint phase diagram of cuprates, in agreement with available experimental data.     

Oxygen tracer diffusion in La1 − xSrxCoO3

Tracer diffusion of ¹⁸O in dense, polycrystalline La_1−xSr_xCoO₃ for x = 0.1 has been measured in the temperature range 400 to 600 °C and at 500 °C for x = 0.2 at an oxygen partial pressure of 1 × 10⁵ Pa. Depth profiles were obtained by secondary ion mass spectrometry. The diffusion coefficient for La_0.9Sr_0.1CoO₃ is given by D = (17–247) exp[(−232 ± 8 kJ/mole)/RT] cm²/s. This value is several orders of magnitude lower than D extrapolated from the results for x = 0.2 measured in the 700–900 °C temperature range. One possible explanation for the discrepancy is that the two measurements reflect different diffusion paths. As expected, La_0.8Sr_0.2CoO₃ exhibits a higher diffusivity at 500 °C than does La_0.9Sr_0.1CoO₃.     

Superconductivity recurrence and charge carrier compensation effect in La2−xSrxCu0.94M0.06O4 (M = Fe,Co and Ni) system

In this paper, the substitution effect of Sr for La in three non-superconducting system La_2−xSr_xCu_0.94M_0.06O₄ (M = Fe, Co and Ni) have been systematically studied. As the concentration of Sr increases to around 0.20, the superconductivity is recovered. The peak at 695 cm⁻¹ in the infrared spectra which is assigned to the stretching mode of oxygen atoms in plane induced by M³⁺ doping is suppressed by Sr increasing, demonstrating that the holes introduced by the Sr substitution have been injected into the CuO₂ plane and compensate the localized electrons. These results suggest that the superconductivity recurrence is caused by the carrier compensation. The main origin of superconductivity suppression by the magnetic ions Fe/Co/Ni is the carrier localization effect.