Topological phase transition of Dirac superconductors in the presence of pseudo-scalar pairings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salehi, Morteza; Jafari, S. A.

2018-06-01

Motivated by recent developments in the field of topological superconductors, we show that there is a topological phase transition (TPT) for three dimensional Dirac superconductors (3DDS) in the presence of pseudo-scalar superconducting order parameter which leads to the appearance of a two dimensional Majorana sea (2DMS) on its surface. The perfect Andreev-Klein transmission, resonant peak with robust character in the differential conductance and 4π periodic Josephson current are experimental signatures of 2DMS.

New Fe-based superconductors: properties relevant for applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Putti, M; Pallecchi, I; Bellingeri, E

2009-01-01

Less than two years after the discovery of high temperature superconductivity in oxypnictide LaFeAs(O, F) several families of superconductors based on Fe layers (1111, 122, 11, 111) are available. They share several characteristics with cuprate superconductors that compromise easy applications, such as the layered structure, the small coherence length and unconventional pairing. On the other hand, the Fe-based superconductors have metallic parent compounds and their electronic anisotropy is generally smaller and does not strongly depend on the level of doping, and the supposed order parameter symmetry is s-wave, thus in principle not so detrimental to current transmission across grain boundaries.more » From the application point of view, the main efforts are still devoted to investigate the superconducting properties, to distinguish intrinsic from extrinsic behaviors and to compare the different families in order to identify which one is the fittest for the quest for better and more practical superconductors. The 1111 family shows the highest T{sub c}, huge but also the most anisotropic upper critical field and in-field, fan-shaped resistive transitions reminiscent of those of cuprates. On the other hand, the 122 family is much less anisotropic with sharper resistive transitions as in low temperature superconductors, but with about half the T{sub c} of the 1111 compounds. An overview of the main superconducting properties relevant to applications will be presented. Upper critical field, electronic anisotropy parameter, and intragranular and intergranular critical current density will be discussed and compared, where possible, across the Fe-based superconductor families.« less

Symmetry-Enforced Line Nodes in Unconventional Superconductors [Nodal-Line Superconductors and Band-Sticking

DOE PAGES

Micklitz, T.; Norman, M. R.

2017-05-18

We classify line nodes in superconductors with strong spin-orbit interactions and time-reversal symmetry, where the latter may include nonprimitive translations in the magnetic Brillouin zone to account for coexistence with antiferromagnetic order. We find four possible combinations of irreducible representations of the order parameter on high-symmetry planes, two of which allow for line nodes in pseudospin-triplet pairs and two that exclude conventional fully gapped pseudospin-singlet pairs. We show that the former can only be realized in the presence of band-sticking degeneracies, and we verify their topological stability using arguments based on Clifford algebra extensions. Lastly, our classification exhausts all possiblemore » symmetry protected line nodes in the presence of spin-orbit coupling and a (generalized) time-reversal symmetry. Implications for existing nonsymmorphic and antiferromagnetic superconductors are discussed.« less

Multistage electronic nematic transitions in cuprate superconductors: A functional-renormalization-group analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsuchiizu, Masahisa; Kawaguchi, Kouki; Yamakawa, Youichi; Kontani, Hiroshi

2018-04-01

Recently, complex rotational symmetry-breaking phenomena have been discovered experimentally in cuprate superconductors. To find the realized order parameters, we study various unconventional charge susceptibilities in an unbiased way by applying the functional-renormalization-group method to the d -p Hubbard model. Without assuming the wave vector of the order parameter, we reveal that the most dominant instability is the uniform (q =0 ) charge modulation on the px and py orbitals, which possesses d symmetry. This uniform nematic order triggers another nematic p -orbital density wave along the axial (Cu-Cu) direction at Qa≈(π /2 ,0 ) . It is predicted that uniform nematic order is driven by the spin fluctuations in the pseudogap region, and another nematic density-wave order at q =Qa is triggered by the uniform order. The predicted multistage nematic transitions are caused by Aslamazov-Larkin-type fluctuation-exchange processes.

A hidden pseudogap under the 'dome' of superconductivity in electron-doped high-temperature superconductors.

PubMed

Alff, L; Krockenberger, Y; Welter, B; Schonecke, M; Gross, R; Manske, D; Naito, M

2003-04-17

The ground state of superconductors is characterized by the long-range order of condensed Cooper pairs: this is the only order present in conventional superconductors. The high-transition-temperature (high-T(c)) superconductors, in contrast, exhibit more complex phase behaviour, which might indicate the presence of other competing ground states. For example, the pseudogap--a suppression of the accessible electronic states at the Fermi level in the normal state of high-T(c) superconductors-has been interpreted as either a precursor to superconductivity or as tracer of a nearby ground state that can be separated from the superconducting state by a quantum critical point. Here we report the existence of a second order parameter hidden within the superconducting phase of the underdoped (electron-doped) high-T(c) superconductor Pr2-xCe(x)CuO4-y and the newly synthesized electron-doped material La2-xCe(x)CuO4-y (ref. 8). The existence of a pseudogap when superconductivity is suppressed excludes precursor superconductivity as its origin. Our observation is consistent with the presence of a (quantum) phase transition at T = 0, which may be a key to understanding high-T(c) superconductivity. This supports the picture that the physics of high-T(c) superconductors is determined by the interplay between competing and coexisting ground states.

Topological superconductivity in an ultrathin, magnetically-doped topological insulator proximity coupled to a conventional superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Youngseok; Philip, Timothy M.; Park, Moon Jip; Gilbert, Matthew J.; University of Illinois at Urbana; Champaign Team

As a promising candidate system to realize topological superconductivity (SC), 3D time-reversal invariant topological insulators (TI) proximity-coupled to s-wave superconductors have been intensively studied. Recent experiments on proximity-coupled TI have shown that superconductivity may be induced in ultrathin TI. One proposal to observe the topological SC in proximity-coupled ultrathin TI system is to add magnetic dopants to the TI. However, detailed study on the impact of the experimental parameters on possible topological phase is sparse. In this work, we investigate ultrathin, magnetically-doped, proximity-coupled TI in order to determine the experimentally relevant parameters needed to observe topological SC. We find that, due to the spin-momentum locked nature of the surface states in TI, the induced s-wave order parameter within the surface states persists even at large magnitudes of the Zeeman energy, allowing us to explore the system in parameter space. We elucidate the phase diagram as a function of: the hybridization gap, Zeeman energy, and chemical potential of the TI system. Our findings provide a useful guide in choosing relevant parameters to facilitate the observation of topological SC in thin film TI-superconductor hybrid systems. National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant CAREER ECCS-1351871.

What can Andreev bound states tell us about superconductors?

PubMed

Millo, Oded; Koren, Gad

2018-08-06

Zero-energy Andreev bound states, which manifest themselves in the tunnelling spectra as zero-bias conductance peaks (ZBCPs), are abundant at interfaces between superconductors and other materials and on the nodal surface of high-temperature superconductors. In this review, we focus on the information such excitations can provide on the properties of superconductor systems. First, a general introduction to the physics of Andreev bound states in superconductor/normal metal interfaces is given with a particular emphasis on why they appear at zero energy in d -wave superconductors. Then, specific spectroscopic tunnelling studies of thin films, bilayers and junctions are described, focusing on the corresponding ZBCP features. Scanning tunnelling spectroscopy (STS) studies show that the ZBCPs on the c -axis YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7- δ (YBCO) films are correlated with the surface morphology and appear only in proximity to (110) facets. STS on c -axis La 1.88 Sr 0.12 CuO 4 (LSCO) films exhibiting the 1/8 anomaly shows spatially modulated peaks near zero bias associated with the anti-phase ordering of the d -wave order parameter predicted at this doping level. ZBCPs were also found in micrometre-size edge junctions of YBCO/SrRuO 3 /YBCO, where SrRuO 3 is ferromagnetic. Here, the results are consistent with a crossed Andreev reflection effect (CARE) at the narrow domain walls of the SrRuO 3 ZBCPs measured in STS studies of manganite/cuprate bilayers could not be attributed to CARE because the manganite's domain wall is much larger than the coherence length in YBCO, and instead are attributed to proximity-induced triplet-pairing superconductivity with non-conventional symmetry. And finally, ZBCPs found in junctions of non-intentionally doped topological insulator films of Bi 2 Se 3 and the s -wave superconductor NbN are attributed to proximity-induced p x  + ip y triplet order parameter in the topological material.This article is part of the theme issue 'Andreev bound states'. © 2018 The Author(s).

Detecting vortices in superconductors: Extracting one-dimensional topological singularities from a discretized complex scalar field

DOE PAGES

Phillips, Carolyn L.; Peterka, Tom; Karpeyev, Dmitry; ...

2015-02-20

In type II superconductors, the dynamics of superconducting vortices determine their transport properties. In the Ginzburg-Landau theory, vortices correspond to topological defects in the complex order parameter. Extracting their precise positions and motion from discretized numerical simulation data is an important, but challenging, task. In the past, vortices have mostly been detected by analyzing the magnitude of the complex scalar field representing the order parameter and visualized by corresponding contour plots and isosurfaces. However, these methods, primarily used for small-scale simulations, blur the fine details of the vortices, scale poorly to large-scale simulations, and do not easily enable isolating andmore » tracking individual vortices. In this paper, we present a method for exactly finding the vortex core lines from a complex order parameter field. With this method, vortices can be easily described at a resolution even finer than the mesh itself. The precise determination of the vortex cores allows the interplay of the vortices inside a model superconductor to be visualized in higher resolution than has previously been possible. Finally, by representing the field as the set of vortices, this method also massively reduces the data footprint of the simulations and provides the data structures for further analysis and feature tracking.« less

Field dependence of the vortex core size probed by scanning tunneling microscopy

DOE PAGES

Fente, A.; Herrera, E.; Guillamón, I.; ...

2016-07-29

We study the spatial distribution of the density of states (DOS) at zero bias N(r) in the mixed state of single and multigap superconductors. We provide an analytic expression for N(r) based on deGennes' relationship between DOS and the order parameter that reproduces well scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) data in several superconducting materials. In the single gap superconductor β-Bi 2 Pd, we find that N(r) is governed by a length scale ξ H =more » $$\\sqrt{Φ0/2πH}$$ which decreases in rising fields. The vortex core size $C$ ∝ (d Δ/dr| r→0) ₋1 differs from ξ H by a material dependent numerical factor. The new data on the tunneling conductance and vortex lattice of the 2H-NbSe 1.8S 0.2 show the in-plane isotropic vortices, suggesting that substitutional scattering removes the in-plane anisotropy found in the two-gap superconductor 2H-NbSe 2. We fit the tunneling conductance of 2H-NbSe 1.8S 0.2 to a two gap model and calculate the vortex core size $C$ for each band. We find that $C$ is field independent and has the same value for both bands. We also analyze the two-band superconductor 2H-NbSe 2 and find the same result. Lastly, we conclude that, independently of the magnetic field induced variation of the order parameter values in both bands, the spatial variation of the order parameter close to the vortex core is the same for all bands.« less

Field dependence of the vortex core size probed by scanning tunneling microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fente, A.; Herrera, E.; Guillamón, I.

We study the spatial distribution of the density of states (DOS) at zero bias N(r) in the mixed state of single and multigap superconductors. We provide an analytic expression for N(r) based on deGennes' relationship between DOS and the order parameter that reproduces well scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) data in several superconducting materials. In the single gap superconductor β-Bi 2 Pd, we find that N(r) is governed by a length scale ξ H =more » $$\\sqrt{Φ0/2πH}$$ which decreases in rising fields. The vortex core size $C$ ∝ (d Δ/dr| r→0) ₋1 differs from ξ H by a material dependent numerical factor. The new data on the tunneling conductance and vortex lattice of the 2H-NbSe 1.8S 0.2 show the in-plane isotropic vortices, suggesting that substitutional scattering removes the in-plane anisotropy found in the two-gap superconductor 2H-NbSe 2. We fit the tunneling conductance of 2H-NbSe 1.8S 0.2 to a two gap model and calculate the vortex core size $C$ for each band. We find that $C$ is field independent and has the same value for both bands. We also analyze the two-band superconductor 2H-NbSe 2 and find the same result. Lastly, we conclude that, independently of the magnetic field induced variation of the order parameter values in both bands, the spatial variation of the order parameter close to the vortex core is the same for all bands.« less

Problems of the theory of superconductivity which involve spatial inhomogeneity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Svidzinskii, A. V.

This book is concerned with questions which are related to equilibrium phenomena in superconductors, giving particular attention to effects determined by a spatial variation of the order parameter. The microscopic theory of superconductivity is developed on the basis of a model which takes into account the direct interaction between electrons. The theory of current relations in superconductors is discussed, taking into consideration the magnetic properties of superconductors in weak fields and the Meissner effect. Aspects regarding the general theory of tunneling are also explored, including the Josephson effect. An investigation is conducted of the theory of current conditions in areas in which the superconductor is in contact with normally conducting metal.

Microscopic theory of vortex interaction in two-band superconductors and type-1.5 superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silaev, Mihail; Babaev, Egor

2011-03-01

In the framework of self-consistent microscopic theory we study the structure and interaction of vortices in two-gap superconductor taking into account the interband Josephson coupling. The asymptotical behavior of order parameter densities and magnetic field is studied analytically within the microscopic theory at low temperature. At higher temperatures, results consistent with Ginzburg-Landau theory are obtained. It is shown that under quite general conditions and in a wide temperature ranges (in particular outside the validity of the Ginzburg-Landau theory) there can exist an additional characteristic length scale of the order parameter density variation which exceeds the London penetration length of magnetic field due to the multi-component nature of superconducting state. Such behavior of order parameter density variation leads to the attractive long-range and repulsive short-range interaction between vortices. Supported by NSF CAREER Award DMR-0955902, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation through the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and Swedish Research Council, ''Dynasty'' foundation and Russian Foundation for Basic Research.

Transition from Sign-Reversed to Sign-Preserved Cooper-Pairing Symmetry in Sulfur-Doped Iron Selenide Superconductors.

PubMed

Wang, Qisi; Park, J T; Feng, Yu; Shen, Yao; Hao, Yiqing; Pan, Bingying; Lynn, J W; Ivanov, A; Chi, Songxue; Matsuda, M; Cao, Huibo; Birgeneau, R J; Efremov, D V; Zhao, Jun

2016-05-13

An essential step toward elucidating the mechanism of superconductivity is to determine the sign or phase of the superconducting order parameter, as it is closely related to the pairing interaction. In conventional superconductors, the electron-phonon interaction induces attraction between electrons near the Fermi energy and results in a sign-preserved s-wave pairing. For high-temperature superconductors, including cuprates and iron-based superconductors, prevalent weak coupling theories suggest that the electron pairing is mediated by spin fluctuations which lead to repulsive interactions, and therefore that a sign-reversed pairing with an s_{±} or d-wave symmetry is favored. Here, by using magnetic neutron scattering, a phase sensitive probe of the superconducting gap, we report the observation of a transition from the sign-reversed to sign-preserved Cooper-pairing symmetry with insignificant changes in T_{c} in the S-doped iron selenide superconductors K_{x}Fe_{2-y}(Se_{1-z}S_{z})_{2}. We show that a rather sharp magnetic resonant mode well below the superconducting gap (2Δ) in the undoped sample (z=0) is replaced by a broad hump structure above 2Δ under 50% S doping. These results cannot be readily explained by simple spin fluctuation-exchange pairing theories and, therefore, multiple pairing channels are required to describe superconductivity in this system. Our findings may also yield a simple explanation for the sometimes contradictory data on the sign of the superconducting order parameter in iron-based materials.

Holographic Lifshitz superconductors: Analytic solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Natsuume, Makoto; Okamura, Takashi

2018-03-01

We construct an analytic solution for a one-parameter family of holographic superconductors in asymptotically Lifshitz spacetimes. We utilize this solution to explore various properties of the systems such as (1) the superfluid phase background and the grand canonical potential, (2) the order parameter response function or the susceptibility, (3) the London equation, and (4) the background with a superfluid flow or a magnetic field. From these results, we identify the dual Ginzburg-Landau theory including numerical coefficients. Also, the dynamic critical exponent zD associated with the critical point is given by zD=2 irrespective of the value of the Lifshitz exponent z .

Creation of Frustrated Systems by d-dot Array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masahiko, Machida

2004-03-01

When a square shape dot of High-Tc superconductor is embedded in s-wave superconducting matrix, half quantized vortices are spontaneously generated at the corners of the dot. This feature gives the magnetic interactions between neighboring dots in array systems composed of sevaral dots of High-Tc superconductor and allows us to make magnetic interaction systems. We propose that we can create interesting frustrated systems like the spin-ice by setting the dots in various manners. In order to demonstrate which types of frustrated systems are possible, we perform numerical simulations for the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation describing dynamics of the superconducting order parameters with d-wave and s-wave symmetries. The simulations reveal that the proposed system has two parameters originated from the magnetic interaction between emerged half vortices. We tune the parameters and show various patterns of half vortices from the Ising to the ice model.

Magnetism of the 35 K superconductor CsEuFe4As4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Albedah, Mohammed A.; Nejadsattari, Farshad; Stadnik, Zbigniew M.; Liu, Yi; Cao, Guang-Han

2018-04-01

The results of ab initio hyperfine-interaction parameters calculations, and of x-ray diffraction and 57Fe and 151Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy study of the new 35 K superconductor CsEuFe4As4 are reported. The superconductor crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P4/mmm with the lattice parameters a = 3.8956(1) Å and c = 13.6628(5) Å. It is demonstrated unequivocally that there is no magnetic order of the Fe magnetic moments down to 2.1 K and that the ferromagnetic order is associated with the Eu magnetic moments. The Curie temperature TC = 15.97(8) K determined from the temperature dependence of the hyperfine magnetic field at 151Eu nuclei is shown to be compatible with the temperature dependence of the transferred hyperfine magnetic field at 57Fe nuclei that is induced by the ferromagnetically ordered Eu sublattice. The Eu magnetic moments are shown to be perpendicular to the crystallographic c-axis. The temperature dependence of the principal component of the electric field gradient tensor, both at Fe and Eu sites, is well described by a T 3/2 power-law relation. Good agreement between the calculated and measured hyperfine-interaction parameters is observed. The Debye temperature of CsEuFe4As4 is found to be 295(3) K.

Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements on the 35.5 K superconductor Rb1 -δEuFe4As4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Albedah, Mohammed A.; Nejadsattari, Farshad; Stadnik, Zbigniew M.; Liu, Yi; Cao, Guang-Han

2018-04-01

The results of x-ray diffraction and 57Fe and 151Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements, supplemented with ab initio hyperfine-interaction parameter calculations, on the new 35.5 K superconductor Rb1 -δEuFe4As4 are presented. The superconductor crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P 4 /m m m with the lattice parameters a =3.8849 (1 ) Å and c =13.3370 (3 ) Å. It is shown that there is no magnetic order of the Fe magnetic moments down to 2.1 K and that the ferromagnetic order is associated solely with the Eu magnetic moments. The Curie temperature TC=16.54 (8 ) K is determined from the temperature dependence of both the hyperfine magnetic field at 151Eu nuclei and the transferred hyperfine magnetic field at 57Fe nuclei that is induced by the ferromagnetically ordered Eu sublattice. The Eu magnetic moments are demonstrated to be perpendicular to the crystallographic c axis. The temperature dependence of the principal component of the electric field gradient tensor, at both Fe and Eu sites, is well described by a T3 /2 power-law relation. Good agreement between the calculated and measured hyperfine-interaction parameters is observed. The Debye temperature of Rb1 -δEuFe4As4 is found to be 391(8) K.

Pair-breaking mechanisms in superconductor—normal-metal—superconductor junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, H. C.; Finnemore, D. K.

1984-08-01

The critical current density Jc has been measured for superconductor—normal-metal—superconductor (S-N-S) junctions over a wide range of temperature and composition in order to determine the depairing effects of magnetic impurities. Junctions, which are in a sandwich geometry with the N layer typically 600 nm thick, show well-defined diffraction patterns indicating that the junctions are of high quality. Below 4.2 K, the temperature dependence of Jc is found to follow a modified bridge theory based on the work of Makeev et al.

Andreev reflection enhancement in semiconductor-superconductor structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouscher, Shlomi; Winik, Roni; Hayat, Alex

2018-02-01

We develop a theoretical approach for modeling a wide range of semiconductor-superconductor structures with arbitrary potential barriers and a spatially dependent superconducting order parameter. We demonstrate asymmetry in the conductance spectrum as a result of a Schottky barrier shape. We further show that the Andreev reflection process can be significantly enhanced through resonant tunneling with appropriate barrier configuration, which can incorporate the Schottky barrier as a contributing component of the device. Moreover, we show that resonant tunneling can be achieved in superlattice structures as well. These theoretically demonstrated effects along with our modeling approach enable much more efficient Cooper pair injection into semiconductor-superconductor structures, including superconducting optoelectronic devices.

Intertwined Orders in Heavy-Fermion Superconductor CeCoIn 5

DOE PAGES

Kim, Duk Young; Lin, Shi-Zeng; Weickert, Franziska; ...

2016-12-20

The appearance of spin-density-wave (SDW) magnetic order in the low-temperature and high-field corner of the superconducting phase diagram of CeCoIn 5 is unique among unconventional superconductors. The nature of this magnetic $Q$ phase is a matter of current debate. Here, we present the thermal conductivity of CeCoIn 5 in a rotating magnetic field, which reveals the presence of an additional order inside the $Q$ phase that is intimately intertwined with the superconducting d-wave and SDW orders. A discontinuous change of the thermal conductivity within the $Q$ phase, when the magnetic field is rotated about antinodes of the superconducting d-wave ordermore » parameter, demands that the additional order must change abruptly, together with the recently observed switching of the SDW. Lastly, a combination of interactions, where spin-orbit coupling orients the SDW, which then selects the secondary p -wave pair-density-wave component (with an average amplitude of 20% of the primary d-wave order parameter), accounts for the observed behavior.« less

Optical and thermal-transport properties of an inhomogeneous d-wave superconductor.

PubMed

Atkinson, W A; Hirschfeld, P J

2002-05-06

We calculate transport properties of disordered 2D d-wave superconductors from solutions of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations, and show that weak localization effects give rise to a finite-frequency peak in the optical conductivity similar to that observed in experiments on disordered cuprates. At low energies, order parameter inhomogeneities induce linear and quadratic temperature dependencies in microwave and thermal conductivities respectively, and appear to drive the system towards a quasiparticle insulating phase.

Quantum Phase Transitions and Collective Modes in d-Wave Superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vojta, Matthias; Sachdev, Subir

Fluctuations near second-order quantum phase transitions in d-wave superconductors can cause strong damping of fermionic excitations, as observed in photoemission experiments. The damping of the gapless nodal quasiparticles can arise naturally in the quantum-critical region of a transition with an additional spin-singlet, zero momentum order parameter; we argue that the transition to a dx^2-y^2+ i dxy pairing state is the most likely possibility in this category. On the other hand, the gapped antinodal quasiparticles can be strongly damped by the coupling to antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations arising from the proximity to a Neel-ordered state. We review some aspects of the low-energy field theories for both transitions and the corresponding quantum-critical behavior.In addition, we discuss the spectral properties of the collective modes associated with the proximity to a superconductor with dx^2-y^2+ i dxy symmetry, and implications for experiments.

Superconductivity. Observation of broken time-reversal symmetry in the heavy-fermion superconductor UPt₃.

PubMed

Schemm, E R; Gannon, W J; Wishne, C M; Halperin, W P; Kapitulnik, A

2014-07-11

Models of superconductivity in unconventional materials can be experimentally differentiated by the predictions they make for the symmetries of the superconducting order parameter. In the case of the heavy-fermion superconductor UPt3, a key question is whether its multiple superconducting phases preserve or break time-reversal symmetry (TRS). We tested for asymmetry in the phase shift between left and right circularly polarized light reflected from a single crystal of UPt3 at normal incidence and found that this so-called polar Kerr effect appears only below the lower of the two zero-field superconducting transition temperatures. Our results provide evidence for broken TRS in the low-temperature superconducting phase of UPt3, implying a complex two-component order parameter for superconductivity in this system. Copyright © 2014, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Nonmagnetic impurity resonances as a signature of sign-reversal pairing in FeAs-based superconductors.

PubMed

Zhang, Degang

2009-10-30

The energy band structure of FeAs-based superconductors is fitted by a tight-binding model with two Fe ions per unit cell and two degenerate orbitals per Fe ion. Based on this, superconductivity with extended s-wave pairing symmetry of the form cosk(x)+cosk(y) is examined. The local density of states near an impurity is also investigated by using the T-matrix approach. For the nonmagnetic scattering potential, we found that there exist two major resonances inside the gap. The height of the resonance peaks depends on the strength of the impurity potential. These in-gap resonances are originated in the Andreev's bound states due to the quasiparticle scattering between the hole Fermi surfaces around Gamma point with positive order parameter and the electron Fermi surfaces around M point with negative order parameter.

Impact of iron-site defects on superconductivity in LiFeAs

DOE PAGES

Chi, Shun; Aluru, Ramakrishna; Singh, Udai Raj; ...

2016-10-19

In conventional s -wave superconductors, only magnetic impurities exhibit impurity bound states, whereas for an s ± order parameter they can occur for both magnetic and nonmagnetic impurities. Impurity bound states in superconductors can thus provide important insight into the order parameter. We present a combined experimental and theoretical study of native and engineered iron-site defects in LiFeAs. A detailed comparison of tunneling spectra measured on impurities with spin-fluctuation theory reveals a continuous evolution from negligible impurity-bound-state features for weaker scattering potential to clearly detectable states for somewhat stronger scattering potentials. Furthermore, all bound states for these intermediate strengthmore » potentials are pinned at or close to the gap edge of the smaller gap, a phenomenon that we explain and ascribe to multiorbital physics.« less

Fermionic spectral functions in backreacting p-wave superconductors at finite temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giordano, G. L.; Grandi, N. E.; Lugo, A. R.

2017-04-01

We investigate the spectral function of fermions in a p-wave superconducting state, at finite both temperature and gravitational coupling, using the AdS/CF T correspondence and extending previous research. We found that, for any coupling below a critical value, the system behaves as its zero temperature limit. By increasing the coupling, the "peak-dip-hump" structure that characterizes the spectral function at fixed momenta disappears. In the region where the normal/superconductor phase transition is first order, the presence of a non-zero order parameter is reflected in the absence of rotational symmetry in the fermionic spectral function at the critical temperature.

Odd-frequency triplet pairing in mixed-parity superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cuoco, Mario; Gentile, Paola; Noce, Canio; Romano, Alfonso; Annunziata, Gaetano; Linder, Jacob

2012-02-01

We show that mixed-parity superconductors may exhibit equal-spin pair correlations that are odd-in-time and can be tuned by means of an applied field. The direction and the amplitude of the pair correlator in the spin space turn out to be strongly dependent on the symmetry of the order parameter, and thus provide a tool to identify different types of singlet-triplet mixed configurations. We suggest that odd-in-time spin-polarized pair correlations can be generated without magnetic inhomogeneities in superconducting/ferromagnetic hybrids with non-centrosymmetric superconductor or when parity mixing is induced at the interface. Paola Gentile, Canio Noce, Alfonso Romano, Gaetano Annunziata, Jacob Linder, Mario Cuoco, arXiv:1109.4885

Experimental evidence for s-wave pairing symmetry in superconducting Cu(x)Bi2Se3 single crystals using a scanning tunneling microscope.

PubMed

Levy, Niv; Zhang, Tong; Ha, Jeonghoon; Sharifi, Fred; Talin, A Alec; Kuk, Young; Stroscio, Joseph A

2013-03-15

Topological superconductors represent a newly predicted phase of matter that is topologically distinct from conventional superconducting condensates of Cooper pairs. As a manifestation of their topological character, topological superconductors support solid-state realizations of Majorana fermions at their boundaries. The recently discovered superconductor Cu(x)Bi(2)Se(3) has been theoretically proposed as an odd-parity superconductor in the time-reversal-invariant topological superconductor class, and point-contact spectroscopy measurements have reported the observation of zero-bias conductance peaks corresponding to Majorana states in this material. Here we report scanning tunneling microscopy measurements of the superconducting energy gap in Cu(x)Bi(2)Se(3) as a function of spatial position and applied magnetic field. The tunneling spectrum shows that the density of states at the Fermi level is fully gapped without any in-gap states. The spectrum is well described by the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory with a momentum independent order parameter, which suggests that Cu(x)Bi(2)Se(3) is a classical s-wave superconductor contrary to previous expectations and measurements.

Using electron irradiation to probe iron-based superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Kyuil; Kończykowski, M.; Teknowijoyo, S.; Tanatar, M. A.; Prozorov, R.

2018-06-01

High-energy electron irradiation at low temperatures is an efficient and controlled way to create vacancy–interstitial Frenkel pairs in a crystal lattice, thereby inducing nonmagnetic point-like scattering centers. In combination with London penetration depth and resistivity measurements, the electron irradiation was used as a phase-sensitive probe to study the superconducting order parameter in iron-based superconductors (FeSCs), lending strong support to sign-changing s ± pairing. Here, we review the key results of the effect of electron irradiation in FeSCs.

Nuclear relaxation rate in layered superconductors with unconventional pairing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maleyev, S.V.; Yashenkin, A.G.; Aristov, D.N.

1994-11-01

The cubic temperature dependence of the nuclear relaxation rate (NRR) in layered superconductors with the order parameter having zeros at the Fermi surface (FS) is found to be universal under quite general conditions. The coefficient in the quasi-Korringa term for the NRR appearing at low temperatures due to impurity scattering is estimated. It is shown that an anisotropy of the gap function over the FS leads to the disappearance of the Hebel-Slichter coherence peak close to [ital T][sub [ital c

Voltage current characteristics of type III superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dorofejev, G. L.; Imenitov, A. B.; Klimenko, E. Yu.

1980-06-01

An adequate description of voltage-current characteristics is important in order to understand the nature of high critical current for the electrodynamic construction of type-III superconductors and for commercial superconductor specification. Homogenious monofilament and multifilament Nb-Ti, Nb-Zr, Nb 3Sn wires were investigated in different ranges of magnetic field, temperature and current. The longitudinal electric field for homogenious wires may be described by E=J ρnexp- T c/T 0+ T/T 0+ B/B 0+ J/J 0, where To, Bo, Jo are the increasing parameters, which depend weakly on B and T, of the electric field. The shape of the voltage-current characteristics of multifilament wires, and the parameter's dependence on temperature and magnetic field may be explained qualitatively by the longitudinal heterogeneous nature of the filaments. A method of attaining the complete specification of the wire's electro-physical properties is proposed. It includes the traditional description of a critical surface (ie the surface corresponding to a certain conventional effective resistivity in T, B, J - space) and a description of any increasing parameter that depends on B and T.

Visualizing spatial correlation: structural and electronic orders in iron-based superconductors on atomic scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maksov, Artem; Ziatdinov, Maxim; Li, Li; Sefat, Athena; Maksymovych, Petro; Kalinin, Sergei

Crystalline matter on the nanoscale level often exhibits strongly inhomogeneous structural and electronic orders, which have a profound effect on macroscopic properties. This may be caused by subtle interplay between chemical disorder, strain, magnetic, and structural order parameters. We present a novel approach based on combination of high resolution scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/S) and deep data style analysis for automatic separation, extraction, and correlation of structural and electronic behavior which might lead us to uncovering the underlying sources of inhomogeneity in in iron-based family of superconductors (FeSe, BaFe2As2) . We identify STS spectral features using physically robust Bayesian linear unmixing, and show their direct relevance to the fundamental physical properties of the system, including electronic states associated with individual defects and impurities. We collect structural data from individual unit cells on the crystalline lattice, and calculate both global and local indicators of spatial correlation with electronic features, demonstrating, for the first time, a direct quantifiable connection between observed structural order parameters extracted from the STM data and electronic order parameters identified within the STS data. This research was sponsored by the Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, US DOE.

Spin-polarized current in Zeeman-split d-wave superconductor/quantum wire junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Emamipour, Hamidreza

2016-06-01

We study a thin-film quantum wire/unconventional superconductor junction in the presence of an intrinsic exchange field for a d-wave symmetry of the superconducting order parameter. A strongly spin-polarized current is generated due to an interplay between Zeeman splitting of bands and the nodal structure of the superconducting order parameter. We show that strongly spin-polarized current is achievable for both metallic and tunnel junctions. This is because of the presence of a quantum wire (one-dimensional metal) in our junction. While in two-dimensional junctions with both conventional [F. Giazotto, F. Taddei, Phys. Rev. B 77 (2008) 132501] and unconventional [J. Linder, T. Yokoyama, Y. Tanaka, A. Sudbo, Phys. Rev. B 78 (2008) 014516] pairing states, highly spin polarized current takes place just for a tunnel junction. Also, the obtained spin-polarized current is tunable in sign and magnitude in terms of exchange field and applied bias voltage.

Interband interference effects at the edge of a multiband chiral p -wave superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jia-Long; Huang, Wen; Sigrist, Manfred; Yao, Dao-Xin

2017-12-01

Chiral superconductors support chiral edge modes and potentially spontaneous edge currents at their boundaries. Motivated by the putative multiband chiral p -wave superconductor Sr2RuO4 , we study the influence of the interference between different bands at the edges, which may appear in the presence of moderate edge disorder or in edge tunneling measurements. We show that interband interference can strongly modify the measurable quantities at the edges when the order parameter exhibits phase difference between the bands. This is illustrated by investigating the edge dispersion and the edge current distribution in the presence of interband mixing, as well as the conductance at a tunneling junction. The results are discussed in connection with the putative chiral p -wave superconductor Sr2RuO4 . In passing, we also discuss similar interference effects in multiband models with other pairing symmetries.

The happy marriage between electron-phonon superconductivity and Mott physics in Cs3C60: A first-principle phase diagram

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Capone, Massimo; Nomura, Yusuke; Sakai, Shiro; Giovannetti, Gianluca; Arita, Ryotaro

The phase diagram of doped fullerides like Cs3C60 as a function of the spacing between fullerene molecules is characterized by a first-order transition between a Mott insulator and an s-wave superconductor with a dome-shaped behavior of the critical temperature. By means of an ab-initio modeling of the bandstructure, the electron-phonon interaction and the interaction parameter and a Dynamical Mean-Field Theory solution, we reproduce the phase diagram and demonstrate that phonon superconductivity benefits from strong correlations confirming earlier model predictions. The role of correlations is manifest also in infrared measurements carried out by L. Baldassarre. The superconducting phase shares many similarities with ''exotic'' superconductors with electronic pairing, suggesting that the anomalies in the ''normal'' state, rather than the pairing glue, can be the real common element unifying a wide family of strongly correlated superconductors including cuprates and iron superconductors

Topological Phase Transitions in Line-nodal Superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Gil Young; Han, Sangeun; Moon, Eun-Gook

Fathoming interplay between symmetry and topology of many-electron wave-functions deepens our understanding in quantum nature of many particle systems. Topology often protects zero-energy excitation, and in a certain class, symmetry is intrinsically tied to the topological protection. Namely, unless symmetry is broken, topological nature is intact. We study one specific case of such class, symmetry-protected line-nodal superconductors in three spatial dimensions (3d). Mismatch between phase spaces of order parameter fluctuation and line-nodal fermion excitation induces an exotic universality class in a drastic contrast to one of the conventional ϕ4 theory in 3d. Hyper-scaling violation and relativistic dynamic scaling with unusually large quantum critical region are main characteristics, and their implication in experiments is discussed. For example, continuous phase transition out of line-nodal superconductors has a linear phase boundary in a temperature-tuning parameter phase-diagram. This work was supported by the Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project of Korea Government and KAIST start-up funding.

Bulk evidence for single-Gap s-wave superconductivity in the intercalated graphite superconductor C6Yb.

PubMed

Sutherland, Mike; Doiron-Leyraud, Nicolas; Taillefer, Louis; Weller, Thomas; Ellerby, Mark; Saxena, S S

2007-02-09

We report measurements of the in-plane electrical resistivity rho and thermal conductivity kappa of the intercalated graphite superconductor C6Yb down to temperatures as low as Tc/100. When a field is applied along the c axis, the residual electronic linear term kappa0/T evolves in an exponential manner for Hc1

Theory of quantum metal to superconductor transitions in highly conducting systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Spivak, B.

2010-04-06

We derive the theory of the quantum (zero temperature) superconductor to metal transition in disordered materials when the resistance of the normal metal near criticality is small compared to the quantum of resistivity. This can occur most readily in situations in which 'Anderson's theorem' does not apply. We explicitly study the transition in superconductor-metal composites, in an swave superconducting film in the presence of a magnetic field, and in a low temperature disordered d-wave superconductor. Near the point of the transition, the distribution of the superconducting order parameter is highly inhomogeneous. To describe this situation we employ a procedure whichmore » is similar to that introduced by Mott for description of the temperature dependence of the variable range hopping conduction. As the system approaches the point of the transition from the metal to the superconductor, the conductivity of the system diverges, and the Wiedemann-Franz law is violated. In the case of d-wave (or other exotic) superconductors we predict the existence of (at least) two sequential transitions as a function of increasing disorder: a d-wave to s-wave, and then an s-wave to metal transition.« less

Odd-frequency pairing in superconducting heterostructures .

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golubov, A. A.; Tanaka, Y.; Yokoyama, T.; Asano, Y.

2007-03-01

We present a general theory of the proximity effect in junctions between unconventional superconductors and diffusive normal metals (DN) or ferromagnets (DF). We consider all possible symmetry classes in a superconductor allowed by the Pauli principle: even-frequency spin-singlet even-parity state, even-frequency spin-triplet odd-parity state, odd-frequency spin-triplet even-parity state and odd-frequency spin-singlet odd-parity state. For each of the above states, symmetry and spectral properties of the induced pair amplitude in the DN (DF) are determined. The cases of junctions with spin-singlet s- and d-wave superconductors and spin-triplet p-wave superconductors are adressed in detail. We discuss the interplay between the proximity effect and midgap Andreev bound states arising at interfaces in unconventional (d- or p-wave) junctions. The most striking property is the odd-frequency symmetry of the pairing amplitude induced in DN (DF) in contacts with p-wave superconductors. This leads to zero-energy singularity in the density of states and to anomalous screening of an external magnetic field. Peculiarities of Josephson effect in d- or p-wave junctions are discussed. Experiments are suggested to detect an order parameter symmetry using heterostructures with unconventional superconductors.

Quasiparticle conductance-voltage characteristics for break junctions involving d-wave superconductors: charge-density-wave effects.

PubMed

Ekino, T; Gabovich, A M; Suan Li, Mai; Szymczak, H; Voitenko, A I

2017-12-20

Quasiparticle tunnel conductance-voltage characteristics (CVCs), [Formula: see text], were calculated for break junctions (BJs) made up of layered d-wave superconductors partially gapped by charge-density waves (CDWs). The current is assumed to flow in the ab-plane of electrodes. The influence of CDWs is analyzed by comparing the resulting CVCs with CVCs calculated for BJs made up of pure d-wave superconductors with relevant parameters. The main CDW-effects were found to be the appearance of new CVC peculiarities and the loss of CVC symmetry with respect to the V-sign. Tunnel directionality was shown to be one of the key factors in the formation of [Formula: see text] dependences. In particular, the orientation of electrodes with respect to the current channel becomes very important. As a result, [Formula: see text] can acquire a large variety of forms similar to those for tunnel junctions between superconductors with s-wave, d-wave, and mixed symmetry of their order parameters. The diversity of peculiarities is especially striking at finite temperatures. In the case of BJs made up of pure d-wave superconductors, the resulting CVC can include a two-peak gap-driven structure. The results were compared with the experimental BJ data for a number of high-T c oxides. It was shown that the large variety of the observed current-voltage characteristics can be interpreted in the framework of our approach. Thus, quasiparticle tunnel currents in the ab-plane can be used as an additional mean to detect CDWs competing with superconductivity in cuprates or other layered superconductors.

Quasiparticle conductance-voltage characteristics for break junctions involving d-wave superconductors: charge-density-wave effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ekino, T.; Gabovich, A. M.; Li, Mai Suan; Szymczak, H.; Voitenko, A. I.

2017-12-01

Quasiparticle tunnel conductance-voltage characteristics (CVCs), G(V) , were calculated for break junctions (BJs) made up of layered d-wave superconductors partially gapped by charge-density waves (CDWs). The current is assumed to flow in the ab-plane of electrodes. The influence of CDWs is analyzed by comparing the resulting CVCs with CVCs calculated for BJs made up of pure d-wave superconductors with relevant parameters. The main CDW-effects were found to be the appearance of new CVC peculiarities and the loss of CVC symmetry with respect to the V-sign. Tunnel directionality was shown to be one of the key factors in the formation of G(V) dependences. In particular, the orientation of electrodes with respect to the current channel becomes very important. As a result, G(V) can acquire a large variety of forms similar to those for tunnel junctions between superconductors with s-wave, d-wave, and mixed symmetry of their order parameters. The diversity of peculiarities is especially striking at finite temperatures. In the case of BJs made up of pure d-wave superconductors, the resulting CVC can include a two-peak gap-driven structure. The results were compared with the experimental BJ data for a number of high-T c oxides. It was shown that the large variety of the observed current-voltage characteristics can be interpreted in the framework of our approach. Thus, quasiparticle tunnel currents in the ab-plane can be used as an additional mean to detect CDWs competing with superconductivity in cuprates or other layered superconductors.

BCS superconductors: The out-of-equilibrium response to a laser pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avella, Adolfo

2018-05-01

The dynamics of a 2D d-wave BCS superconductor driven out-of-equilibrium by a perpendicularly-impinging polarized laser pulse is analyzed on varying the laser pulse characteristics. The observed effects include: oscillations both in the amplitude and in the phase of the superconducting order parameter, suppression of the superconductivity, but also its enhancement with a strong dependence on all varying parameters and, in particular, on the polarization in plane of the applied vector potential and on the value of its frequency. This study opens up the possibility to distinguish very clearly the behavior of the nodal and anti-nodal non-thermal excitations and to tackle some of the puzzling results of the current experimental scenario in the field.

Sea of Majorana fermions from pseudo-scalar superconducting order in three dimensional Dirac materials.

PubMed

Salehi, Morteza; Jafari, S A

2017-08-15

We suggest that spin-singlet pseudo-scalar s-wave superconducting pairing creates a two dimensional sea of Majorana fermions on the surface of three dimensional Dirac superconductors (3DDS). This pseudo-scalar superconducting order parameter Δ 5 , in competition with scalar Dirac mass m, leads to a topological phase transition due to band inversion. We find that a perfect Andreev-Klein reflection is guaranteed by presence of anomalous Andreev reflection along with the conventional one. This effect manifests itself in a resonant peak of the differential conductance. Furthermore, Josephson current of the Δ 5 |m|Δ 5 junction in the presence of anomalous Andreev reflection is fractional with 4π period. Our finding suggests another search area for condensed matter realization of Majorana fermions which are beyond the vortex-core of p-wave superconductors. The required Δ 5 pairing can be extrinsically induced by a conventional s-wave superconductor into a three dimensional Dirac material (3DDM).

Orbitally limited pair-density-wave phase of multilayer superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Möckli, David; Yanase, Youichi; Sigrist, Manfred

2018-04-01

We investigate the magnetic field dependence of an ideal superconducting vortex lattice in the parity-mixed pair-density-wave phase of multilayer superconductors within a circular cell Ginzburg-Landau approach. In multilayer systems, due to local inversion symmetry breaking, a Rashba spin-orbit coupling is induced at the outer layers. This combined with a perpendicular paramagnetic (Pauli) limiting magnetic field stabilizes a staggered layer dependent pair-density-wave phase in the superconducting singlet channel. The high-field pair-density-wave phase is separated from the low-field BCS phase by a first-order phase transition. The motivating guiding question in this paper is: What is the minimal necessary Maki parameter αM for the appearance of the pair-density-wave phase of a superconducting trilayer system? To address this problem we generalize the circular cell method for the regular flux-line lattice of a type-II superconductor to include paramagnetic depairing effects. Then, we apply the model to the trilayer system, where each of the layers are characterized by Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ0 and a Maki parameter αM. We find that when the spin-orbit Rashba interaction compares to the superconducting condensation energy, the orbitally limited pair-density-wave phase stabilizes for Maki parameters αM>10 .

Superconductivity in iron-based compounds (Scientific session of the Physical Sciences Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 29 January 2014)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2014-08-01

A scientific session of the Physical Sciences Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), entitled 'Superconductivity in iron-based compounds', was held on 29 January 2014 at the conference hall of the Lebedev Physical Institute, RAS. The agenda of the session, announced on the website http://www.gpad.ac.ru of the RAS Physical Sciences Division listed the following reports: (1) Eremin I M (Institut für Theoretische Physik III, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Deutschland; Kazan (Volga region) Federal University, Kazan, Russian Federation) "Antiferromagnetism in iron-based superconductors: interaction of the magnetic, orbital, and lattice degrees of freedom"; (2) Korshunov M M (Kirenskii Institute of Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Krasnoyarsk) "Superconducting state in iron-based materials and spin-fluctuation pairing theory"; (3) Kuzmicheva T E (Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow; Lomonosov Moscow State University) "Andreev spectroscopy of iron-based superconductors: temperature dependence of the order parameters and scaling of Δ_L, S with T_C"; (4) Eltsev Yu F (Lebedev Physical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow) "Synthesis and study of the magnetic and transport properties of iron-based superconductors of the 122 family". Papers written on the basis of oral presentations 1-4 are published below. • Antiferromagnetism in iron-based superconductors: magnetic order in the model of delocalized electrons, I M Eremin Physics-Uspekhi, 2014, Volume 57, Number 8, Pages 807-813 • Superconducting state in iron-based materials and spin-fluctuation pairing theory, M M Korshunov Physics-Uspekhi, 2014, Volume 57, Number 8, Pages 813-819 • Andreev spectroscopy of iron-based superconductors: temperature dependence of the order parameters and scaling of Δ_L, S with T_C, T E Kuzmicheva, S A Kuzmichev, M G Mikheev, Ya G Ponomarev, S N Tchesnokov, V M Pudalov, E P Khlybov, N D Zhigadlo Physics-Uspekhi, 2014, Volume 57, Number 8, Pages 819-827 • Magnetic and transport properties of single crystals of Fe-based superconductors of the 122 family, Yu F Eltsev, K S Pervakov, V A Vlasenko, S Yu Gavrilkin, E P Khlybov, V M Pudalov Physics-Uspekhi, 2014, Volume 57, Number 8, Pages 827-832

Phase-incoherent superconducting pairs in the normal state of Ba(Fe(1-x)Co(x))₂As₂.

PubMed

Sheet, Goutam; Mehta, Manan; Dikin, D A; Lee, S; Bark, C W; Jiang, J; Weiss, J D; Hellstrom, E E; Rzchowski, M S; Eom, C B; Chandrasekhar, V

2010-10-15

The normal state properties of the recently discovered ferropnictide superconductors might hold the key to understanding their exotic superconductivity. Using point-contact spectroscopy we show that Andreev reflection between an epitaxial thin film of Ba(Fe(0.92)Co(0.08))₂As₂ and a silver tip can be seen in the normal state of the film up to temperature T∼1.3T(c), where T(c) is the critical temperature of the superconductor. Andreev reflection far above T(c) can be understood only when superconducting pairs arising from strong fluctuation of the phase of the complex superconducting order parameter exist in the normal state. Our results provide spectroscopic evidence of phase-incoherent superconducting pairs in the normal state of the ferropnictide superconductors.

Transition metal substitutions for Cu in BSCCO: An instructive probe of high temperature superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneider, Clinton W.

1998-12-01

Single crystals of the high temperature superconductor Bisb2Srsb2Casb1(Cusb{1-x}Msb{x})sb2)Osb{8+delta} have been grown for M = Zn, Ni, Co, Fe, and Pd in order to probe the effect of transition metal impurities on superconducting properties. Samples have been characterized by XRD, electron microprobe, and transport measurements. Measurement of resistance is used to determine the depression of Tsb{c} due to the impurities. We determine a value dTsb{c}/dx = -7.8K/at/for all substituents, independent of magnetic moment. Considered in terms of the Abrikosov-Gorkov theory for impurity scattering in superconductors, this result agrees with a d-wave order parameter and strong coupling.

Theoretical study of impurity effects in iron-based superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Navarro Gastiasoro, Maria; Hirschfeld, Peter; Andersen, Brian

2013-03-01

Several open questions remain unanswered for the iron-based superconductors (FeSC), including the importance of electronic correlations and the symmetry of the superconducting order parameter. Motivated by recent STM experiments which show a fascinating variety of resonant defect states in FeSC, we adopt a realistic five-band model including electronic Coulomb correlations to study local effects of disorder in the FeSC. In order to minimize the number of free parameters, we use the pairing interactions obtained from spin-fluctuation exchange to determine the homogeneous superconducting state. The ability of local impurity potentials to induce resonant states depends on their scattering strength Vimp; in addition, for appropriate Vimp, such states are associated with local orbital- and magnetic order. We investigate the density of states near such impurities and show how tunneling experiments may be used to probe local induced order. In the SDW phase, we show how C2 symmetry-breaking dimers are naturally formed around impurities which also form cigar-like (pi,pi) structures embedded in the (pi,0) magnetic bulk phase. Such electronic dimers have been shown to be candidates for explaining the so-called nematogens observed previously by QPI in Co-doped CaFe2As2.

Sign reversal of the order parameter in (Li1-xFex)OHFe1-yZnySe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, Zengyi; Yang, Xiong; Altenfeld, Dustin; Gu, Qiangqiang; Yang, Huan; Eremin, Ilya; Hirschfeld, Peter J.; Mazin, Igor I.; Lin, Hai; Zhu, Xiyu; Wen, Hai-Hu

2018-02-01

Iron pnictides are the only known family of unconventional high-temperature superconductors besides cuprates. Until recently, it was widely accepted that superconductivity is driven by spin fluctuations and intimately related to the fermiology, specifically, hole and electron pockets separated by the same wavevector that characterizes the dominant spin fluctuations, and supporting order parameters (OP) of opposite signs. This picture was questioned after the discovery of intercalated or monolayer form of FeSe-based systems without hole pockets, which seemingly undermines the basis for spin-fluctuation theory and the idea of a sign-changing OP. Using the recently proposed phase-sensitive quasiparticle interference technique, here we show that in LiOH-intercalated FeSe compound the OP does change sign, albeit within the electronic pockets. This result unifies the pairing mechanism of iron-based superconductors with or without the hole Fermi pockets and supports the conclusion that spin fluctuations play the key role in electron pairing.

Resonant magnetic X-ray scattering studies of heavy fermion superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaulin, B. D.; Isaacs, E. D.; Lussier, J. G.; Reimers, J. N.; Gibbs, D.; Zschack, P.; Schröder, A.; Taillefer, L.; Garrett, J. D.

1994-04-01

The uranium-based heavy fermion superconductors which are known to display weak antiferromagnetism at low temperatures are well suited to study by the newly developed resonant magnetic X-ray scattering technique. We review recent synchrotron X-ray scattering studies of the magnetic behavior of UPd 2Al 3 and URu 2Si 2 and the interaction between magnetism and superconductivity in these materials. These measurements show resolution-limited magnetic Bragg peaks in UPd 2Al 3 in contrast to those in URu 2Si 2. The order parameter as measured at the (0 0 {1}/{2}) magnetic reciprocal lattice position in UPd 2Al 3 is different from that at (0, 0, {3}/{2}), the latter of which indicates a strong anomaly at TNI ∼ 11.8 K below the sharp onset of the antiferromagnetic phase at TN ∼ 14.5 K. Finally, the behavior of the (0 0 {1}/{2}) order parameter is smooth for T ≤ Tc = 2.00 ± 0.04 K.

Filtering properties of Thue-Morse nano-photonic crystals containing high-temperature superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Talebzadeh, Robabeh; Bavaghar, Mehrdad

2018-05-01

In this paper, we introduced new design of quasi-periodic layered structures by choosing order two of ternary Thue-Morse structure. We considered Superconductor-dielectric photonic crystal with mirror symmetric as (ABSSAB)N(BASSBA)N composed of two kinds of nano-scale dielectric layers (A and B) and high-temperature superconductor layers where N is the number of period. This structure is assumed to be the free space. By using the transfer matrix method and the two fluid model, we theoretically study the transmission spectrum of ternary Thue-Morse superconducting photonic crystals with mirror symmetry and introduce this structure as a narrow optical filter. We showed that transmission peak so-called defect mode appears itself inside the transmission spectrum of suggested structure as same as defective layered structure. Also, we analyzed the influence of various related parameters such as the operating temperature of superconductor layer on position of defect mode. The redshift of defect mode with increasing the operating temperature was observed.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Michal, V. P., E-mail: vincent.michal@cea.fr

The formalism for analyzing the magnetic field distribution in the vortex lattice of Pauli-limit heavy-electron superconductors is applied to the evaluation of the vortex lattice static linewidth relevant to the muon spin rotation ({mu}SR) experiment. Based on the Ginzburg-Landau expansion for the superconductor free energy, we study the evolution with respect to the external field of the static linewidth both in the limit of independent vortices (low magnetic field) with a variational expression for the order parameter and in the near H{sub c2}{sup P}(T) regime with an extension of the Abrikosov analysis to Pauli-limit superconductors. We conclude that in themore » Ginzburg-Landau regime in the Pauli-limit, anomalous variations of the static linewidth with the applied field are predicted as a result of the superconductor spin response around a vortex core that dominates the usual charge-response screening supercurrents. We propose the effect as a benchmark for studying new puzzling vortex lattice properties recently observed in CeCoIn{sub 5}.« less

Theory of electron--photon scattering effects in metals. Progress report, December 1, 1976--November 30, 1977

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lawrence, W.E.

1977-01-01

The general areas in which the investigations were carried out are transport properties and quasiparticle lifetimes in normal metals and superconductors. The more specific research projects upon which progress is reported are (a) the calculation of order parameter relaxation times in aluminum, (b) transport coefficients of the noble metals (emphasizing deviations from Matthiessen's rule), (c) variational transport calculations for a superconductor, (d) some general results on quasiparticle relaxation time anisotropy in polyvalent metals, and (e) a clarification of the roles of electron-electron and electron-phonon scattering in somple metals at low temperatures.

Quantum interference in an interfacial superconductor.

PubMed

Goswami, Srijit; Mulazimoglu, Emre; Monteiro, Ana M R V L; Wölbing, Roman; Koelle, Dieter; Kleiner, Reinhold; Blanter, Ya M; Vandersypen, Lieven M K; Caviglia, Andrea D

2016-10-01

The two-dimensional superconductor that forms at the interface between the complex oxides lanthanum aluminate (LAO) and strontium titanate (STO) has several intriguing properties that set it apart from conventional superconductors. Most notably, an electric field can be used to tune its critical temperature (T c ; ref. 7), revealing a dome-shaped phase diagram reminiscent of high-T c superconductors. So far, experiments with oxide interfaces have measured quantities that probe only the magnitude of the superconducting order parameter and are not sensitive to its phase. Here, we perform phase-sensitive measurements by realizing the first superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) at the LAO/STO interface. Furthermore, we develop a new paradigm for the creation of superconducting circuit elements, where local gates enable the in situ creation and control of Josephson junctions. These gate-defined SQUIDs are unique in that the entire device is made from a single superconductor with purely electrostatic interfaces between the superconducting reservoir and the weak link. We complement our experiments with numerical simulations and show that the low superfluid density of this interfacial superconductor results in a large, gate-controllable kinetic inductance of the SQUID. Our observation of robust quantum interference opens up a new pathway to understanding the nature of superconductivity at oxide interfaces.

Reentrant Phase Coherence in Superconducting Nanowire Composites.

PubMed

Ansermet, Diane; Petrović, Alexander P; He, Shikun; Chernyshov, Dmitri; Hoesch, Moritz; Salloum, Diala; Gougeon, Patrick; Potel, Michel; Boeri, Lilia; Andersen, Ole Krogh; Panagopoulos, Christos

2016-01-26

The short coherence lengths characteristic of low-dimensional superconductors are associated with usefully high critical fields or temperatures. Unfortunately, such materials are often sensitive to disorder and suffer from phase fluctuations in the superconducting order parameter which diverge with temperature T, magnetic field H, or current I. We propose an approach to overcome synthesis and fluctuation problems: building superconductors from inhomogeneous composites of nanofilaments. Macroscopic crystals of quasi-one-dimensional Na2-δMo6Se6 featuring Na vacancy disorder (δ ≈ 0.2) are shown to behave as percolative networks of superconducting nanowires. Long-range order is established via transverse coupling between individual one-dimensional filaments, yet phase coherence remains unstable to fluctuations and localization in the zero (T,H,I) limit. However, a region of reentrant phase coherence develops upon raising (T,H,I). We attribute this phenomenon to an enhancement of the transverse coupling due to electron delocalization. Our observations of reentrant phase coherence coincide with a peak in the Josephson energy EJ at nonzero (T,H,I), which we estimate using a simple analytical model for a disordered anisotropic superconductor. Na2-δMo6Se6 is therefore a blueprint for a future generation of nanofilamentary superconductors with inbuilt resilience to phase fluctuations at elevated (T,H,I).

Effects of magnetic and nonmagnetic impurities on the spin susceptibility of a noncentrosymmetrical superconductor: Application to CePt3Si

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yavari, H.; Mokhtari, M.; Tamaddonpour, M.

2013-10-01

The combined effect of nonmagnetic and magnetic impurities on the spin susceptibility of a noncentrosymmetrical superconductor by considering a Cooper pairing model with a two-component order parameter composed of spin-singlet and spin-triplet pairing components is investigated. For clean superconductor CePt3Si, the low-temperature dependence (T →0) of spin susceptibility is linear which suggests that the gap function has line nodes, consistent with our gap model. We will show that in the presence of magnetic impurities the susceptibility does not vanish even in the absence of spin orbit coupling and in the region where the energy gap still is finite, and in the low concentration of magnetic impurities the spin susceptibility at zero temperature is proportional to impurity concentration.

Coupling of Higgs and Leggett modes in non-equilibrium superconductors.

PubMed

Krull, H; Bittner, N; Uhrig, G S; Manske, D; Schnyder, A P

2016-06-21

In equilibrium systems amplitude and phase collective modes are decoupled, as they are mutually orthogonal excitations. The direct detection of these Higgs and Leggett collective modes by linear-response measurements is not possible, because they do not couple directly to the electromagnetic field. In this work, using numerical exact simulations we show for the case of two-gap superconductors, that optical pump-probe experiments excite both Higgs and Leggett modes out of equilibrium. We find that this non-adiabatic excitation process introduces a strong interaction between the collective modes, which is absent in equilibrium. Moreover, we propose a type of pump-probe experiment, which allows to probe and coherently control the Higgs and Leggett modes, and thus the order parameter directly. These findings go beyond two-band superconductors and apply to general collective modes in quantum materials.

Extracting, Tracking, and Visualizing Magnetic Flux Vortices in 3D Complex-Valued Superconductor Simulation Data.

PubMed

Guo, Hanqi; Phillips, Carolyn L; Peterka, Tom; Karpeyev, Dmitry; Glatz, Andreas

2016-01-01

We propose a method for the vortex extraction and tracking of superconducting magnetic flux vortices for both structured and unstructured mesh data. In the Ginzburg-Landau theory, magnetic flux vortices are well-defined features in a complex-valued order parameter field, and their dynamics determine electromagnetic properties in type-II superconductors. Our method represents each vortex line (a 1D curve embedded in 3D space) as a connected graph extracted from the discretized field in both space and time. For a time-varying discrete dataset, our vortex extraction and tracking method is as accurate as the data discretization. We then apply 3D visualization and 2D event diagrams to the extraction and tracking results to help scientists understand vortex dynamics and macroscale superconductor behavior in greater detail than previously possible.

Spatial distribution of superconducting and charge-density-wave order parameters in cuprates and its influence on the quasiparticle tunnel current (Review Article)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gabovich, Alexander M.; Voitenko, Alexander I.

2016-10-01

The state of the art concerning tunnel measurements of energy gaps in cuprate oxides has been analyzed. A detailed review of the relevant literature is made, and original results calculated for the quasiparticle tunnel current J(V) between a metallic tip and a disordered d-wave superconductor partially gapped by charge density waves (CDWs) are reported, because it is this model of high-temperature superconductors that becomes popular owing to recent experiments in which CDWs were observed directly. The current was calculated suggesting the scatter of both the superconducting and CDW order parameters due to the samples' intrinsic inhomogeneity. It was shown that peculiarities in the current-voltage characteristics inherent to the case of homogeneous superconducting material are severely smeared, and the CDW-related features transform into experimentally observed peak-dip-hump structures. Theoretical results were used to fit data measured for YBa2Cu3O7-δ and Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ. The fitting demonstrated a good qualitative agreement between the experiment and model calculations. The analysis of the energy gaps in high-Tc superconductors is important both per se and as a tool to uncover the nature of superconductivity in cuprates not elucidated so far despite of much theoretical effort and experimental progress.

Angular fluctuations of a multi-component order describe the pseudogap regime of the cuprate superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sachdev, Subir

2014-03-01

The hole-doped cuprate high temperature superconductors enter the pseudogap regime as their superconducting critical temperature, Tc, falls with decreasing hole density. Experiments have probed this regime for over two decades, but we argue that decisive new information has emerged from recent X-ray scattering experiments. The experiments observe incommensurate charge density wave fluctuations whose strength rises gradually over a wide temperature range above Tc, but then decreases as the temperature is lowered below Tc. We propose a theory in which the superconducting and charge-density wave orders exhibit angular fluctuations in a 6-dimensional space. The theory provides a natural quantitative fit to the X-ray data, and is consistent with other observed characteristics of the pseudogap. Results will also be presented on the microscopic origins of these order parameters. Work in collaboration with Lauren Hayward, Roger Melko, David Hawthorn, and Jay Sau.

The connection characteristics of flux pinned docking interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Mingliang; Han, Yanjun; Guo, Xing; Zhao, Cunbao; Deng, Feiyue

2017-03-01

This paper presents the mechanism and potential advantages of flux pinned docking interface mainly composed of a high temperature superconductor and an electromagnet. In order to readily assess the connection characteristics of flux pinned docking interface, the force between a high temperature superconductor and an electromagnet needs to be investigated. Based on the magnetic dipole method and the Ampere law method, the force between two current coils can be compared, which shows that the Ampere law method has the higher calculated accuracy. Based on the improved frozen image model and the Ampere law method, the force between high temperature superconductor bulk and permanent magnet can be calculated, which is validated experimentally. Moreover, the force between high temperature superconductor and electromagnet applied to flux pinned docking interface is able to be predicted and analyzed. The connection stiffness between high temperature superconductor and permanent magnet can be calculated based on the improved frozen image model and Hooke's law. The relationship between the connection stiffness and field cooling height is analyzed. Furthermore, the connection stiffness of the flux pinned docking interface is predicted and optimized, and its effective working range is defined and analyzed in case of some different parameters.

Higgs Mode in the d -Wave Superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 +x Driven by an Intense Terahertz Pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katsumi, Kota; Tsuji, Naoto; Hamada, Yuki I.; Matsunaga, Ryusuke; Schneeloch, John; Zhong, Ruidan D.; Gu, Genda D.; Aoki, Hideo; Gallais, Yann; Shimano, Ryo

2018-03-01

We investigate the terahertz (THz)-pulse-driven nonlinear response in the d -wave cuprate superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 +x (Bi2212) using a THz pump near-infrared probe scheme in the time domain. We observe an oscillatory behavior of the optical reflectivity that follows the THz electric field squared and is markedly enhanced below Tc . The corresponding third-order nonlinear effect exhibits both A1 g and B1 g symmetry components, which are decomposed from polarization-resolved measurements. A comparison with a BCS calculation of the nonlinear susceptibility indicates that the A1 g component is associated with the Higgs mode of the d -wave order parameter.

Higgs Mode in the d -Wave Superconductor Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 + x Driven by an Intense Terahertz Pulse

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Katsumi, Kota; Tsuji, Naoto; Hamada, Yuki I.

We investigated the terahertz (THz)-pulse driven nonlinear response in the d-wave cuprate superconductor Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O 8+x (Bi2212) using a THz pump near-infrared probe scheme in the time domain. We have observed an oscillatory behavior of the optical reflectivity that follows the THz electric field squared and is strongly enhanced below Tc. The corresponding third-order nonlinear effect exhibits both A 1g and B 1g symmetry components, which are decomposed from polarization-resolved measurements. Comparison with a BCS calculation of the nonlinear susceptibility indicates that the A 1g component is associated with the Higgs mode of the d-wave order parameter.

Higgs Mode in the d -Wave Superconductor Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 + x Driven by an Intense Terahertz Pulse

DOE PAGES

Katsumi, Kota; Tsuji, Naoto; Hamada, Yuki I.; ...

2018-03-14

We investigated the terahertz (THz)-pulse driven nonlinear response in the d-wave cuprate superconductor Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O 8+x (Bi2212) using a THz pump near-infrared probe scheme in the time domain. We have observed an oscillatory behavior of the optical reflectivity that follows the THz electric field squared and is strongly enhanced below Tc. The corresponding third-order nonlinear effect exhibits both A 1g and B 1g symmetry components, which are decomposed from polarization-resolved measurements. Comparison with a BCS calculation of the nonlinear susceptibility indicates that the A 1g component is associated with the Higgs mode of the d-wave order parameter.

CDW order and unconventional s-wave superconductivity in Ba1-xNaxTi2Sb2O

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamusella, Sirko; Doan, Phuong; Goltz, Til; Luetkens, Hubertus; Sarkar, Rajib; Guloy, Arnold; Klauss, Hans-Henning

2014-12-01

Due to its anticuprate Ti2O layer and its fascinating phase diagram with a large coexistence area of superconductivity and a density wave phase, the new class of titanium based superconductors attracts great scientific interest. In this paper we report μSR investigation on powder samples of Ba1-xNaxTi2Sb2O (x = 0, 0.15, 0.25). Our results exhibit both the presence of a charge density wave and superconductivity in Ba1-xNaxTi2Sb2O. The superconducting order parameter, extracted from a vortex state analysis using the numeric Ginzburg-Landau model, is compatible with a s-wave symmetry. In the universal Uemura classification of superconductors this compound is at the verge of unconventional superconductivity.

Weak links in high critical temperature superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tafuri, Francesco; Kirtley, John R.

2005-11-01

The traditional distinction between tunnel and highly transmissive barriers does not currently hold for high critical temperature superconducting Josephson junctions, both because of complicated materials issues and the intrinsic properties of high temperature superconductors (HTS). An intermediate regime, typical of both artificial superconductor-barrier-superconductor structures and of grain boundaries, spans several orders of magnitude in the critical current density and specific resistivity. The physics taking place at HTS surfaces and interfaces is rich, primarily because of phenomena associated with d-wave order parameter (OP) symmetry. These phenomena include Andreev bound states, the presence of the second harmonic in the critical current versus phase relation, a doubly degenerate state, time reversal symmetry breaking and the possible presence of an imaginary component of the OP. All these effects are regulated by a series of transport mechanisms, whose rules of interplay and relative activation are unknown. Some transport mechanisms probably have common roots, which are not completely clear and possibly related to the intrinsic nature of high-TC superconductivity. The d-wave OP symmetry gives unique properties to HTS weak links, which do not have any analogy with systems based on other superconductors. Even if the HTS structures are not optimal, compared with low critical temperature superconductor Josephson junctions, the state of the art allows the realization of weak links with unexpectedly high quality quantum properties, which open interesting perspectives for the future. The observation of macroscopic quantum tunnelling and the qubit proposals represent significant achievements in this direction. In this review we attempt to encompass all the above aspects, attached to a solid experimental basis of junction concepts and basic properties, along with a flexible phenomenological background, which collects ideas on the Josephson effect in the presence of d-wave pairing for different types of barriers.

Quantum action for time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thompson, R. S.

1994-02-01

A gauge-invariant formula is derived for the quantum action of a dirty superconductor with strong pair breaking. The major complication is the coupling between the order parameter and the electro-chemical potential, which is most simply expressed as an imaginary time integral. The perturbative modes of excitation are identified.

Influence of multiband sign-changing superconductivity on vortex cores and vortex pinning in stoichiometric high- T c   CaKFe 4 As 4

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fente, Anton; Meier, William R.; Kong, Tai

We use a scanning tunneling microscope to study the superconducting density of states and vortex lattice of single crystals of CaKFe 4As 4. This material has a critical temperature of T c = 35 K, one of the highest among stoichiometric iron based superconductors (FeBSCs), and is comparable to T c found near optimal doping in other FeBSCs. We observe quasiparticle scattering from defects with a pattern related to interband scattering between zone centered hole sheets. We measure the tunneling conductance in vortex cores and find a peak due to Caroli–de Gennes–Matricon bound states. The peak is located above themore » Fermi level, showing that CaKFe 4As 4 is a clean superconductor with vortex core bound states close to the so-called extreme quantum limit. We identify locations where the superconducting order parameter is strongly suppressed due to pair breaking. Vortices are pinned at these locations, and the length scale of the suppression of the order parameter is of order of the vortex core size. Finally, as a consequence, the vortex lattice is disordered up to 8 T.« less

Influence of multiband sign-changing superconductivity on vortex cores and vortex pinning in stoichiometric high- T c   CaKFe 4 As 4

DOE PAGES

Fente, Anton; Meier, William R.; Kong, Tai; ...

2018-04-02

We use a scanning tunneling microscope to study the superconducting density of states and vortex lattice of single crystals of CaKFe 4As 4. This material has a critical temperature of T c = 35 K, one of the highest among stoichiometric iron based superconductors (FeBSCs), and is comparable to T c found near optimal doping in other FeBSCs. We observe quasiparticle scattering from defects with a pattern related to interband scattering between zone centered hole sheets. We measure the tunneling conductance in vortex cores and find a peak due to Caroli–de Gennes–Matricon bound states. The peak is located above themore » Fermi level, showing that CaKFe 4As 4 is a clean superconductor with vortex core bound states close to the so-called extreme quantum limit. We identify locations where the superconducting order parameter is strongly suppressed due to pair breaking. Vortices are pinned at these locations, and the length scale of the suppression of the order parameter is of order of the vortex core size. Finally, as a consequence, the vortex lattice is disordered up to 8 T.« less

Influence of multiband sign-changing superconductivity on vortex cores and vortex pinning in stoichiometric high-Tc CaKFe4As4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fente, Antón; Meier, William R.; Kong, Tai; Kogan, Vladimir G.; Bud'ko, Sergey L.; Canfield, Paul C.; Guillamón, Isabel; Suderow, Hermann

2018-04-01

We use a scanning tunneling microscope to study the superconducting density of states and vortex lattice of single crystals of CaKFe4As4 . This material has a critical temperature of Tc=35 K, one of the highest among stoichiometric iron based superconductors (FeBSCs), and is comparable to Tc found near optimal doping in other FeBSCs. We observe quasiparticle scattering from defects with a pattern related to interband scattering between zone centered hole sheets. We measure the tunneling conductance in vortex cores and find a peak due to Caroli-de Gennes-Matricon bound states. The peak is located above the Fermi level, showing that CaKFe4As4 is a clean superconductor with vortex core bound states close to the so-called extreme quantum limit. We identify locations where the superconducting order parameter is strongly suppressed due to pair breaking. Vortices are pinned at these locations, and the length scale of the suppression of the order parameter is of order of the vortex core size. As a consequence, the vortex lattice is disordered up to 8 T.

Shielding superconductors with thin films as applied to rf cavities for particle accelerators

DOE PAGES

Posen, Sam; Transtrum, Mark K.; Catelani, Gianluigi; ...

2015-10-29

Determining the optimal arrangement of superconducting layers to withstand large-amplitude ac magnetic fields is important for certain applications such as superconducting radio-frequency cavities. In this paper, we evaluate the shielding potential of the superconducting-film–insulating-film–superconductor (SIS') structure, a configuration that could provide benefits in screening large ac magnetic fields. After establishing that, for high-frequency magnetic fields, flux penetration must be avoided, the superheating field of the structure is calculated in the London limit both numerically and, for thin films, analytically. For intermediate film thicknesses and realistic material parameters, we also solve numerically the Ginzburg-Landau equations. As a result, it is shownmore » that a small enhancement of the superheating field is possible, on the order of a few percent, for the SIS' structure relative to a bulk superconductor of the film material, if the materials and thicknesses are chosen appropriately.« less

Possible charge analogues of spin transfer torques in bulk superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garate, Ion

2014-03-01

Spin transfer torques (STT) occur when electric currents travel through inhomogeneously magnetized systems and are important for the motion of magnetic textures such as domain walls. Since superconductors are easy-plane ferromagnets in particle-hole (charge) space, it is natural to ask whether any charge duals of STT phenomena exist therein. We find that the superconducting analogue of the adiabatic STT vanishes in a bulk superconductor with a momentum-independent order parameter, while the superconducting counterpart of the nonadiabatic STT does not vanish. This nonvanishing superconducting torque is induced by heat (rather than charge) currents and acts on the charge (rather than spin) degree of freedom. It can become significant in the vicinity of the superconducting transition temperature, where it generates a net quasiparticle charge and alters the dispersion and linewidth of low-frequency collective modes. This work has been financially supported by Canada's NSERC.

Domain-wall superconductivity in superconductor-ferromagnet hybrids.

PubMed

Yang, Zhaorong; Lange, Martin; Volodin, Alexander; Szymczak, Ritta; Moshchalkov, Victor V

2004-11-01

Superconductivity and magnetism are two antagonistic cooperative phenomena, and the intriguing problem of their coexistence has been studied for several decades. Recently, artificial hybrid superconductor-ferromagnet systems have been commonly used as model systems to reveal the interplay between competing superconducting and magnetic order parameters, and to verify the existence of new physical phenomena, including the predicted domain-wall superconductivity (DWS). Here we report the experimental observation of DWS in superconductor-ferromagnet hybrids using a niobium film on a BaFe(12)O(19) single crystal. We found that the critical temperature T(c) of the superconductivity nucleation in niobium increases with increasing field until it reaches the saturation field of BaFe(12)O(19). In accordance with the field-shift of the maximum value of T(c), pronounced hysteresis effects have been found in resistive transitions. We argue that the compensation of the applied field by the stray fields of the magnetic domains as well as the change in the domain structure is responsible for the appearance of the DWS and the coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism in the superconductor-ferromagnet hybrids.

Size, Shape and Impurity Effects on Superconducting critical temperature.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Umeda, Masaki; Kato, Masaru; Sato, Osamu

Bulk superconductors have their own critical temperatures Tc. However, for a nano-structured superconductor, Tc depends on size and shape of the superconductor. Nishizaki showed that the high pressure torsion on bulks of Nb makes Tc higher, because the torsion makes many nano-sized fine grains in the bulks. However the high pressure torsion on bulks of V makes Tc lower, and Nishizaki discussed that the decrease of Tc is caused by impurities in the bulks of V. We studied size, shape, and impurity effects on Tc, by solving the Gor'kov equations, using the finite element method. We found that smaller and narrower superconductors show higher Tc. We found how size and shape affects Tc by studying spacial order parameter distributions and quasi-particle eigen-energies. Also we studied the impurity effects on Tc, and found that Tc decreases with increase of scattering rate by impurities. This work was supported in part of KAKENHI Grant Number JP26400367 and JP16K05460, and program for leading graduate schools of ministry of education, culture, sports, science and technology-Japan.

Probing the unconventional superconducting state of LiFeAs by quasiparticle interference.

PubMed

Hänke, Torben; Sykora, Steffen; Schlegel, Ronny; Baumann, Danny; Harnagea, Luminita; Wurmehl, Sabine; Daghofer, Maria; Büchner, Bernd; van den Brink, Jeroen; Hess, Christian

2012-03-23

A crucial step in revealing the nature of unconventional superconductivity is to investigate the symmetry of the superconducting order parameter. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy has proven a powerful technique to probe this symmetry by measuring the quasiparticle interference (QPI) which sensitively depends on the superconducting pairing mechanism. A particularly well-suited material to apply this technique is the stoichiometric superconductor LiFeAs as it features clean, charge neutral cleaved surfaces without surface states and a relatively high T(c)∼18  K. Our data reveal that in LiFeAs the quasiparticle scattering is governed by a van Hove singularity at the center of the Brillouin zone which is in stark contrast to other pnictide superconductors where nesting is crucial for both scattering and s(±) superconductivity. Indeed, within a minimal model and using the most elementary order parameters, calculations of the QPI suggest a dominating role of the holelike bands for the quasiparticle scattering. Our theoretical findings do not support the elementary singlet pairing symmetries s(++), s(±), and d wave. This brings to mind that the superconducting pairing mechanism in LiFeAs is based on an unusual pairing symmetry such as an elementary p wave (which provides optimal agreement between the experimental data and QPI simulations) or a more complex order parameter (e.g., s+id wave symmetry).

Superconductivity with twofold symmetry in Bi2Te3/FeTe0.55Se0.45 heterostructures.

PubMed

Chen, Mingyang; Chen, Xiaoyu; Yang, Huan; Du, Zengyi; Wen, Hai-Hu

2018-06-01

Topological superconductors are an interesting and frontier topic in condensed matter physics. In the superconducting state, an order parameter will be established with the basic or subsidiary symmetry of the crystalline lattice. In doped Bi 2 Se 3 or Bi 2 Te 3 with a basic threefold symmetry, it was predicted, however, that bulk superconductivity with order parameters of twofold symmetry may exist because of the presence of odd parity. We report the proximity effect-induced superconductivity in the Bi 2 Te 3 thin film on top of the iron-based superconductor FeTe 0.55 Se 0.45 . By using the quasiparticle interference technique, we demonstrate clear evidence of twofold symmetry of the superconducting gap. The gap minimum is along one of the main crystalline axes following the so-called Δ 4 y notation. This is also accompanied by the elongated vortex shape mapped out by the density of states within the superconducting gap. Our results provide an easily accessible platform for investigating possible topological superconductivity in Bi 2 Te 3 /FeTe 0.55 Se 0.45 heterostructures.

Superconductivity with twofold symmetry in Bi2Te3/FeTe0.55Se0.45 heterostructures

PubMed Central

Du, Zengyi

2018-01-01

Topological superconductors are an interesting and frontier topic in condensed matter physics. In the superconducting state, an order parameter will be established with the basic or subsidiary symmetry of the crystalline lattice. In doped Bi2Se3 or Bi2Te3 with a basic threefold symmetry, it was predicted, however, that bulk superconductivity with order parameters of twofold symmetry may exist because of the presence of odd parity. We report the proximity effect–induced superconductivity in the Bi2Te3 thin film on top of the iron-based superconductor FeTe0.55Se0.45. By using the quasiparticle interference technique, we demonstrate clear evidence of twofold symmetry of the superconducting gap. The gap minimum is along one of the main crystalline axes following the so-called Δ4y notation. This is also accompanied by the elongated vortex shape mapped out by the density of states within the superconducting gap. Our results provide an easily accessible platform for investigating possible topological superconductivity in Bi2Te3/FeTe0.55Se0.45 heterostructures. PMID:29888330

Strong enhancement of s -wave superconductivity near a quantum critical point of Ca 3 Ir 4 Sn 13

DOE PAGES

Biswas, P. K.; Guguchia, Z.; Khasanov, R.; ...

2015-11-11

We repormore » t microscopic studies by muon spin rotation/relaxation as a function of pressure of the Ca 3 Ir 4 Sn 13 and Sr 3Ir 4Sn 13 system displaying superconductivity and a structural phase transition associated with the formation of a charge density wave (CDW). Our findings show a strong enhancement of the superfluid density and a dramatic increase of the pairing strength above a pressure of ≈ 1.6 GPa giving direct evidence of the presence of a quantum critical point separating a superconducting phase coexisting with CDW from a pure superconducting phase. The superconducting order parameter in both phases has the same s-wave symmetry. In spite of the conventional phonon-mediated BCS character of the weakly correlated (Ca 1-xSr x) 3Ir 4Sn 13 system the dependence of the effective superfluid density on the critical temperature puts this compound in the “Uemura” plot close to unconventional superconductors. This system exemplifies that conventional BCS superconductors in the presence of competing orders or multi-band structure can also display characteristics of unconventional superconductors.« less

Electric transport of a single-crystal iron chalcogenide FeSe superconductor: Evidence of symmetry-breakdown nematicity and additional ultrafast Dirac cone-like carriers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huynh, K. K.; Tanabe, Y.; Urata, T.; Oguro, H.; Heguri, S.; Watanabe, K.; Tanigaki, K.

2014-10-01

An SDW antiferromagnetic (SDW-AF) low-temperature phase transition is generally observed and the AF spin fluctuations are considered to play an important role for the superconductivity pairing mechanism in FeAs superconductors. However, a similar magnetic phase transition is not observed in FeSe superconductors, which has caused considerable discussion. We report on the intrinsic electronic states of FeSe as elucidated by electric transport measurements under magnetic fields using a high quality single crystal. A mobility spectrum analysis, an ab initio method that does not make assumptions on the transport parameters in a multicarrier system, provides very important and clear evidence that another hidden order, most likely the symmetry broken from the tetragonal C4 symmetry to the C2 symmetry nematicity associated with the selective d -orbital splitting, exists in the case of superconducting FeSe other than the AF magnetic order spin fluctuations. The intrinsic low-temperature phase in FeSe is in the almost compensated semimetallic states but is additionally accompanied by Dirac cone-like ultrafast electrons ˜104cm2(VS) -1 as minority carriers.

Boundary conditions, dimensionality, topology and size dependence of the superconducting transition temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fink, Herman J.; Haley, Stephen B.; Giuraniuc, Claudiu V.; Kozhevnikov, Vladimir F.; Indekeu, Joseph O.

2005-11-01

For various sample geometries (slabs, cylinders, spheres, hypercubes), de Gennes' boundary condition parameter b is used to study its effect upon the transition temperature Tc of a superconductor. For b > 0 the order parameter at the surface is decreased, and as a consequence Tc is reduced, while for b < 0 the order parameter at the surface is increased, thereby enhancing Tc of a specimen in zero magnetic field. Exact solutions, derived by Fink and Haley (Int. J. mod. Phys. B, 17, 2171 (2003)), of the order parameter of a slab of finite thickness as a function of temperature are presented, both for reduced and enhanced transition (nucleation) temperatures. At the nucleation temperature the order parameter approaches zero. This concise review closes with a link established between de Gennes' microscopic boundary condition and the Ginzburg-Landau phenomenological approach, and a discussion of some relevant experiments. For example, applying the boundary condition with b < 0 to tin whiskers elucidates the increase of Tc with strain.

Out of plane magnetoresistance of organic superconductors; κ-(BEDT)2 salts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maki, Kazumi; Won, Hye Kyung

1998-03-01

It is well documented that the out of plane manetoresistances of κ-(BEDT)_2X with X=Cu(NCS)2 and Cu[N(Cu)_2]Br exhibit a sharp peak before disappearance in the superconducting state (H. Ito et al. J. of Superconductivity 7), 667 (1994). ^, (M. V. Kartsovnik, (private communication).). We analyze this feature in terms of the superconducting fluctuation. Indeed, generalizing the formula for the clean limit (V. V. Dorin et al. Phys. Rev. B 48), 12951 (1993)., the superconducting fluctuation accounts for both the field and the temperature dependence of the magnetoresistance. In this description, d-wave nature of the superconducting order parameter in organic superconductors is crucial.

Amplitude mode oscillations in pump-probe photoemission spectra from a d -wave superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nosarzewski, B.; Moritz, B.; Freericks, J. K.; Kemper, A. F.; Devereaux, T. P.

2017-11-01

Recent developments in the techniques of ultrafast pump-probe photoemission have made possible the search for collective modes in strongly correlated systems out of equilibrium. Including inelastic scattering processes and a retarded interaction, we simulate time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (trARPES) to study the amplitude mode of a d -wave superconductor, a collective mode excited through the nonlinear light-matter coupling to the pump pulse. We find that the amplitude mode oscillations of the d -wave order parameter occur in phase at a single frequency that is twice the quasi-steady-state maximum gap size after pumping. We comment on the necessary conditions for detecting the amplitude mode in trARPES experiments.

Superconducting order parameter fluctuations in NbN/NiCu and NbTiN/NiCu bilayer nanostripes for photon detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aichner, Bernd; Jausner, Florian; Zechner, Georg; Mühlgassner, Rita; Lang, Wolfgang; Klimov, Andrii; Puźniak, Roman; Słysz, Wojciech; Guziewicz, Marek; Kruszka, Renata; Wegrzecki, Maciej; Sobolewski, Roman

2017-05-01

Thermodynamic fluctuations of the superconducting order parameter in NbN/NiCu and NbTiN/NiCu superconductor/ferromagnet (S/F) thin bilayers patterned to microbridges are investigated. Plain NbN and NbTiN films served as reference materials for the analyses. The samples were grown using dc-magnetron sputtering on chemically cleaned sapphire single-crystal substrates. After rapid thermal annealing at high temperatures, the superconducting films were coated with NiCu overlays, using co-sputtering. The positive magnetoresistance of the superconducting single layers is very small in the normal state but with a sharp upturn close to the superconducting transition, a familiar signature of superconducting fluctuations. The fluctuation-enhanced conductivity (paraconductivity) of the NbN and NbTiN single layer films is slightly larger than the prediction of the parameter-free Aslamazov-Larkin theory for order-parameter fluctuations in two-dimensional superconductors. The addition of a ferromagnetic top layer, however, changes the magnetotransport properties significantly. The S/F bilayers show a negative magnetoresistance up to almost room temperature, while the signature of fluctuations is similar to that in the plain films, demonstrating the relevance of both ferromagnetic and superconducting effects in the S/F bilayers. The paraconductivity is reduced below theoretical predictions, in particular in the NbTiN/NiCu bilayers. Such suppression of the fluctuation amplitude in S/F bilayers could be favorable to reduce dark counts in superconducting photon detectors and lead the way to enhance their performance.

Normal metal - insulator - superconductor thermometers and coolers with titanium-gold bilayer as the normal metal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Räisänen, I. M. W.; Geng, Z.; Kinnunen, K. M.; Maasilta, I. J.

2018-03-01

We have fabricated superconductor - insulator - normal metal - insulator - superconductor (SINIS) tunnel junctions in which Al acts as the superconductor, AlOx is the insulator, and the normal metal consists of a thin Ti layer (5 nm) covered with a thicker Au layer (40 nm). We have characterized the junctions by measuring their current-voltage curves between 60 mK and 750 mK. For comparison, the same measurements have been performed for a SINIS junction pair whose normal metal is Cu. The Ti-Au bilayer decreases the SINIS tunneling resistance by an order of magnitude compared to junctions where Cu is used as normal metal, made with the same oxidation parameters. The Ti-Au devices are much more robust against chemical attacks, and their lower tunneling resistance makes them more robust against static charge. More significantly, they exhibit significantly stronger electron cooling than Cu devices with identical fabrication steps, when biased close to the energy gap of the superconducting Al. By using a self-consistent thermal model, we can fit the current-voltage characteristics well, and show an electron cooling from 200 mK to 110 mK, with a non-optimized device.

Pseudogap and proximity effect in the Bi2Te3/Fe1+yTe interfacial superconductor.

PubMed

He, M Q; Shen, J Y; Petrović, A P; He, Q L; Liu, H C; Zheng, Y; Wong, C H; Chen, Q H; Wang, J N; Law, K T; Sou, I K; Lortz, R

2016-09-02

In the interfacial superconductor Bi2Te3/Fe1+yTe, two dimensional superconductivity occurs in direct vicinity to the surface state of a topological insulator. If this state were to become involved in superconductivity, under certain conditions a topological superconducting state could be formed, which is of high interest due to the possibility of creating Majorana fermionic states. We report directional point-contact spectroscopy data on the novel Bi2Te3/Fe1+yTe interfacial superconductor for a Bi2Te3 thickness of 9 quintuple layers, bonded by van der Waals epitaxy to a Fe1+yTe film at an atomically sharp interface. Our data show highly unconventional superconductivity, which appears as complex as in the cuprate high temperature superconductors. A very large superconducting twin-gap structure is replaced by a pseudogap above ~12 K which persists up to 40 K. While the larger gap shows unconventional order parameter symmetry and is attributed to a thin FeTe layer in proximity to the interface, the smaller gap is associated with superconductivity induced via the proximity effect in the topological insulator Bi2Te3.

Pseudogap and proximity effect in the Bi2Te3/Fe1+yTe interfacial superconductor

PubMed Central

He, M. Q.; Shen, J. Y.; Petrović, A. P.; He, Q. L.; Liu, H. C.; Zheng, Y.; Wong, C. H.; Chen, Q. H.; Wang, J. N.; Law, K. T.; Sou, I. K.; Lortz, R.

2016-01-01

In the interfacial superconductor Bi2Te3/Fe1+yTe, two dimensional superconductivity occurs in direct vicinity to the surface state of a topological insulator. If this state were to become involved in superconductivity, under certain conditions a topological superconducting state could be formed, which is of high interest due to the possibility of creating Majorana fermionic states. We report directional point-contact spectroscopy data on the novel Bi2Te3/Fe1+yTe interfacial superconductor for a Bi2Te3 thickness of 9 quintuple layers, bonded by van der Waals epitaxy to a Fe1+yTe film at an atomically sharp interface. Our data show highly unconventional superconductivity, which appears as complex as in the cuprate high temperature superconductors. A very large superconducting twin-gap structure is replaced by a pseudogap above ~12 K which persists up to 40 K. While the larger gap shows unconventional order parameter symmetry and is attributed to a thin FeTe layer in proximity to the interface, the smaller gap is associated with superconductivity induced via the proximity effect in the topological insulator Bi2Te3. PMID:27587000

Tunable (δπ, δπ)-Type Antiferromagnetic Order in α-Fe(Te,Se) Superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bao, Wei; Qiu, Y.; Huang, Q.; Green, M. A.; Zajdel, P.; Fitzsimmons, M. R.; Zhernenkov, M.; Chang, S.; Fang, Minghu; Qian, B.; Vehstedt, E. K.; Yang, Jinhu; Pham, H. M.; Spinu, L.; Mao, Z. Q.

2009-06-01

The new α-Fe(Te,Se) superconductors share the common iron building block and ferminology with the LaFeAsO and BaFe2As2 families of superconductors. In contrast with the predicted commensurate spin-density-wave order at the nesting wave vector (π, 0), a completely different magnetic order with a composition tunable propagation vector (δπ, δπ) was determined for the parent compound Fe1+yTe in this powder and single-crystal neutron diffraction study. The new antiferromagnetic order survives as a short-range one even in the highest TC sample. An alternative to the prevailing nesting Fermi surface mechanism is required to understand the latest family of ferrous superconductors.

The superconducting state parameters of glassy superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vora, Aditya M.

2011-11-01

We present theoretical investigations of the superconducting state parameters (SSPs), i.e. the electron-phonon coupling strength, λ, Coulomb pseudopotential, μ*, transition temperature, Tc, isotope effect exponent, α, and effective interaction strength, N0V, of glassy superconductors by employing Ashcroft's well know empty core model potential for the first time using five screening functions proposed by Hartree (H), Taylor, Ichimaru-Utsumi (IU), Farid et al and Sarkar et al. The Tc obtained from the H and IU screening functions is found to be in excellent agreement with available experimental data. Also, the present results confirm the superconducting phase in bulk metallic glass superconductors. A strong dependency of the SSPs of the glassy superconductors on the 'Z' valence is found.

Spatially resolved NMR spectra for the Swiss cheese model in heavy fermion PuCoGa5 superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Tanmoy; Zhu, Jian-Xin; Balatsky, A. V.; Graf, M. J.

2011-03-01

Spatially resolved NMR experiments, which probe the local electronic excitations, play a vital role for studying the pairing symmetry of unconventional superconductors. Here we calculate the spatial modulation of the NMR spin-lattice relaxation rate (1/T1) for the Swiss cheese model as a function of impurity concentration in PuCoGa5 superconductor. The local suppression of the superconducting order parameter due to impurities is related to the number of holes in the Swiss cheese model. Our results indicate that Friedel-like oscillations,as seen in the local-density of states near an impurity, are also present in the behavior of 1/T1 as one moves away from the impurity site. We demonstrate that the gap nodes, which are filled by disorder, can be probed by NMR through the local information encoded in the spectra. The advantage of spatially resolved NMR compared to STM measurements is that the former probe is not sensitive to surface states. Work is supported by US DOE.

Pairing Instability and Quasiparticle Properties of an Unconventional Superconductor with a Skyrmion Texture of Localized Spins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Jian-Xin; Tai, Yuan-Yen

Majorana fermions are believed to perform better than regular fermions in keeping quantum coherence, which is an important factor for quantum computation. Recently there has been intensive interest in their realization in solid-state systems. Zero-energy quasiparticle modes in a superconductor serve as a promising candidate. We present a theoretical study on the influence of a two-dimensional (2D) skyrmion texture of localized spins on the pairing instability and quasiparticle properties in an unconventional superconductor. By solving the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations for an effective BCS model Hamiltonian with nearest-neighbor pairing interaction on a 2D square lattice, we analyze the spatial dependence of superconducting order parameter for varying strength of spin-exchange interaction. The quasiparticle properties are studied by calculating local density of states and its spatial dependence. This work was supported by U.S. DOE NNSA through the LANL LDRD Program, and by Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, a U.S. DOE BES user facility.

Nodal gap structure and order parameter symmetry of the unconventional superconductor UPt₃

DOE PAGES

Gannon, W. J.; Halperin, W. P.; Rastovski, C.; ...

2015-02-01

Spanning a broad range of physical systems, complex symmetry breaking is widely recognized as a hallmark of competing interactions. This is exemplified in superfluid ³He which has multiple thermodynamic phases with spin and orbital quantum numbers S = 1 and L = 1, that emerge on cooling from a nearly ferromagnetic Fermi liquid. The heavy fermion compound UPt₃ exhibits similar behavior clearly manifest in its multiple superconducting phases. However, consensus as to its order parameter symmetry has remained elusive. Our small angle neutron scattering measurements indicate a linear temperature dependence of the London penetration depth characteristic of nodal structure ofmore » the order parameter. Our theoretical analysis is consistent with assignment of its symmetry to an L = 3 odd parity state for which one of the three thermodynamic phases in non-zero magnetic field is chiral.« less

Nodal gap structure and order parameter symmetry of the unconventional superconductor UPt₃

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gannon, W. J.; Halperin, W. P.; Rastovski, C.

Spanning a broad range of physical systems, complex symmetry breaking is widely recognized as a hallmark of competing interactions. This is exemplified in superfluid ³He which has multiple thermodynamic phases with spin and orbital quantum numbers S = 1 and L = 1, that emerge on cooling from a nearly ferromagnetic Fermi liquid. The heavy fermion compound UPt₃ exhibits similar behavior clearly manifest in its multiple superconducting phases. However, consensus as to its order parameter symmetry has remained elusive. Our small angle neutron scattering measurements indicate a linear temperature dependence of the London penetration depth characteristic of nodal structure ofmore » the order parameter. Our theoretical analysis is consistent with assignment of its symmetry to an L = 3 odd parity state for which one of the three thermodynamic phases in non-zero magnetic field is chiral.« less

Dynamic levitation performance of Gd-Ba-Cu-O and Y-Ba-Cu-O bulk superconductors under a varying external magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liao, Hengpei; Zheng, Jun; Jin, Liwei; Huang, Huan; Deng, Zigang; Shi, Yunhua; Zhou, Difan; Cardwell, David A.

2018-07-01

We report that the dynamic levitation force of bulk high temperature superconductors (HTS) in motion attenuates when exposed to an inhomogeneous magnetic field. This phenomenon has significant potential implications for the long-term stability and running performance of HTS in maglev applications. In order to suppress the attenuation of the levitation force associated with fluctuations in magnetic field, we compare the dynamic levitation performance of single grain Y-Ba-Cu-O (YBCO) and Gd-Ba-Cu-O (GdBCO) bulk superconductors with relatively high critical current densities. A bespoke HTS maglev dynamic measurement system (SCML-03) incorporating a rotating circular permanent magnet guideway was employed to simulate the movement of HTS in a varying magnetic field at different frequencies (i.e. speed of rotation). The attenuation of the levitation force during dynamic operation, which is key parameter for effective maglev operation, has been evaluated experimentally. It is found that GdBCO bulk superconductors that exhibit superior levitation force properties are more able to resist the attenuation of levitation force compared with YBCO bulk materials under the same operating conditions. This investigation indicates clearly that GdBCO bulk superconductors can play an important role in suppressing attenuation of the levitation force, therefore improving the long-term levitation performance under dynamic operating conditions. This result is potentially significant in the design and application of HTS in maglev systems.

Impurity bound states in d-wave superconductors with subdominant order parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mashkoori, Mahdi; Björnson, Kristofer; Black-Schaffer, Annica

Single magnetic impurity induces intra-gap bound states in conventional s-wave superconductors (SCs) but, in d-wave SCs only virtual bound states can be induced. However, in small cuprate islands a fully gapped spectrum has recently been discovered. In this work, we investigate the real bound states due to potential and magnetic impurities in the two candidate fully gapped states for this system: the topologically trivial d + is -wave state and the topologically non-trivial d + id' -wave (chiral d-wave state). Using the analytic T-matrix formalism and self-consistent numerical tight-binding lattice calculations, we show that potential and magnetic impurities create entirely different intra-gap bound states in d + is -wave and chiral d-wave SCs. Therefore, our results suggest that the bound states mainly depend on the subdominant order parameter. Considering that recent experiments have demonstrated an access to adjustable coupling J, impurities thus offer an intriguing way to clearly distinguish between the chiral d-wave and topologically trivial d + is -wave state. This work was supported by Swedish Research Council, Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, the Wallenberg Academy Fellows program and the Göran Gustafsson Foundation. The computations were performed on resources provided by SNIC at LUNARC.

Improving superconductivity in BaFe2As2-based crystals by cobalt clustering and electronic uniformity.

PubMed

Li, L; Zheng, Q; Zou, Q; Rajput, S; Ijaduola, A O; Wu, Z; Wang, X P; Cao, H B; Somnath, S; Jesse, S; Chi, M; Gai, Z; Parker, D; Sefat, A S

2017-04-19

Quantum materials such as antiferromagnets or superconductors are complex in that chemical, electronic, and spin phenomena at atomic scales can manifest in their collective properties. Although there are some clues for designing such materials, they remain mainly unpredictable. In this work, we find that enhancement of transition temperatures in BaFe 2 As 2 -based crystals are caused by removing local-lattice strain and electronic-structure disorder by thermal annealing. While annealing improves Néel-ordering temperature in BaFe 2 As 2 crystal (T N  = 132 K to 136 K) by improving in-plane electronic defects and reducing overall a-lattice parameter, it increases superconducting-ordering temperature in optimally cobalt-doped BaFe 2 As 2 crystal (T c  = 23 to 25 K) by precipitating-out the cobalt dopants and giving larger overall a-lattice parameter. While annealing improves local chemical and electronic uniformity resulting in higher T N in the parent, it promotes nanoscale phase separation in the superconductor resulting in lower disparity and strong superconducting band gaps in the dominant crystal regions, which lead to both higher overall T c and critical-current-density, J c .

Improving superconductivity in BaFe 2As 2-based crystals by cobalt clustering and electronic uniformity

DOE PAGES

Li, L.; Zheng, Q.; Zou, Q.; ...

2017-04-19

Quantum materials such as antiferromagnets or superconductors are complex in that chemical, electronic, and spin phenomena at atomic scales can manifest in their collective properties. Although there are some clues for designing such materials, they remain mainly unpredictable. In this work, we find that enhancement of transition temperatures in BaFe 2As 2-based crystals are caused by removing local-lattice strain and electronic-structure disorder by thermal annealing. While annealing improves Neel-ordering temperature in BaFe 2As 2 crystal (T N=132K to 136K) by improving in-plane electronic defects and reducing overall a-lattice parameter, it increases superconducting-ordering temperature in optimally cobalt-doped BaFe 2As 2 crystalmore » (T c=23 to 25K) by precipitating-out the cobalt dopants and giving larger overall a-lattice parameter. And while annealing improves local chemical and electronic uniformity resulting in higher T N in the parent, it also promotes nanoscale phase separation in the superconductor resulting in lower disparity and strong superconducting band gaps in the dominant crystal regions, which lead to both higher overall T c and critical-current-density, J c« less

Improving superconductivity in BaFe 2As 2-based crystals by cobalt clustering and electronic uniformity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, L.; Zheng, Q.; Zou, Q.

Quantum materials such as antiferromagnets or superconductors are complex in that chemical, electronic, and spin phenomena at atomic scales can manifest in their collective properties. Although there are some clues for designing such materials, they remain mainly unpredictable. In this work, we find that enhancement of transition temperatures in BaFe 2As 2-based crystals are caused by removing local-lattice strain and electronic-structure disorder by thermal annealing. While annealing improves Neel-ordering temperature in BaFe 2As 2 crystal (T N=132K to 136K) by improving in-plane electronic defects and reducing overall a-lattice parameter, it increases superconducting-ordering temperature in optimally cobalt-doped BaFe 2As 2 crystalmore » (T c=23 to 25K) by precipitating-out the cobalt dopants and giving larger overall a-lattice parameter. And while annealing improves local chemical and electronic uniformity resulting in higher T N in the parent, it also promotes nanoscale phase separation in the superconductor resulting in lower disparity and strong superconducting band gaps in the dominant crystal regions, which lead to both higher overall T c and critical-current-density, J c« less

Counting defects in an instantaneous quench.

PubMed

Ibaceta, D; Calzetta, E

1999-09-01

We consider the formation of defects in a nonequilibrium second-order phase transition induced by an instantaneous quench to zero temperature in a type II superconductor. We perform a full nonlinear simulation where we follow the evolution in time of the local order parameter field. We determine how far into the phase transition theoretical estimates of the defect density based on the Gaussian approximation yield a reliable prediction for the actual density. We also characterize quantitatively some aspects of the out of equilibrium phase transition.

Theory of disordered unconventional superconductors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Keles, A.; Andreev, A. V.; Spivak, B. Z., E-mail: spivak@uw.edu

In contrast to conventional s-wave superconductivity, unconventional (e.g., p- or d-wave) superconductivity is strongly suppressed even by relatively weak disorder. Upon approaching the superconductormetal transition, the order parameter amplitude becomes increasingly inhomogeneous, leading to effective granularity and a phase ordering transition described by the Mattis model of spin glasses. One consequence of this is that at sufficiently low temperatures, between the clean unconventional superconducting and the diffusive metallic phases, there is necessarily an intermediate superconducting phase that exhibits s-wave symmetry on macroscopic scales.

Amplitude mode oscillations in pump-probe photoemission spectra from a d -wave superconductor

DOE PAGES

Nosarzewski, B.; Moritz, B.; Freericks, J. K.; ...

2017-11-20

Recent developments in the techniques of ultrafast pump-probe photoemission have made possible the search for collective modes in strongly correlated systems out of equilibrium. Including inelastic scattering processes and a retarded interaction, we simulate time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (trARPES) to study the amplitude mode of a d-wave superconductor, a collective mode excited through the nonlinear light-matter coupling to the pump pulse. We find that the amplitude mode oscillations of the d-wave order parameter occur in phase at a single frequency that is twice the quasi-steady-state maximum gap size after pumping. As a result, we comment on the necessary conditionsmore » for detecting the amplitude mode in trARPES experiments.« less

Amplitude mode oscillations in pump-probe photoemission spectra from a d -wave superconductor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nosarzewski, B.; Moritz, B.; Freericks, J. K.

Recent developments in the techniques of ultrafast pump-probe photoemission have made possible the search for collective modes in strongly correlated systems out of equilibrium. Including inelastic scattering processes and a retarded interaction, we simulate time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (trARPES) to study the amplitude mode of a d-wave superconductor, a collective mode excited through the nonlinear light-matter coupling to the pump pulse. We find that the amplitude mode oscillations of the d-wave order parameter occur in phase at a single frequency that is twice the quasi-steady-state maximum gap size after pumping. As a result, we comment on the necessary conditionsmore » for detecting the amplitude mode in trARPES experiments.« less

Josephson effect in multiterminal superconductor-ferromagnet junctions coupled via triplet components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moor, Andreas; Volkov, Anatoly F.; Efetov, Konstantin B.

2016-03-01

On the basis of the Usadel equation we study a multiterminal Josephson junction. This junction is composed by "magnetic" superconductors Sm, which have singlet pairing and are separated from the normal n wire by spin filters so that the Josephson coupling is caused only by fully polarized triplet components. We show that there is no interaction between triplet Cooper pairs with antiparallel total spin orientations. The presence of an additional singlet superconductor S attached to the n wire leads to a finite Josephson current IQ with an unusual current-phase relation. The density of states in the n wire for different orientations of spins of Cooper pairs is calculated. We derive a general formula for the current IQ in a multiterminal Josephson contact and apply this formula for analysis of two four-terminal Josephson junctions of different structures. It is shown in particular that both the "nematic" and the "magnetic" cases can be realized in these junctions. In a two-terminal structure with parallel filter orientations and in a three-terminal structure with antiparallel filter orientations of the "magnetic" superconductors with attached additional singlet superconductor, we find a nonmonotonic temperature dependence of the critical current. Also, in these structures, the critical current shows a Riedel peak like dependence on the exchange field in the "magnetic" superconductors. Although there is no current through the S/n interface due to orthogonality of the singlet and triplet components, the phase of the order parameter in the superconuctor S is shown to affect the Josephson current in a multiterminal structure.

Local spin-density-wave order inside vortex cores in multiband superconductors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mishra, Vivek; Koshelev, Alexei E.

Coexistence of antiferromagnetic order with superconductivity in many families of newly discovered iron-based superconductors has renewed interest to this old problem. Due to competition between the two types of order, one can expect appearance of the antiferromagnetism inside the cores of the vortices generated by the external magnetic field. The structure of a vortex in type II superconductors holds significant importance from the theoretical and the application points of view. In this paper, we consider the internal vortex structure in a two-band s± superconductor near a spin-density-wave instability. We treat the problem in a completely self-consistent manner within the quasiclassicalmore » Eilenberger formalism. We study the structure of the s± superconducting order and magnetic field-induced spin-density-wave order near an isolated vortex. Finally, we examine the effect of this spin-density-wave state inside the vortex cores on the local density of states.« less

Local spin-density-wave order inside vortex cores in multiband superconductors

DOE PAGES

Mishra, Vivek; Koshelev, Alexei E.

2015-08-13

Coexistence of antiferromagnetic order with superconductivity in many families of newly discovered iron-based superconductors has renewed interest to this old problem. Due to competition between the two types of order, one can expect appearance of the antiferromagnetism inside the cores of the vortices generated by the external magnetic field. The structure of a vortex in type II superconductors holds significant importance from the theoretical and the application points of view. In this paper, we consider the internal vortex structure in a two-band s± superconductor near a spin-density-wave instability. We treat the problem in a completely self-consistent manner within the quasiclassicalmore » Eilenberger formalism. We study the structure of the s± superconducting order and magnetic field-induced spin-density-wave order near an isolated vortex. Finally, we examine the effect of this spin-density-wave state inside the vortex cores on the local density of states.« less

Second-order topological insulators and superconductors with an order-two crystalline symmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geier, Max; Trifunovic, Luka; Hoskam, Max; Brouwer, Piet W.

2018-05-01

Second-order topological insulators and superconductors have a gapped excitation spectrum in bulk and along boundaries, but protected zero modes at corners of a two-dimensional crystal or protected gapless modes at hinges of a three-dimensional crystal. A second-order topological phase can be induced by the presence of a bulk crystalline symmetry. Building on Shiozaki and Sato's complete classification of bulk crystalline phases with an order-two crystalline symmetry [Phys. Rev. B 90, 165114 (2014), 10.1103/PhysRevB.90.165114], such as mirror reflection, twofold rotation, or inversion symmetry, we classify all corresponding second-order topological insulators and superconductors. The classification also includes antiunitary symmetries and antisymmetries.

Investigation of half-quantized fluxoid states in strontium ruthenate mesoscopic superconducting rings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jang, Joonho

Spin-triplet superconductors can support exotic objects, such as chiral edge currents and half-quantum vortices (HQVs) characterized by the nontrivial winding of the spin structure. In this dissertation, we present cantilever magnetometry measurements performed on mesoscopic samples of Sr2RuO 4, a spin-triplet superconductor. Satisfying the total anti-symmetric property of the Cooper pair wave function, Sr2RuO4 is theoretically suggested to have angular momentum L = 1 and form domain structure with px +/- ipy order parameter that corresponds to Lz = +/-1. For micron-size samples, only a few number of domains would exist and signatures of domain walls and edge currents are expected to be measurable with current sensitivity. From the measurements of fluctuations of magnetic signal and the signatures of vortex entries, we found no evidence to support broken time-reversal symmetry (TRS) in these crystals. We argue that various scenarios exist to explain the negative result while still assuming the TRS breaking chiral order parameter. Also, micron-size annular-shaped Sr2RuO4 crystals were used to observe transitions between fluxoid states. Our observation of half-integer transitions is consistent with the existence of HQVs in a spin-triplet superconductor. Stability of the half states with an in-plane magnetic field is explained by the spin polarization in consequence of a differential phase winding of up and down spin components. These spin and charge dynamics can also be revealed in the current response to phase winding across a weak-link junction. The junctions were fabricated within ring geometry. The phase is varied by the external magnetic field and the current is calculated by measuring the magnetic moments of the ring. The current response shows second harmonics when the in-plane magnetic field is applied, and the data are successfully fitted when Gibbs free energy is expressed with additional spin degree of freedom. Our observations are consistent with spin-triplet pairing of the Sr 2RuO4, while requiring more investigations to confirm px +/- ipy order parameter in the crystal.

Deterministic phase slips in mesoscopic superconducting rings

PubMed Central

Petković, I.; Lollo, A.; Glazman, L. I.; Harris, J. G. E.

2016-01-01

The properties of one-dimensional superconductors are strongly influenced by topological fluctuations of the order parameter, known as phase slips, which cause the decay of persistent current in superconducting rings and the appearance of resistance in superconducting wires. Despite extensive work, quantitative studies of phase slips have been limited by uncertainty regarding the order parameter's free-energy landscape. Here we show detailed agreement between measurements of the persistent current in isolated flux-biased rings and Ginzburg–Landau theory over a wide range of temperature, magnetic field and ring size; this agreement provides a quantitative picture of the free-energy landscape. We also demonstrate that phase slips occur deterministically as the barrier separating two competing order parameter configurations vanishes. These results will enable studies of quantum and thermal phase slips in a well-characterized system and will provide access to outstanding questions regarding the nature of one-dimensional superconductivity. PMID:27882924

Deterministic phase slips in mesoscopic superconducting rings.

PubMed

Petković, I; Lollo, A; Glazman, L I; Harris, J G E

2016-11-24

The properties of one-dimensional superconductors are strongly influenced by topological fluctuations of the order parameter, known as phase slips, which cause the decay of persistent current in superconducting rings and the appearance of resistance in superconducting wires. Despite extensive work, quantitative studies of phase slips have been limited by uncertainty regarding the order parameter's free-energy landscape. Here we show detailed agreement between measurements of the persistent current in isolated flux-biased rings and Ginzburg-Landau theory over a wide range of temperature, magnetic field and ring size; this agreement provides a quantitative picture of the free-energy landscape. We also demonstrate that phase slips occur deterministically as the barrier separating two competing order parameter configurations vanishes. These results will enable studies of quantum and thermal phase slips in a well-characterized system and will provide access to outstanding questions regarding the nature of one-dimensional superconductivity.

Electronic origin of structural transition in 122 Fe based superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, Haranath; Sen, Smritijit; Ghosh, Abyay

2017-03-01

Direct quantitative correlations between the orbital order and orthorhombicity is achieved in a number of Fe-based superconductors of 122 family. The former (orbital order) is calculated from first principles simulations using experimentally determined doping and temperature dependent structural parameters while the latter (the orthorhombicity) is taken from already established experimental studies; when normalized, both the above quantities quantitatively corresponds to each other in terms of their doping as well as temperature variations. This proves that the structural transition in Fe-based materials is electronic in nature due to orbital ordering. An universal correlations among various structural parameters and electronic structure are also obtained. Most remarkable among them is the mapping of two Fe-Fe distances in the low temperature orthorhombic phase, with the band energies Edxz, Edyz of Fe at the high symmetry points of the Brillouin zone. The fractional co-ordinate zAs of As which essentially determines anion height is inversely (directly) proportional to Fe-As bond distances (with exceptions of K doped BaFe2As2) for hole (electron) doped materials as a function of doping. On the other hand, Fe-As bond-distance is found to be inversely (directly) proportional to the density of states at the Fermi level for hole (electron) doped systems. Implications of these results to current issues of Fe based superconductivity are discussed.

Evidence of nodes in the order parameter of the superconducting doped topological insulator Nb x Bi 2 Se 3 via penetration depth measurements

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Smylie, M. P.; Claus, H.; Welp, U.

2016-11-01

The low-temperature variation of the London penetration depth lambda(T) in the candidate topological superconductor NbxBi2Se3 (x = 0.25) is reported for several crystals. The measurements were carried out by means of a tunnel-diode oscillator technique in both field orientations (H-rf || c and H-rf || ab planes). All samples exhibited power-law behavior at low temperatures (Delta lambda similar to T-2) clearly indicating the presence of point nodes in the superconducting order parameter. The results presented here are consistent with a nematic odd-parity spin-triplet E-u pairing state in NbxBi2Se3.

Electron energy spectrum and magnetic interactions in high-Tc superconductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Turshevski, S. A.; Liechtenstein, A. I.; Antropov, V. P.; Gubanov, V. A.

1991-01-01

The character of magnetic interactions in La-Sr-Cu-O and Y-Ba-Cu-O systems is of primary importance for analysis of high-T(sub c) superconductivity in these compounds. Neutron diffraction experiments showed the antiferromagnetic ground state for nonsuperconducting La2CuO4 and YBa2Cu3O6 with the strongest antiferromagnetic superexchange being in the ab plane. The nonsuperconducting '1-2-3' system has two Neel temperatures T(sub N1) and T(sub N2). The first one corresponds to the ordering of Cu atoms in the CuO2 planes; T(sub N2) reflects the antiferromagnetic ordering of magnetic moments in CuO chains relatively to the moments in the planes T(sub N1) and T(sub N2) which depend strongly on the oxygen content. Researchers describe magnetic interactions in high-T superconductors based on the Linear Muffin-Tin Orbitals (LMTO) band structure calculations. Exchange interaction parameters can be defined from the effective Heisenberg Hamiltonian. When the magnetic moments are not too large, as copper magnetic moments in superconducting oxides, J(sub ij) parameters can be defined through the non-local magnetic susceptibility of spin restricted solution for the crystal. The results of nonlocal magnetic susceptibility calculations and the values of exchange interaction parameters for La CuO and YBa2Cu3O7 systems are given in tabular form. Strong anisotropy of exchange interactions in the ab plane and along the c axis in La2CuO4 is obviously seen. The value of Neel temperature found agrees well with the experimental data available. In the planes of '1-2-3' system there are quite strong antiferromagnetic Cu-O and O-O interaction which appear due to holes in oxygen subbands. These results are in line with the magnetic model of oxygen holes pairing in high-T(sub c) superconductors.

Electron energy spectrum and magnetic interactions in high-T(sub c) superconductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Turshevski, S. A.; Liechtenstein, A. I.; Antropov, V. P.; Gubanov, V. A.

1990-01-01

The character of magnetic interactions in La-Sr-Cu-O and Y-Ba-Cu-O systems is of primary importance for analysis of high-T(sub c) superconductivity in these compounds. Neutron diffraction experiments showed the antiferromagnetic ground state for nonsuperconducting La2CuO4 and YBa2Cu3O6 with the strongest antiferromagnetic superexchange being in the ab plane. The nonsuperconducting '1-2-3' system has two Neel temperatures T sub N1 and T sub N2. The first one corresponds to the ordering of Cu atoms in the CuO2 planes; T sub N2 reflects the antiferromagnetic ordering of magnetic moments in CuO chains relatively to the moments in the planes T sub N1 and T sub N2 depend strongly on the oxygen content. Researchers describe magnetic interactions in high-T superconductors based on the Linear Muffin-Tin Orbitals (LMTO) band structure calculations. Exchange interaction parameters can be defined from the effective Heisenberg hamiltonian. When the magnetic moments are not too large, as copper magnetic moments in superconducting oxides, J sub ij parameters can be defined through the non-local magnetic susceptibility of spin restricted solution for the crystal. The results of nonlocal magnetic susceptibility calculations and the values of exchange interaction parameters for La CuO and YBa2Cu3O7 systems are given in tabular form. Strong anisotropy of exchange interactions in the ab plane and along the c axis in La2CuO4 is obviously seen. The value of Neel temperature found agrees well with the experimental data available. In the planes of '1-2-3' system there are quite strong antiferromagnetic Cu-O and O-O interaction which appear due to holes in oxygen subbands. These results are in line with the magnetic model of oxygen holes pairing in high-T(sub c) superconductors.

Overdamped Nb/Al-AlO{sub x}/Nb Josephson junctions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lacquaniti, V.; Cagliero, C.; Maggi, S.

2005-01-24

We report the fabrication and characterization of overdamped Nb/Al-AlO{sub x}/Nb superconductor-insulator-superconductor Josephson junction whose fabrication process derives from that of the well-known hysteretic junctions. These junctions are an intermediate state between the superconductor-normal metal-superconductor and the superconductor-insulator-superconductor Josephson junctions. Stable and reproducible nonhysteretic current-voltage characteristics are obtained with a proper choice of the fabrication parameters. We have measured critical current densities J{sub C} from 10{sup 3} up to 2x10{sup 4} A/cm{sup 2}, with characteristic voltages from 80 to nearly 450 {mu}V. The junctions are stable against time and repeated thermal cycling.

Multicomponent order parameter superconductivity of Sr2RuO4 revealed by topological junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anwar, M. S.; Ishiguro, R.; Nakamura, T.; Yakabe, M.; Yonezawa, S.; Takayanagi, H.; Maeno, Y.

2017-06-01

Single crystals of the Sr2RuO4 -Ru eutectic system are known to exhibit enhanced superconductivity at 3 K in addition to the bulk superconductivity of Sr2RuO4 at 1.5 K. The 1.5 K phase is believed to be a spin-triplet, chiral p -wave state with a multicomponent order parameter, giving rise to chiral domain structure. In contrast, the 3 K phase is attributable to enhanced superconductivity of Sr2RuO4 in the strained interface region between Ru inclusion of a few to tens of micrometers in size and the surrounding Sr2RuO4 . We investigate the dynamic behavior of a topological junction, where a superconductor is surrounded by another superconductor. Specifically, we fabricated Nb/Ru/Sr2RuO4 topological superconducting junctions, in which the difference in phase winding between the s -wave superconductivity in Ru microislands induced from Nb and the superconductivity of Sr2RuO4 mainly governs the junction behavior. Comparative results of the asymmetry, hysteresis, and noise in junctions with different sizes, shapes, and configurations of Ru inclusions are explained by the chiral domain-wall motion in these topological junctions. Furthermore, a striking difference between the 1.5 and 3 K phases is clearly revealed: the large noise in the 1.5 K phase sharply disappears in the 3 K phase. These results confirm the multicomponent order-parameter superconductivity of the bulk Sr2RuO4 , consistent with the chiral p -wave state, and the proposed nonchiral single-component superconductivity of the 3 K phase.

Full-gap superconductivity in spin-polarised surface states of topological semimetal β-PdBi2.

PubMed

Iwaya, K; Kohsaka, Y; Okawa, K; Machida, T; Bahramy, M S; Hanaguri, T; Sasagawa, T

2017-10-17

A bulk superconductor possessing a topological surface state at the Fermi level is a promising system to realise long-sought topological superconductivity. Although several candidate materials have been proposed, experimental demonstrations concurrently exploring spin textures and superconductivity at the surface have remained elusive. Here we perform spectroscopic-imaging scanning tunnelling microscopy on the centrosymmetric superconductor β-PdBi 2 that hosts a topological surface state. By combining first-principles electronic-structure calculations and quasiparticle interference experiments, we determine the spin textures at the surface, and show not only the topological surface state but also all other surface bands exhibit spin polarisations parallel to the surface. We find that the superconducting gap fully opens in all the spin-polarised surface states. This behaviour is consistent with a possible spin-triplet order parameter expected for such in-plane spin textures, but the observed superconducting gap amplitude is comparable to that of the bulk, suggesting that the spin-singlet component is predominant in β-PdBi 2 .Although several materials have been proposed as topological superconductors, spin textures and superconductivity at the surface remain elusive. Here, Iwaya et al. determine the spin textures at the surface of a superconductor β-PdBi 2 and find the superconducting gap opening in all spin-polarised surface states.

Charge of a quasiparticle in a superconductor.

PubMed

Ronen, Yuval; Cohen, Yonatan; Kang, Jung-Hyun; Haim, Arbel; Rieder, Maria-Theresa; Heiblum, Moty; Mahalu, Diana; Shtrikman, Hadas

2016-02-16

Nonlinear charge transport in superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) Josephson junctions has a unique signature in the shuttled charge quantum between the two superconductors. In the zero-bias limit Cooper pairs, each with twice the electron charge, carry the Josephson current. An applied bias VSD leads to multiple Andreev reflections (MAR), which in the limit of weak tunneling probability should lead to integer multiples of the electron charge ne traversing the junction, with n integer larger than 2Δ/eVSD and Δ the superconducting order parameter. Exceptionally, just above the gap eVSD ≥ 2Δ, with Andreev reflections suppressed, one would expect the current to be carried by partitioned quasiparticles, each with energy-dependent charge, being a superposition of an electron and a hole. Using shot-noise measurements in an SIS junction induced in an InAs nanowire (with noise proportional to the partitioned charge), we first observed quantization of the partitioned charge q = e*/e = n, with n = 1-4, thus reaffirming the validity of our charge interpretation. Concentrating next on the bias region eVSD ~ 2Δ, we found a reproducible and clear dip in the extracted charge to q ~ 0.6, which, after excluding other possibilities, we attribute to the partitioned quasiparticle charge. Such dip is supported by numerical simulations of our SIS structure.

Holography and the Coleman-Mermin-Wagner theorem

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Anninos, Dionysios; Hartnoll, Sean A.; Iqbal, Nabil

2010-09-15

In 2+1 dimensions at finite temperature, spontaneous symmetry breaking of global symmetries is precluded by large thermal fluctuations of the order parameter. The holographic correspondence implies that analogous effects must also occur in 3+1 dimensional theories with gauged symmetries in certain curved spacetimes with horizon. By performing a one loop computation in the background of a holographic superconductor, we show that bulk quantum fluctuations wash out the classical order parameter at sufficiently large distance scales. The low temperature phase is seen to exhibit algebraic long-range order. Beyond the specific example we study, holography suggests that IR singular quantum fluctuations ofmore » the fields and geometry will play an interesting role for many 3+1 dimensional asymptotically anti-de Sitter spacetimes with planar horizon.« less

Magnetic properties of type-I and type-II Weyl semimetals in the superconducting state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenstein, Baruch; Shapiro, B. Ya.; Li, Dingping; Shapiro, I.

2018-04-01

Superconductivity was observed in certain range of pressure and chemical composition in Weyl semimetals of both type I and type II (when the Dirac cone tilt parameter κ >1 ). Magnetic properties of these superconductors are studied on the basis of microscopic phonon-mediated pairing model. The Ginzburg-Landau effective theory for the order parameter is derived using the Gorkov approach and used to determine anisotropic coherence length, the penetration depth determining the Abrikosov parameter for a layered material and applied to recent extensive experiments on MoTe2. It is found that superconductivity is of second kind near the topological transition at κ =1 . For a larger tilt parameter, superconductivity becomes first kind. For κ <1 , the Abrikosov parameter also tends to be reduced, often crossing over to the first kind. For the superconductors of the second kind, the dependence of critical fields Hc 2 and Hc 1 on the tilt parameter κ (governed by pressure) is compared with the experiments. Strength of thermal fluctuations is estimated and it is found that they are strong enough to cause Abrikosov vortex lattice melting near Hc 2. The melting line is calculated and is consistent with experiments provided the fluctuations are three dimensional in the type-I phase (large pressure) and two dimensional in the type-II phase (small pressure).

Colossal thermomagnetic response in chiral d-wave superconductor URu2Si2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsuda, Yuji

The heavy-fermion compound URu2Si2 exhibits unconventional superconductivity at Tc = 1.45 K deep inside the so-called hidden order phase. An intriguing aspect is that this system has been suggested to be a candidate of a chiral d-wave superconductor, and possible Weyl-type topological superconducting states have been discussed recently. Here we report on the observation of a highly unusual Nernst signal due to the superconducting fluctuations above Tc. The Nernst coefficient is anomalously enhanced (by a factor of ~106) as compared with the theoretically expected value of the Gaussian fluctuations. This colossal Nernst effect intimately reflects the highly unusual superconducting state of URu2Si2. The results invoke possible chiral or Berry-phase fluctuations associated with the broken time-reversal symmetry of the superconducting order parameter. In collaboration with T. Yamashita, Y. Shimoyama, H. Sumiyoshi (Kyoto), S. Fujimoto (Osaka), T. Shibauchi (Tokyo), Y. Haga (JAEA), T. D. Matsuda (TMU) , Y. Onuki (Ryukyus), A. Levchenko (Wisconsin-Madison).

Parametric amplification of a superconducting plasma wave

DOE PAGES

Rajasekaran, S.; Casandruc, E.; Laplace, Y.; ...

2016-07-11

Many applications in photonics require all-optical manipulation of plasma waves, which can concentrate electromagnetic energy on sub-wavelength length scales. This is difficult in metallic plasmas because of their small optical nonlinearities. Some layered superconductors support Josephson plasma waves, involving oscillatory tunnelling of the superfluid between capacitively coupled planes. Josephson plasma waves are also highly nonlinear, and exhibit striking phenomena such as cooperative emission of coherent terahertz radiation, superconductor–metal oscillations and soliton formation. In this paper, we show that terahertz Josephson plasma waves can be parametrically amplified through the cubic tunnelling nonlinearity in a cuprate superconductor. Finally, parametric amplification is sensitivemore » to the relative phase between pump and seed waves, and may be optimized to achieve squeezing of the order-parameter phase fluctuations or terahertz single-photon devices.« less

Numerical evidence of fluctuating stripes in the normal state of high-Tc cuprate superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Edwin W.; Mendl, Christian B.; Liu, Shenxiu; Johnston, Steve; Jiang, Hong-Chen; Moritz, Brian; Devereaux, Thomas P.

2017-12-01

Upon doping, Mott insulators often exhibit symmetry breaking where charge carriers and their spins organize into patterns known as stripes. For high-transition temperature cuprate superconductors, stripes are widely suspected to exist in a fluctuating form. We used numerically exact determinant quantum Monte Carlo calculations to demonstrate dynamical stripe correlations in the three-band Hubbard model, which represents the local electronic structure of the copper-oxygen plane. Our results, which are robust to varying parameters, cluster size, and boundary conditions, support the interpretation of experimental observations such as the hourglass magnetic dispersion and the Yamada plot of incommensurability versus doping in terms of the physics of fluctuating stripes. These findings provide a different perspective on the intertwined orders emerging from the cuprates’ normal state.

Higher-order topological insulators and superconductors protected by inversion symmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khalaf, Eslam

2018-05-01

We study surface states of topological crystalline insulators and superconductors protected by inversion symmetry. These fall into the category of "higher-order" topological insulators and superconductors which possess surface states that propagate along one-dimensional curves (hinges) or are localized at some points (corners) on the surface. We provide a complete classification of inversion-protected higher-order topological insulators and superconductors in any spatial dimension for the 10 symmetry classes by means of a layer construction. We discuss possible physical realizations of such states starting with a time-reversal-invariant topological insulator (class AII) in three dimensions or a time-reversal-invariant topological superconductor (class DIII) in two or three dimensions. The former exhibits one-dimensional chiral or helical modes propagating along opposite edges, whereas the latter hosts Majorana zero modes localized to two opposite corners. Being protected by inversion, such states are not pinned to a specific pair of edges or corners, thus offering the possibility of controlling their location by applying inversion-symmetric perturbations such as magnetic field.

Superconductor in a weak static gravitational field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ummarino, Giovanni Alberto; Gallerati, Antonio

2017-08-01

We provide the detailed calculation of a general form for Maxwell and London equations that takes into account gravitational corrections in linear approximation. We determine the possible alteration of a static gravitational field in a superconductor making use of the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equations, providing also an analytic solution in the weak field condition. Finally, we compare the behavior of a high-T_ {c} superconductor with a classical low-T_ {c} superconductor, analyzing the values of the parameters that can enhance the reduction of the gravitational field.

Nuclear magnetic resonance in low-symmetry superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cavanagh, D. C.; Powell, B. J.

2018-01-01

We consider the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1 /T1 in superconductors with accidental nodes, i.e., zeros of the order parameter that are not enforced by its symmetries. Such nodes in the superconducting gap are not constrained by symmetry to a particular position on the Fermi surface. We show, analytically and numerically, that a Hebel-Slichter-like peak occurs even in the absence of an isotropic component of the superconducting gap. For a gap with symmetry-required nodes the Fermi velocity at the node must point along the node. For accidental nodes this is not, in general, the case. This leads to additional terms in spectral function and hence the density of states. These terms lead to a logarithmic divergence in 1 /T1T at T →Tc- in models neglecting disorder and interactions [except for those leading to superconductivity; here T is temperature, Tc-=limδ→0(Tc-δ ) , and Tc is the critical temperature]. This contrasts with the usual Hebel-Slichter peak which arises from the coherence factors due to the isotropic component of the gap and leads to a divergence in 1 /T1T somewhat below Tc. The divergence in superconductors with accidental nodes is controlled by either disorder or additional electron-electron interactions. However, for reasonable parameters, neither of these effects removes the peak altogether. This provides a simple experimental method to distinguish between symmetry-required and accidental nodes.

Local destruction of superconductivity by non-magnetic impurities in mesoscopic iron-based superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jun; Ji, Min; Schwarz, Tobias; Ke, Xiaoxing; van Tendeloo, Gustaaf; Yuan, Jie; Pereira, Paulo J.; Huang, Ya; Zhang, Gufei; Feng, Hai-Luke; Yuan, Ya-Hua; Hatano, Takeshi; Kleiner, Reinhold; Koelle, Dieter; Chibotaru, Liviu F.; Yamaura, Kazunari; Wang, Hua-Bing; Wu, Pei-Heng; Takayama-Muromachi, Eiji; Vanacken, Johan; Moshchalkov, Victor V.

2015-07-01

The determination of the pairing symmetry is one of the most crucial issues for the iron-based superconductors, for which various scenarios are discussed controversially. Non-magnetic impurity substitution is one of the most promising approaches to address the issue, because the pair-breaking mechanism from the non-magnetic impurities should be different for various models. Previous substitution experiments demonstrated that the non-magnetic zinc can suppress the superconductivity of various iron-based superconductors. Here we demonstrate the local destruction of superconductivity by non-magnetic zinc impurities in Ba0.5K0.5Fe2As2 by exploring phase-slip phenomena in a mesoscopic structure with 119 × 102 nm2 cross-section. The impurities suppress superconductivity in a three-dimensional `Swiss cheese'-like pattern with in-plane and out-of-plane characteristic lengths slightly below ~1.34 nm. This causes the superconducting order parameter to vary along abundant narrow channels with effective cross-section of a few square nanometres. The local destruction of superconductivity can be related to Cooper pair breaking by non-magnetic impurities.

Tail-like regime and BCS-BEC crossover due to hybridization in a two-band superconductor.

PubMed

Reyes, D; Continentino, M A; Deus, F; Thomas, C

2018-05-02

Superconductivity in strongly correlated systems is a remarkable phenomenon that attracts huge interest. The study of this problem is relevant for materials such as the high T c oxides, pnictides and heavy fermions. These systems also have in common the existence of electrons of several orbitals that coexist at a common Fermi surface. In this paper we study the effect of pressure, chemical or applied on multi-band superconductivity. Pressure varies the atomic distances and consequently the overlap of the wave-functions in the crystal. This rearranges the electronic structure that we model including a pressure dependent hybridization between the bands. We consider the case of two-dimensional systems in a square lattice with inverted bands. We study the conditions for obtaining a pressure induced superconductor quantum critical point and show that hybridization, i.e. pressure can induce a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer-Bose-Einstein condensation crossover in multi-band systems even for moderate interactions. We found a tail-like superconductor regime and briefly discuss the influence of the symmetry of the order parameter in the results.

Local destruction of superconductivity by non-magnetic impurities in mesoscopic iron-based superconductors

PubMed Central

Li, Jun; Ji, Min; Schwarz, Tobias; Ke, Xiaoxing; Van Tendeloo, Gustaaf; Yuan, Jie; Pereira, Paulo J.; Huang, Ya; Zhang, Gufei; Feng, Hai-Luke; Yuan, Ya-Hua; Hatano, Takeshi; Kleiner, Reinhold; Koelle, Dieter; Chibotaru, Liviu F.; Yamaura, Kazunari; Wang, Hua-Bing; Wu, Pei-Heng; Takayama-Muromachi, Eiji; Vanacken, Johan; Moshchalkov, Victor V.

2015-01-01

The determination of the pairing symmetry is one of the most crucial issues for the iron-based superconductors, for which various scenarios are discussed controversially. Non-magnetic impurity substitution is one of the most promising approaches to address the issue, because the pair-breaking mechanism from the non-magnetic impurities should be different for various models. Previous substitution experiments demonstrated that the non-magnetic zinc can suppress the superconductivity of various iron-based superconductors. Here we demonstrate the local destruction of superconductivity by non-magnetic zinc impurities in Ba0.5K0.5Fe2As2 by exploring phase-slip phenomena in a mesoscopic structure with 119 × 102 nm2 cross-section. The impurities suppress superconductivity in a three-dimensional ‘Swiss cheese'-like pattern with in-plane and out-of-plane characteristic lengths slightly below ∼1.34 nm. This causes the superconducting order parameter to vary along abundant narrow channels with effective cross-section of a few square nanometres. The local destruction of superconductivity can be related to Cooper pair breaking by non-magnetic impurities. PMID:26139568

Local destruction of superconductivity by non-magnetic impurities in mesoscopic iron-based superconductors.

PubMed

Li, Jun; Ji, Min; Schwarz, Tobias; Ke, Xiaoxing; Van Tendeloo, Gustaaf; Yuan, Jie; Pereira, Paulo J; Huang, Ya; Zhang, Gufei; Feng, Hai-Luke; Yuan, Ya-Hua; Hatano, Takeshi; Kleiner, Reinhold; Koelle, Dieter; Chibotaru, Liviu F; Yamaura, Kazunari; Wang, Hua-Bing; Wu, Pei-Heng; Takayama-Muromachi, Eiji; Vanacken, Johan; Moshchalkov, Victor V

2015-07-03

The determination of the pairing symmetry is one of the most crucial issues for the iron-based superconductors, for which various scenarios are discussed controversially. Non-magnetic impurity substitution is one of the most promising approaches to address the issue, because the pair-breaking mechanism from the non-magnetic impurities should be different for various models. Previous substitution experiments demonstrated that the non-magnetic zinc can suppress the superconductivity of various iron-based superconductors. Here we demonstrate the local destruction of superconductivity by non-magnetic zinc impurities in Ba0.5K0.5Fe2As2 by exploring phase-slip phenomena in a mesoscopic structure with 119 × 102 nm(2) cross-section. The impurities suppress superconductivity in a three-dimensional 'Swiss cheese'-like pattern with in-plane and out-of-plane characteristic lengths slightly below ∼1.34 nm. This causes the superconducting order parameter to vary along abundant narrow channels with effective cross-section of a few square nanometres. The local destruction of superconductivity can be related to Cooper pair breaking by non-magnetic impurities.

Robust upward dispersion of the neutron spin resonance in the heavy fermion superconductor Ce1−xYbxCoIn5

PubMed Central

Song, Yu; Van Dyke, John; Lum, I. K.; White, B. D.; Jang, Sooyoung; Yazici, Duygu; Shu, L.; Schneidewind, A.; Čermák, Petr; Qiu, Y.; Maple, M. B.; Morr, Dirk K.; Dai, Pengcheng

2016-01-01

The neutron spin resonance is a collective magnetic excitation that appears in the unconventional copper oxide, iron pnictide and heavy fermion superconductors. Although the resonance is commonly associated with a spin-exciton due to the d(s±)-wave symmetry of the superconducting order parameter, it has also been proposed to be a magnon-like excitation appearing in the superconducting state. Here we use inelastic neutron scattering to demonstrate that the resonance in the heavy fermion superconductor Ce1−xYbxCoIn5 with x=0, 0.05 and 0.3 has a ring-like upward dispersion that is robust against Yb-doping. By comparing our experimental data with a random phase approximation calculation using the electronic structure and the momentum dependence of the -wave superconducting gap determined from scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) for CeCoIn5, we conclude that the robust upward-dispersing resonance mode in Ce1−xYbxCoIn5 is inconsistent with the downward dispersion predicted within the spin-exciton scenario. PMID:27677397

Tail-like regime and BCS-BEC crossover due to hybridization in a two-band superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reyes, D.; Continentino, M. A.; Deus, F.; Thomas, C.

2018-05-01

Superconductivity in strongly correlated systems is a remarkable phenomenon that attracts huge interest. The study of this problem is relevant for materials such as the high T c oxides, pnictides and heavy fermions. These systems also have in common the existence of electrons of several orbitals that coexist at a common Fermi surface. In this paper we study the effect of pressure, chemical or applied on multi-band superconductivity. Pressure varies the atomic distances and consequently the overlap of the wave-functions in the crystal. This rearranges the electronic structure that we model including a pressure dependent hybridization between the bands. We consider the case of two-dimensional systems in a square lattice with inverted bands. We study the conditions for obtaining a pressure induced superconductor quantum critical point and show that hybridization, i.e. pressure can induce a Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer-Bose–Einstein condensation crossover in multi-band systems even for moderate interactions. We found a tail-like superconductor regime and briefly discuss the influence of the symmetry of the order parameter in the results.

Quantiative reliability of the Migdal-Eliashberg theory for strong coupling superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bauer, Johannes; Han, Jong; Gunnarsson, Olle

2012-02-01

The Migdal-Eliashberg (ME) theory for strong electron-phonon coupling and retardation effects of the Morel-Anderson type form the basis for the quantitative understanding of conventional superconductors. The validity of the ME theory for values of the electron-phonon coupling strength λ>1 has been questioned by model studies. By distinguishing bare and effective parameters, and by comparing the ME theory with the dynamical mean field theory (DMFT), we clarify the range of applicability of the ME theory. Specifically, we show that ME theory is very accurate as long as the product of effective parameters, λφph/D, where φph is an appropriate phonon scale and D an electronic scale, is small enough [1]. The effectiveness of retardation effects is usually considered based on the lowest order diagram in the perturbation theory. We analyze these effects to higher order and find modifications to the usual result for the Coulomb pseudo-potential &*circ;. Retardation effects are weakened due to a reduced effective bandwidth. Comparison with the non-perturbative DMFT corroborates our findings [2]. [4pt] [1] J Bauer, J E Han, and O Gunnarsson, Phys. Rev. B. 84, 184531 (2011).[0pt] [2] J Bauer, J E Han, and O Gunnarsson, in preparation (2011).

Doping influence on Sm1 - x Th x OFeAs superconducting properties: Observation of the effect of intrinsic multiple Andreev reflections and determination of the superconducting parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuzmicheva, T. E.; Kuzmichev, S. A.; Zhigadlo, N. D.

2014-04-01

We studied SNS and S-N-S-N-...-S contacts (where S is a superconductor and N is a normal metal) formed by "break-junction" technique in polycrystalline Sm1 - x Th x OFeAs superconductor samples with critical temperatures T C = 34-45 K. In such contacts (intrinsic) multiple Andreev reflections effects were observed. Using spectroscopies based on these effects, we detected two independent bulk order parameters and determined their magnitudes. Theoretical analysis of the large and the small gap temperature dependences revealed superconducting properties of Sm1 - x Th x OFeAs to be driven by intraband coupling, and (where V ij are the electron-boson interaction matrix elements), whereas the ratio between density of states for the bands with the small and the large gap, N 2/ N 1, correspondingly, was roughly of an order. We estimated "solo" BCS-ratio values in a hypothetic case of zero interband coupling ( V i ≠ j = 0) for each condensate as 2ΔL, S/ k B T {C/L,S} ≤ 4.5. The values are constant within the range of critical temperatures studied, and correspond to a case of strong intraband electron-phonon coupling.

Thermodynamic properties of Dynes superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herman, František; Hlubina, Richard

2018-01-01

The tunneling density of states in dirty s -wave superconductors is often well described by the phenomenological Dynes formula. Recently we have shown that this formula can be derived, within the coherent potential approximation, for superconductors with simultaneously present pair-conserving and pair-breaking impurity scattering. Here we demonstrate that the theory of such so-called Dynes superconductors is thermodynamically consistent. We calculate the specific heat and critical field of the Dynes superconductors, and we show that their gap parameter, specific heat, critical field, and penetration depth exhibit power-law scaling with temperature in the low-temperature limit. We also show that in the vicinity of a coupling-constant-controlled superconductor to normal metal transition, the Homes law is replaced by a different, pair-breaking-dominated scaling law.

Interdependence of spin structure, anion height and electronic structure of BaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2}

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sen, Smritijit, E-mail: smritijit.sen@gmail.com; Ghosh, Haranath, E-mail: hng@rrcat.gov.in; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094

2016-05-06

Superconducting as well as other electronic properties of Fe-based superconductors are quite sensitive to the structural parameters specially, on anion height which is intimately related to z{sub As}, the fractional z co-ordinate of As atom. Due to presence of strong magnetic fluctuation in these Fe-based superconductors, optimized structural parameters (lattice parameters a, b, c) including z{sub As} using density functional theory (DFT) under generalized gradient approximation (GGA) does not match experimental values accurately. In this work, we show that the optimized value of z{sub As} is strongly influenced by the spin structures in the orthorhombic phase of BaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2}more » system. We take all possible spin structures for the orthorhombic BaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2} system and then optimize z{sub As}. Using these optimized structures we calculate electronic structures like density of states, band structures etc., for each spin configurations. From these studies we show that the electronic structure, orbital order which is responsible for structural as well as related to nematic transition, are significantly influenced by the spin structures.« less

Microwave Resonators and Filters

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-22

endorsed by the United States Government. 2 Equation Chapter 1 Section 1Introduction Why use superconductors ? Although superconductors have zero...explained in other chapters, the surface resistance of superconductors at microwave frequencies can be as much as three orders of magnitude lower than the...for the use of superconductors in many applications, such as in high performance filters, is low loss even in a very small size. The energy stored is

Characteristic parameters of superconductor-coolant interaction including high Tc current density limits

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frederking, T. H. K.

1989-01-01

In the area of basic mechanisms of helium heat transfer and related influence on super-conducting magnet stability, thermal boundary conditions are important constraints. Characteristic lengths are considered along with other parameters of the superconducting composite-coolant system. Based on helium temperature range developments, limiting critical current densities are assessed at low fields for high transition temperature superconductors.

Do theoretical calculations really predict nodes in Fe-based superconductors?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazin, Igor

2011-03-01

It is well established that calculations based on the LDA band structure and the Hubbard model, with the parameters U ~ 1.3 - 1.6 eV, and J ~ 0.2 - 0.3 J (a ``UJ'' model), yield strongly anisotropic, and sometimes nodal gaps. The physical origin of this effect is well understood: the two leading terms in the model are ∑Uni ↑ni ↓ and ∑ ' Uninj . The former ensures that the coupling to spin fluctuations proceeds only through the like orbitals, and the latter, not being renormalized by the standard Tolmachev-Morel-Anderson logarithm, tends to equalize the positive and the negative order parameters. Both these features are suspect on a general physics basis: the leading magnetic interaction in itinerant systems is the Hund-rule coupling, which couples every orbital with all the others, and the pnictides, with the order parameter less than 20 meV, should have nearly as strong renormalization of the Coulomb pseudopotential as the conventional superconductors. I will argue that, instead of the UJ model, in pnictides one should use the ``I'' model, derived from the density functional theory (which is supposed to describe the static susceptibility on the mean field level very accurately). The ``I'' here is simply the Stoner factor, the second variation of the LSDA magnetic energy. Unfortunately, this approach is very unlikely to produce gap nodes as easily as the UJ model, indicating that one has to look elsewhere for the nodes origin.

Emergent Ising degrees of freedom above a double-stripe magnetic ground state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Guanghua; Flint, Rebecca

2017-12-01

Double-stripe magnetism [Q =(π /2 ,π /2 )] has been proposed as the magnetic ground state for both the iron-telluride and BaTi2Sb2O families of superconductors. Double-stripe order is captured within a J1-J2-J3 Heisenberg model in the regime J3≫J2≫J1 . Intriguingly, besides breaking spin-rotational symmetry, the ground-state manifold has three additional Ising degrees of freedom associated with bond ordering. Via their coupling to the lattice, they give rise to an orthorhombic distortion and to two nonuniform lattice distortions with wave vector (π ,π ) . Because the ground state is fourfold degenerate, modulo rotations in spin space, only two of these Ising bond order parameters are independent. Here, we introduce an effective field theory to treat all Ising order parameters, as well as magnetic order, and solve it within a large-N limit. All three transitions, corresponding to the condensations of two Ising bond order parameters and one magnetic order parameter are simultaneous and first order in three dimensions, but lower dimensionality, or equivalently weaker interlayer coupling, and weaker magnetoelastic coupling can split the three transitions, and in some cases allows for two separate Ising phase transitions above the magnetic one.

Quasiparticle entropy in superconductor/normal metal/superconductor proximity junctions in the diffusive limit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Virtanen, P.; Vischi, F.; Strambini, E.; Carrega, M.; Giazotto, F.

2017-12-01

We discuss the quasiparticle entropy and heat capacity of a dirty superconductor/normal metal/superconductor junction. In the case of short junctions, the inverse proximity effect extending in the superconducting banks plays a crucial role in determining the thermodynamic quantities. In this case, commonly used approximations can violate thermodynamic relations between supercurrent and quasiparticle entropy. We provide analytical and numerical results as a function of different geometrical parameters. Quantitative estimates for the heat capacity can be relevant for the design of caloritronic devices or radiation sensor applications.

Ultrasonic and elastic properties of Tl- and Hg-Based cuprate superconductors: a review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abd-Shukor, R.

2018-01-01

This review is regarding the ultrasonic and elastic properties of Tl- and Hg-based cuprate superconductors. The objectives of this paper were to review the ultrasonic attenuation above the transition temperature ?, and sound velocity and elastic anomalies at ? in the Tl- and Hg-based cuprate superconductors. A discontinuity in the sound velocity and elastic moduli is observed near ? for the Hg-based and other cuprate high temperature superconductor but not the Tl-based superconductor. Ultrasonic attenuation peaks are observed between 200 and 250 K in almost all Tl- and Hg-based cuprate superconductors reported. These peaks were attributed to lattice stepping and oxygen ordering in the Tl-O and Hg-O layers. Some Tl- and Hg-based superconductors show attenuation peak near ?. However, this is not a common feature for the cuprate superconductors. The ultrasonic attenuation decrease rate below ? is slower than that expected from a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) and pseudo-gapped superconductor.

Selective Screening of High Temperature Superconductors by Resonant Eddy Current Analysis

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-11-01

observable electronic parameters are both stable and well defined. Further, if the circuit possesses a resonance , then it has well characterized parameters and...Engineers Construction Engineering Research Laboratory - AD-A230 194 Selective Screening of High Temperature Superconductors by Resonant Eddy Current...electrical systems or electronic components from the effects of unwanted electromagnetic energy. With the discovery of High Transition Critical Temperature

Holographic conductivity of holographic superconductors with higher-order corrections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheykhi, Ahmad; Ghazanfari, Afsoon; Dehyadegari, Amin

2018-02-01

We analytically and numerically disclose the effects of the higher-order correction terms in the gravity and in the gauge field on the properties of s-wave holographic superconductors. On the gravity side, we consider the higher curvature Gauss-Bonnet corrections and on the gauge field side, we add a quadratic correction term to the Maxwell Lagrangian. We show that, for this system, one can still obtain an analytical relation between the critical temperature and the charge density. We also calculate the critical exponent and the condensation value both analytically and numerically. We use a variational method, based on the Sturm-Liouville eigenvalue problem for our analytical study, as well as a numerical shooting method in order to compare with our analytical results. For a fixed value of the Gauss-Bonnet parameter, we observe that the critical temperature decreases with increasing the nonlinearity of the gauge field. This implies that the nonlinear correction term to the Maxwell electrodynamics makes the condensation harder. We also study the holographic conductivity of the system and disclose the effects of the Gauss-Bonnet and nonlinear parameters α and b on the superconducting gap. We observe that, for various values of α and b, the real part of the conductivity is proportional to the frequency per temperature, ω /T, as the frequency is large enough. Besides, the conductivity has a minimum in the imaginary part which is shifted toward greater frequency with decreasing temperature.

Numerical evidence of fluctuating stripes in the normal state of high- T c cuprate superconductors

DOE PAGES

Huang, Edwin W.; Mendl, Christian B.; Liu, Shenxiu; ...

2017-12-01

Upon doping, Mott insulators often exhibit symmetry breaking where charge carriers and their spins organize into patterns known as stripes. For high–transition temperature cuprate superconductors, stripes are widely suspected to exist in a fluctuating form. We used numerically exact determinant quantum Monte Carlo calculations to demonstrate dynamical stripe correlations in the three-band Hubbard model, which represents the local electronic structure of the copper-oxygen plane. Our results, which are robust to varying parameters, cluster size, and boundary conditions, support the interpretation of experimental observations such as the hourglass magnetic dispersion and the Yamada plot of incommensurability versus doping in terms ofmore » the physics of fluctuating stripes. Furthermore, these findings provide a different perspective on the intertwined orders emerging from the cuprates’ normal state.« less

Numerical evidence of fluctuating stripes in the normal state of high- T c cuprate superconductors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Huang, Edwin W.; Mendl, Christian B.; Liu, Shenxiu

Upon doping, Mott insulators often exhibit symmetry breaking where charge carriers and their spins organize into patterns known as stripes. For high–transition temperature cuprate superconductors, stripes are widely suspected to exist in a fluctuating form. We used numerically exact determinant quantum Monte Carlo calculations to demonstrate dynamical stripe correlations in the three-band Hubbard model, which represents the local electronic structure of the copper-oxygen plane. Our results, which are robust to varying parameters, cluster size, and boundary conditions, support the interpretation of experimental observations such as the hourglass magnetic dispersion and the Yamada plot of incommensurability versus doping in terms ofmore » the physics of fluctuating stripes. Furthermore, these findings provide a different perspective on the intertwined orders emerging from the cuprates’ normal state.« less

Design of a toroidal device with a high temperature superconductor coil for non-neutral plasma trap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogawa, Yuichi; Morikawa, Junji; Nihei, Hitoshi; Ozawa, Daisaku; Yoshida, Zensho; Mito, Toshiyuki; Yanagi, Nagato; Iwakuma, Masataka

2002-01-01

The non-neutral plasma confinement device with a floating internal coil is under construction, where the high temperature superconductor (HTS) Ag-sheathed BSCCO-2223 is employed as the floating coil. We have two topics with this device: one is a trap of a non-neutral plasma consisting of one species, and another is an exploration of a high beta plasma based on two-fluid MHD relaxation theory. In the latter case the plasma should be non-neutralized in order to drive the plasma flow in the toroidal direction. The expected plasma parameters are discussed. Key elements of engineering issues have already developed. In addition, we have fabricated a small HTS coil and succeeded in levitating it within an accuracy of 25˜30 μm for 4 min or more.

Magnetic proximity effect at the interface between a cuprate superconductor and an oxide spin valve

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ovsyannikov, G. A., E-mail: gena@hitech.cplire.ru; Demidov, V. V.; Khaydukov, Yu. N.

2016-04-15

A heterostructure that consists of the YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7–δ} cuprate superconductor and the SrRuO{sub 3}/La{sub 0.7}Sr{sub 0.3}MnO{sub 3} ruthenate/manganite spin valve is investigated using SQUID magnetometry, ferromagnetic resonance, and neutron reflectometry. It is shown that a magnetic moment is induced due to the magnetic proximity effect in the superconducting part of the heterostructure, while the magnetic moment in the composite ferromagnetic interlayer is suppressed. The magnetization emerging in the superconductor coincides in order of magnitude with the results of calculations taking into account the induced magnetic moment of Cu atoms because of orbital reconstruction at the interface between themore » superconductor and the ferromagnet, as well as with the results of the model taking into account the variations in the density of states at a distance on the order of the coherence length in the superconductor. The experimentally obtained characteristic penetration depth of the magnetic moment in the superconductor considerably exceeds the coherence length of the cuprate superconductor, which indicates the predominance of the mechanism of induced magnetic moment of Cu atoms.« less

Nematic quantum critical point without magnetism in FeSe1-xSx superconductors.

PubMed

Hosoi, Suguru; Matsuura, Kohei; Ishida, Kousuke; Wang, Hao; Mizukami, Yuta; Watashige, Tatsuya; Kasahara, Shigeru; Matsuda, Yuji; Shibauchi, Takasada

2016-07-19

In most unconventional superconductors, the importance of antiferromagnetic fluctuations is widely acknowledged. In addition, cuprate and iron-pnictide high-temperature superconductors often exhibit unidirectional (nematic) electronic correlations, including stripe and orbital orders, whose fluctuations may also play a key role for electron pairing. In these materials, however, such nematic correlations are intertwined with antiferromagnetic or charge orders, preventing the identification of the essential role of nematic fluctuations. This calls for new materials having only nematicity without competing or coexisting orders. Here we report systematic elastoresistance measurements in FeSe1-xSx superconductors, which, unlike other iron-based families, exhibit an electronic nematic order without accompanying antiferromagnetic order. We find that the nematic transition temperature decreases with sulfur content x; whereas, the nematic fluctuations are strongly enhanced. Near [Formula: see text], the nematic susceptibility diverges toward absolute zero, revealing a nematic quantum critical point. The obtained phase diagram for the nematic and superconducting states highlights FeSe1-xSx as a unique nonmagnetic system suitable for studying the impact of nematicity on superconductivity.

Tunable Majorana corner states in a two-dimensional second-order topological superconductor induced by magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Xiaoyu

2018-05-01

A two-dimensional second-order topological superconductor exhibits a finite gap in both bulk and edges, with the nontrivial topology manifesting itself through Majorana zero modes localized at the corners, i.e., Majorana corner states. We investigate a time-reversal-invariant topological superconductor in two dimensions and demonstrate that an in-plane magnetic field could transform it into a second-order topological superconductor. A detailed analysis reveals that the magnetic field gives rise to mass terms which take distinct values among the edges, and Majorana corner states naturally emerge at the intersection of two adjacent edges with opposite masses. With the rotation of the magnetic field, Majorana corner states localized around the boundary may hop from one corner to a neighboring one and eventually make a full circle around the system when the field rotates by 2 π . In the end, we briefly discuss physical realizations of this system.

Weyl holographic superconductor in the Lifshitz black hole background

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mansoori, S. A. Hosseini; Mirza, B.; Mokhtari, A.; Dezaki, F. Lalehgani; Sherkatghanad, Z.

2016-07-01

We investigate analytically the properties of the Weyl holographic superconductor in the Lifshitz black hole background. We find that the critical temperature of the Weyl superconductor decreases with increasing Lifshitz dynamical exponent, z, indicating that condensation becomes difficult. In addition, it is found that the critical temperature and condensation operator could be affected by applying the Weyl coupling, γ. Moreover, we compute the critical magnetic field and investigate its dependence on the parameters γ and z. Finally, we show numerically that the Weyl coupling parameter γ and the Lifshitz dynamical exponent z together control the size and strength of the conductivity peak and the ratio of gap frequency over critical temperature ω g /T c .

Double-stage nematic bond ordering above double stripe magnetism: Application to BaTi 2 Sb 2 O

DOE PAGES

Zhang, G.; Glasbrenner, J. K.; Flint, R.; ...

2017-05-01

Spin-driven nemore » maticity, or the breaking of the point-group symmetry of the lattice without long-range magnetic order, is clearly quite important in iron-based superconductors. From a symmetry point of view, nematic order can be described as a coherent locking of spin fluctuations in two interpenetrating Néel sublattices with ensuing nearest-neighbor bond order and an absence of static magnetism. In this paper, we argue that the low-temperature state of the recently discovered superconductor BaTi 2 Sb 2 O is a strong candidate for a more exotic form of spin-driven nematic order, in which fluctuations occurring in four Néel sublattices promote both nearest- and next-nearest-neighbor bond order. We develop a low-energy field theory of this state and show that it can have, as a function of temperature, up to two separate bond-order phase transitions, namely, one that breaks rotation symmetry and one that breaks reflection and translation symmetries of the lattice. The resulting state has an orthorhombic lattice distortion, an intra-unit-cell charge density wave, and no long-range magnetic order, all consistent with reported measurements of the low-temperature phase of BaTi 2 Sb 2 O . Finally, we then use density functional theory calculations to extract exchange parameters to confirm that the model is applicable to BaTi 2 Sb 2 O .« less

Double-stage nematic bond ordering above double stripe magnetism: Application to BaTi 2 Sb 2 O

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, G.; Glasbrenner, J. K.; Flint, R.

Spin-driven nemore » maticity, or the breaking of the point-group symmetry of the lattice without long-range magnetic order, is clearly quite important in iron-based superconductors. From a symmetry point of view, nematic order can be described as a coherent locking of spin fluctuations in two interpenetrating Néel sublattices with ensuing nearest-neighbor bond order and an absence of static magnetism. In this paper, we argue that the low-temperature state of the recently discovered superconductor BaTi 2 Sb 2 O is a strong candidate for a more exotic form of spin-driven nematic order, in which fluctuations occurring in four Néel sublattices promote both nearest- and next-nearest-neighbor bond order. We develop a low-energy field theory of this state and show that it can have, as a function of temperature, up to two separate bond-order phase transitions, namely, one that breaks rotation symmetry and one that breaks reflection and translation symmetries of the lattice. The resulting state has an orthorhombic lattice distortion, an intra-unit-cell charge density wave, and no long-range magnetic order, all consistent with reported measurements of the low-temperature phase of BaTi 2 Sb 2 O . Finally, we then use density functional theory calculations to extract exchange parameters to confirm that the model is applicable to BaTi 2 Sb 2 O .« less

Flux tubes and coherence length in the SU(3) vacuum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cea, P.; Cosmai, L.; Cuteri, F.; Papa, A.

An estimate of the London penetration and coherence lengths in the vacuum of the SU(3) pure gauge theory is given downstream an analysis of the transverse profile of the chromoelectric flux tubes. Within ordinary superconductivity, a simple variational model for the magnitude of the normalized order parameter of an isolated vortex produces an analytic expression for magnetic field and supercurrent density. In the picture of SU(3) vacuum as dual superconductor, this expression provides us with the function that fits the chromoelectric field data. The smearing procedure is used in order to reduce noise.

Coexistence of ferromagnetism and superconductivity in iron based pnictides: a time resolved magnetooptical study.

PubMed

Pogrebna, A; Mertelj, T; Vujičić, N; Cao, G; Xu, Z A; Mihailovic, D

2015-01-13

Ferromagnetism and superconductivity are antagonistic phenomena. Their coexistence implies either a modulated ferromagnetic order parameter on a lengthscale shorter than the superconducting coherence length or a weak exchange coupling between the itinerant superconducting electrons and the localized ordered spins. In some iron based pnictide superconductors the coexistence of ferromagnetism and superconductivity has been clearly demonstrated. The nature of the coexistence, however, remains elusive since no clear understanding of the spin structure in the superconducting state has been reached and the reports on the coupling strength are controversial. We show, by a direct optical pump-probe experiment, that the coupling is weak, since the transfer of the excess energy from the itinerant electrons to ordered localized spins is much slower than the electron-phonon relaxation, implying the coexistence without the short-lengthscale ferromagnetic order parameter modulation. Remarkably, the polarization analysis of the coherently excited spin wave response points towards a simple ferromagnetic ordering of spins with two distinct types of ferromagnetic domains.

Effects of critical fluctuations and dimensionality on the jump in specific heat at the superconducting transition temperature: Application to YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{7-δ},Bi_{2}Sr_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{8+δ}, and KOs_{2}O_{6} compounds.

PubMed

Keumo Tsiaze, R M; Wirngo, A V; Mkam Tchouobiap, S E; Fotue, A J; Baloïtcha, E; Hounkonnou, M N

2016-06-01

We report on a study of the superconducting order parameter thermodynamic fluctuations in YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{7-δ},Bi_{2}Sr_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{8+δ}, and KOs_{2}O_{6} compounds. A nonperturbative technique within the framework of the renormalized Gaussian approach is proposed. The essential features are reported (analytically and numerically) through Ginzburg-Landau (GL) model-based calculations which take into account both the dimension and the microscopic parameters of the system. By presenting a self-consistent approach improvement on the GL theory, a technique for obtaining corrections to the asymptotic critical behavior in terms of nonuniversal parameters is developed. Therefore, corrections to the specific heat and the critical transition temperature for one-, two-, and three-dimensional samples are found taking into account the fact that fluctuations occur at all length scales as the critical point of a system is approached. The GL model in the free-field approximation and the 3D-XY model are suitable for describing the weak and strong fluctuation regimes respectively. However, with a modified quadratic coefficient, the renormalized GL model is able to explain certain experimental observations including the specific heat of complicated systems, such as the cup-rate superconductors and the β-pyrochlore oxides. It is clearly shown that the enhancement, suppression, or rounding of the specific heat jump of high-T_{c} cup-rate superconductors at the transition are indicative of the order parameter thermodynamic fluctuations according to the dimension and the nature of interactions.

S U (2 ) Chern-Simons theory coupled to competing scalars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pérez Ipiña, J. M.; Schaposnik, F. A.; Tallarita, G.

2018-06-01

We study a spontaneously broken S U (2 ) Chern-Simons-Higgs model coupled though a Higgs portal to an uncharged triplet scalar with a vacuum state competing with the Higgs one. We find vortexlike solutions to the field equations in different parameter space regions. Depending on the scalar coupling constants, we find a parameter region in which the competing order creates a halo about the Chern-Simons-Higgs vortex core, together with two other regions, one where no vortex solutions exist and the other where ordinary Chern-Simons-Higgs vortices can be found. We derive the low-energy theory for the moduli fields on the vortex world sheet and also discuss the connection of our results with those found in studies of competing orders in high-temperature superconductors.

Resonances in the Field-Angle-Resolved Thermal Conductivity of CeCoIn 5

DOE PAGES

Kim, Duk Y.; Lin, Shi -Zeng; Weickert, Franziska; ...

2017-05-12

Here, the thermal conductivity measurement in a rotating magnetic field is a powerful probe of the structure of the superconducting energy gap. We present high-precision measurements of the low-temperature thermal conductivity in the unconventional heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn 5, with the heat current J along the nodal [110] direction of its d x2–y2 order parameter and the magnetic field up to 7 T rotating in the ab plane. In contrast to the smooth oscillations found previously for J∥[100], we observe a sharp resonancelike peak in the thermal conductivity when the magnetic field is also in the [110] direction, parallel to themore » heat current. We explain this peak qualitatively via a model of the heat transport in a d-wave superconductor. In addition, we observe two smaller but also very sharp peaks in the thermal conductivity for the field directions at angles Θ≈±33° with respect to J. The origin of the observed resonances at Θ≈±33° at present defies theoretical explanation. The challenge of uncovering their source will dictate exploring theoretically more complex models, which might include, e.g., fine details of the Fermi surface, Andreev bound vortex core states, a secondary superconducting order parameter, and the existence of gaps in spin and charge excitations.« less

Resonances in the Field-Angle-Resolved Thermal Conductivity of CeCoIn 5

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Duk Y.; Lin, Shi -Zeng; Weickert, Franziska

Here, the thermal conductivity measurement in a rotating magnetic field is a powerful probe of the structure of the superconducting energy gap. We present high-precision measurements of the low-temperature thermal conductivity in the unconventional heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn 5, with the heat current J along the nodal [110] direction of its d x2–y2 order parameter and the magnetic field up to 7 T rotating in the ab plane. In contrast to the smooth oscillations found previously for J∥[100], we observe a sharp resonancelike peak in the thermal conductivity when the magnetic field is also in the [110] direction, parallel to themore » heat current. We explain this peak qualitatively via a model of the heat transport in a d-wave superconductor. In addition, we observe two smaller but also very sharp peaks in the thermal conductivity for the field directions at angles Θ≈±33° with respect to J. The origin of the observed resonances at Θ≈±33° at present defies theoretical explanation. The challenge of uncovering their source will dictate exploring theoretically more complex models, which might include, e.g., fine details of the Fermi surface, Andreev bound vortex core states, a secondary superconducting order parameter, and the existence of gaps in spin and charge excitations.« less

Spectroscopic scanning tunneling microscopy insights into Fe-based superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoffman, Jennifer E.

2011-12-01

In the first three years since the discovery of Fe-based high Tc superconductors, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy have shed light on three important questions. First, STM has demonstrated the complexity of the pairing symmetry in Fe-based materials. Phase-sensitive quasiparticle interference (QPI) imaging and low temperature spectroscopy have shown that the pairing order parameter varies from nodal to nodeless s± within a single family, FeTe1-xSex. Second, STM has imaged C4 → C2 symmetry breaking in the electronic states of both parent and superconducting materials. As a local probe, STM is in a strong position to understand the interactions between these broken symmetry states and superconductivity. Finally, STM has been used to image the vortex state, giving insights into the technical problem of vortex pinning, and the fundamental problem of the competing states introduced when superconductivity is locally quenched by a magnetic field. Here we give a pedagogical introduction to STM and QPI imaging, discuss the specific challenges associated with extracting bulk properties from the study of surfaces, and report on progress made in understanding Fe-based superconductors using STM techniques.

Electronic thermal conductivity and the Wiedemann-Franz law for unconventional superconductors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Graf, M.J.; Yip, S.; Sauls, J.A.

1996-06-01

We use the quasiclassical theory of superconductivity to calculate the electronic contribution to the thermal conductivity. The theory is formulated for low temperatures when heat transport is limited by electron scattering from random defects and for superconductors with nodes in the order parameter. We show that certain eigenvalues of the thermal conductivity tensor are universal at low temperature, {ital k}{sub {ital BT}}{lt}{gamma}, where {gamma} is the bandwidth of impurity bound states in the superconducting phase. The components of the electrical and thermal conductivity also obey a Wiedemann-Franz law with the Lorenz ratio {ital L}({ital T})={kappa}/{sigma}{ital T} given by the Sommerfeldmore » value of {ital L}{sub {ital S}}=({pi}{sup 2}/3)({ital k}{sub {ital B}}/{ital e}){sup 2} for {ital k}{sub {ital BT}}{lt}{gamma}. For intermediate temperatures the Lorenz ratio deviates significantly from {ital L}{sub {ital S}}, and is strongly dependent on the scattering cross section, and qualitatively different for resonant vs nonresonant scattering. We include comparisons with other theoretical calculations and the thermal conductivity data for the high-{ital T}{sub {ital c}} cuprate and heavy fermion superconductors. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}« less

Robust upward dispersion of the neutron spin resonance in the heavy fermion superconductor Ce 1–xYb xCoIn 5

DOE PAGES

Song, Yu; Van Dyke, John; Lum, I. K.; ...

2016-09-28

Here, the neutron spin resonance is a collective magnetic excitation that appears in copper oxide, iron pnictide, and heavy fermion unconventional superconductors. Although the resonance is commonly associated with a spin-exciton due to the d(s ±)-wave symmetry of the superconducting order parameter, it has also been proposed to be a magnon-like excitation appearing in the superconducting state. Here we use inelastic neutron scattering to demonstrate that the resonance in the heavy fermion superconductor Ce 1–xYb xCoIn 5 with x=0,0.05,0.3 has a ring-like upward dispersion that is robust against Yb-doping. By comparing our experimental data with random phase approximation calculation usingmore » the electronic structure and the momentum dependence of the d x2 –y2-wave superconducting gap determined from scanning tunneling microscopy for CeCoIn 5, we conclude the robust upward dispersing resonance mode in Ce 1–xYb xCoIn 5 is inconsistent with the downward dispersion predicted within the spin-exciton scenari« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Petković, Ivana; Lollo, A.; Glazman, L. I.

The properties of one-dimensional superconductors are strongly influenced by topological fluctuations of the order parameter, known as phase slips, which cause the decay of persistent current in superconducting rings and the appearance of resistance in superconducting wires. Despite extensive work, quantitative studies of phase slips have been limited by uncertainty regarding the order parameter’s free-energy landscape. Here we show detailed agreement between measurements of the persistent current in isolated flux-biased rings and Ginzburg–Landau theory over a wide range of temperature, magnetic field and ring size; this agreement provides a quantitative picture of the free-energy landscape. Furthermore, we also demonstrate thatmore » phase slips occur deterministically as the barrier separating two competing order parameter configurations vanishes. These results will enable studies of quantum and thermal phase slips in a well-characterized system and will provide access to outstanding questions regarding the nature of one-dimensional superconductivity.« less

Deterministic phase slips in mesoscopic superconducting rings

DOE PAGES

Petković, Ivana; Lollo, A.; Glazman, L. I.; ...

2016-11-24

The properties of one-dimensional superconductors are strongly influenced by topological fluctuations of the order parameter, known as phase slips, which cause the decay of persistent current in superconducting rings and the appearance of resistance in superconducting wires. Despite extensive work, quantitative studies of phase slips have been limited by uncertainty regarding the order parameter’s free-energy landscape. Here we show detailed agreement between measurements of the persistent current in isolated flux-biased rings and Ginzburg–Landau theory over a wide range of temperature, magnetic field and ring size; this agreement provides a quantitative picture of the free-energy landscape. Furthermore, we also demonstrate thatmore » phase slips occur deterministically as the barrier separating two competing order parameter configurations vanishes. These results will enable studies of quantum and thermal phase slips in a well-characterized system and will provide access to outstanding questions regarding the nature of one-dimensional superconductivity.« less

Analysis of current distribution in a large superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamajima, Takataro; Alamgir, A. K. M.; Harada, Naoyuki; Tsuda, Makoto; Ono, Michitaka; Takano, Hirohisa

An imbalanced current distribution which is often observed in cable-in-conduit (CIC) superconductors composed of multistaged, triplet type sub-cables, can deteriorate the performance of the coils. It is, hence very important to analyze the current distribution in a superconductor and find out methods to realize a homogeneous current distribution in the conductor. We apply magnetic flux conservation in a loop contoured by electric center lines of filaments in two arbitrary strands located on adjacent layers in a coaxial multilayer superconductor, and thereby analyze the current distribution in the conductor. A generalized formula governing the current distribution can be described as explicit functions of the superconductor construction parameters, such as twist pitch, twist direction and radius of individual layer. We numerically analyze a homogeneous current distribution as a function of the twist pitches of layers, using the fundamental formula. Moreover, it is demonstrated that we can control current distribution in the coaxial superconductor.

Giant supercurrent states in a superconductor-InAs/GaSb-superconductor junction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shi, Xiaoyan, E-mail: xshi@sandia.gov; Pan, W.; Hawkins, S. D.

2015-10-07

Superconductivity in topological materials has attracted a great deal of interest in both electron physics and material sciences since the theoretical predictions that Majorana fermions can be realized in topological superconductors. Topological superconductivity could be realized in a type II, band-inverted, InAs/GaSb quantum well if it is in proximity to a conventional superconductor. Here, we report observations of the proximity effect induced giant supercurrent states in an InAs/GaSb bilayer system that is sandwiched between two superconducting tantalum electrodes to form a superconductor-InAs/GaSb-superconductor junction. Electron transport results show that the supercurrent states can be preserved in a surprisingly large temperature-magnetic fieldmore » (T – H) parameter space. In addition, the evolution of differential resistance in T and H reveals an interesting superconducting gap structure.« less

Status of high temperature superconductor development for accelerator magnets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hirabayashi, H.

1995-01-01

High temperature superconductors are still under development for various applications. As far as conductors for magnets are concerned, the development has just been started. Small coils wound by silver sheathed Bi-2212 and Bi-2223 oxide conductors have been reported by a few authors. Essential properties of high T(sub c) superconductors like pinning force, coherent length, intergrain coupling, weak link, thermal property, AC loss and mechanical strength are still not sufficiently understandable. In this talk, a review is given with comparison between the present achievement and the final requirement for high T(sub c) superconductors, which could be particularly used in accelerator magnets. Discussions on how to develop high T(sub c) superconductors for accelerator magnets are included with key parameters of essential properties. A proposal of how to make a prototype accelerator magnet with high T(sub c) superconductors with prospect for future development is also given.

Visualizing domain wall and reverse domain superconductivity.

PubMed

Iavarone, M; Moore, S A; Fedor, J; Ciocys, S T; Karapetrov, G; Pearson, J; Novosad, V; Bader, S D

2014-08-28

In magnetically coupled, planar ferromagnet-superconductor (F/S) hybrid structures, magnetic domain walls can be used to spatially confine the superconductivity. In contrast to a superconductor in a uniform applied magnetic field, the nucleation of the superconducting order parameter in F/S structures is governed by the inhomogeneous magnetic field distribution. The interplay between the superconductivity localized at the domain walls and far from the walls leads to effects such as re-entrant superconductivity and reverse domain superconductivity with the critical temperature depending upon the location. Here we use scanning tunnelling spectroscopy to directly image the nucleation of superconductivity at the domain wall in F/S structures realized with Co-Pd multilayers and Pb thin films. Our results demonstrate that such F/S structures are attractive model systems that offer the possibility to control the strength and the location of the superconducting nucleus by applying an external magnetic field, potentially useful to guide vortices for computing application.

Spin and lattice structures of single-crystalline SrFe2As2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Jun; Ratcliff, W., II; Lynn, J. W.; Chen, G. F.; Luo, J. L.; Wang, N. L.; Hu, Jiangping; Dai, Pengcheng

2008-10-01

We use neutron scattering to study the spin and lattice structure of single-crystal SrFe2As2 , the parent compound of the FeAs-based superconductor (Sr,K)Fe2As2 . We find that SrFe2As2 exhibits an abrupt structural phase transition at 220 K, where the structure changes from tetragonal with lattice parameters c>a=b to orthorhombic with c>a>b . At almost the same temperature, Fe spins develop a collinear antiferromagnetic structure along the orthorhombic a axis with spin direction parallel to this a axis. These results are consistent with earlier work on the RFeAsO ( R=rare earth) families of materials and on BaFe2As2 , and therefore suggest that static antiferromagnetic order is ubiquitous for the parent compounds of these FeAs-based high-transition temperature superconductors.

Mechanisms for Enhanced Supercurrent Across Meandered Grain Boundaries in High-Temperature Superconductors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Feldmann, D. M.; Holesinger, T. G.; Feenstra, Roeland

2007-01-01

It has been well established that the critical current density J{sub c} across grain boundaries (GBs) in high-temperature superconductors decreases exponentially with misorientation angle {theta} beyond {approx}2-3 degrees. This rapid decrease is due to a suppression of the superconducting order parameter at the grain boundary, giving rise to weakly pinned Abrikosov-Josephson (AJ) vortices. Here we show that if the GB plane meanders, this exponential dependence no longer holds, permitting greatly enhanced J{sub c} values: up to six times at 0 T and four times at 1 T at {theta}{approx}4-6 degrees. This enhancement is due to an increase in the current-carryingmore » cross section of the GBs and the appearance of short AJ vortex segments in the GB plane, confined by the interaction with strongly pinned Abrikosov (A) vortices in the grains.« less

Spin-polaron nature of fermion quasiparticles and their d-wave pairing in cuprate superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Val'kov, V. V.; Dzebisashvili, D. M.; Barabanov, A. F.

2016-11-01

In the framework of the spin-fermion model, to which the Emery model is reduced in the limit of strong electron correlations, it is shown that the fermion quasiparticles in cuprate high- T c superconductors (HTSCs) arise under a strong effect of exchange coupling between oxygen holes and spins of copper ions. This underlies the spin-polaron nature of fermion quasiparticles in cuprate HTSCs. The Cooper instability with respect to the d-wave symmetry of the order parameter is revealed for an ensemble of such quasiparticles. For the normal phase, the spin-polaron concept allows us to reproduce the fine details in the evolution of the Fermi surface with the changes in the doping level x observed in experiment for La2-xSrxCuO4. The calculated T-x phase diagram correlates well with the available experimental data for cuprate HTSCs.

Locking of length scales in two-band superconductors

DOE PAGES

Ichioka, M.; Kogan, Vladimir G.; Schmalian, J.

2017-02-21

Here, a model of a clean two-band s-wave superconductor with cylindrical Fermi surfaces, different Fermi velocities v 1,2, and a general 2×2 coupling matrix V αβ is used to study the order parameter distribution in vortex lattices. The Eilenberger weak coupling formalism is used to calculate numerically the spatial distributions of the pairing amplitudes Δ 1 and Δ 2 of the two bands for vortices parallel to the Fermi cylinders. For generic values of the interband coupling V 12, it is shown that, independently of the couplings V αβ, of the ratio v 1/v 2, of the temperature, and themore » applied field, the length scales of spatial variation of Δ 1 and of Δ 2 are the same within the accuracy of our calculations. The only exception from this single length-scale behavior is found for V 12 << V 11, i.e., for nearly decoupled bands.« less

Visualizing domain wall and reverse domain superconductivity

PubMed Central

Iavarone, M.; Moore, S. A.; Fedor, J.; Ciocys, S. T.; Karapetrov, G.; Pearson, J.; Novosad, V.; Bader, S. D.

2014-01-01

In magnetically coupled, planar ferromagnet-superconductor (F/S) hybrid structures, magnetic domain walls can be used to spatially confine the superconductivity. In contrast to a superconductor in a uniform applied magnetic field, the nucleation of the superconducting order parameter in F/S structures is governed by the inhomogeneous magnetic field distribution. The interplay between the superconductivity localized at the domain walls and far from the walls leads to effects such as re-entrant superconductivity and reverse domain superconductivity with the critical temperature depending upon the location. Here we use scanning tunnelling spectroscopy to directly image the nucleation of superconductivity at the domain wall in F/S structures realized with Co-Pd multilayers and Pb thin films. Our results demonstrate that such F/S structures are attractive model systems that offer the possibility to control the strength and the location of the superconducting nucleus by applying an external magnetic field, potentially useful to guide vortices for computing application. PMID:25164004

Effect of spin fluctuations on the electronic structure in iron-based superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heimes, Andreas; Grein, Roland; Eschrig, Matthias

2012-08-01

Magnetic inelastic neutron scattering studies of iron-based superconductors reveal a strongly temperature-dependent spin-fluctuation spectrum in the normal conducting state, which develops a prominent low-energy resonance feature when entering the superconducting state. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) allow us to study the fingerprints of fluctuation modes via their interactions with electronic quasiparticles. We calculate such fingerprints in 122 iron pnictides using an experimentally motivated spin-fluctuation spectrum and make a number of predictions that can be tested in ARPES and STS experiments. This includes discussions of the quasiparticle scattering rate and the superconducting order parameter. In quantitative agreement with experiment we reproduce the quasiparticle dispersions obtained from momentum distribution curves as well as energy distribution curves. We discuss the relevance of the coupling between spin fluctuations and electronic excitations for the superconducting mechanism.

Imaging atomic-scale effects of high-energy ion irradiation on superconductivity and vortex pinning in Fe(Se,Te)

PubMed Central

Massee, Freek; Sprau, Peter Oliver; Wang, Yong-Lei; Davis, J. C. Séamus; Ghigo, Gianluca; Gu, Genda D.; Kwok, Wai-Kwong

2015-01-01

Maximizing the sustainable supercurrent density, JC, is crucial to high-current applications of superconductivity. To achieve this, preventing dissipative motion of quantized vortices is key. Irradiation of superconductors with high-energy heavy ions can be used to create nanoscale defects that act as deep pinning potentials for vortices. This approach holds unique promise for high-current applications of iron-based superconductors because JC amplification persists to much higher radiation doses than in cuprate superconductors without significantly altering the superconducting critical temperature. However, for these compounds, virtually nothing is known about the atomic-scale interplay of the crystal damage from the high-energy ions, the superconducting order parameter, and the vortex pinning processes. We visualize the atomic-scale effects of irradiating FeSexTe1−x with 249-MeV Au ions and find two distinct effects: compact nanometer-sized regions of crystal disruption or “columnar defects,” plus a higher density of single atomic site “point” defects probably from secondary scattering. We directly show that the superconducting order is virtually annihilated within the former and suppressed by the latter. Simultaneous atomically resolved images of the columnar crystal defects, the superconductivity, and the vortex configurations then reveal how a mixed pinning landscape is created, with the strongest vortex pinning occurring at metallic core columnar defects and secondary pinning at clusters of point-like defects, followed by collective pinning at higher fields. PMID:26601180

Imaging atomic-scale effects of high-energy ion irradiation on superconductivity and vortex pinning in Fe(Se,Te).

PubMed

Massee, Freek; Sprau, Peter Oliver; Wang, Yong-Lei; Davis, J C Séamus; Ghigo, Gianluca; Gu, Genda D; Kwok, Wai-Kwong

2015-05-01

Maximizing the sustainable supercurrent density, J C, is crucial to high-current applications of superconductivity. To achieve this, preventing dissipative motion of quantized vortices is key. Irradiation of superconductors with high-energy heavy ions can be used to create nanoscale defects that act as deep pinning potentials for vortices. This approach holds unique promise for high-current applications of iron-based superconductors because J C amplification persists to much higher radiation doses than in cuprate superconductors without significantly altering the superconducting critical temperature. However, for these compounds, virtually nothing is known about the atomic-scale interplay of the crystal damage from the high-energy ions, the superconducting order parameter, and the vortex pinning processes. We visualize the atomic-scale effects of irradiating FeSe x Te1-x with 249-MeV Au ions and find two distinct effects: compact nanometer-sized regions of crystal disruption or "columnar defects," plus a higher density of single atomic site "point" defects probably from secondary scattering. We directly show that the superconducting order is virtually annihilated within the former and suppressed by the latter. Simultaneous atomically resolved images of the columnar crystal defects, the superconductivity, and the vortex configurations then reveal how a mixed pinning landscape is created, with the strongest vortex pinning occurring at metallic core columnar defects and secondary pinning at clusters of point-like defects, followed by collective pinning at higher fields.

Emergent Ising degrees of freedom above a double-stripe magnetic ground state [Emergent Ising degrees of freedom above double-stripe magnetism

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Guanghua; Flint, Rebecca

2017-12-27

Here, double-stripe magnetism [Q=(π/2,π/2)] has been proposed as the magnetic ground state for both the iron-telluride and BaTi 2Sb 2O families of superconductors. Double-stripe order is captured within a J 1–J 2–J 3 Heisenberg model in the regime J 3 >> J 2 >> J 1. Intriguingly, besides breaking spin-rotational symmetry, the ground-state manifold has three additional Ising degrees of freedom associated with bond ordering. Via their coupling to the lattice, they give rise to an orthorhombic distortion and to two nonuniform lattice distortions with wave vector (π,π). Because the ground state is fourfold degenerate, modulo rotations in spin space,more » only two of these Ising bond order parameters are independent. Here, we introduce an effective field theory to treat all Ising order parameters, as well as magnetic order, and solve it within a large-N limit. All three transitions, corresponding to the condensations of two Ising bond order parameters and one magnetic order parameter are simultaneous and first order in three dimensions, but lower dimensionality, or equivalently weaker interlayer coupling, and weaker magnetoelastic coupling can split the three transitions, and in some cases allows for two separate Ising phase transitions above the magnetic one.« less

Emergent Ising degrees of freedom above a double-stripe magnetic ground state [Emergent Ising degrees of freedom above double-stripe magnetism

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Guanghua; Flint, Rebecca

Here, double-stripe magnetism [Q=(π/2,π/2)] has been proposed as the magnetic ground state for both the iron-telluride and BaTi 2Sb 2O families of superconductors. Double-stripe order is captured within a J 1–J 2–J 3 Heisenberg model in the regime J 3 >> J 2 >> J 1. Intriguingly, besides breaking spin-rotational symmetry, the ground-state manifold has three additional Ising degrees of freedom associated with bond ordering. Via their coupling to the lattice, they give rise to an orthorhombic distortion and to two nonuniform lattice distortions with wave vector (π,π). Because the ground state is fourfold degenerate, modulo rotations in spin space,more » only two of these Ising bond order parameters are independent. Here, we introduce an effective field theory to treat all Ising order parameters, as well as magnetic order, and solve it within a large-N limit. All three transitions, corresponding to the condensations of two Ising bond order parameters and one magnetic order parameter are simultaneous and first order in three dimensions, but lower dimensionality, or equivalently weaker interlayer coupling, and weaker magnetoelastic coupling can split the three transitions, and in some cases allows for two separate Ising phase transitions above the magnetic one.« less

Foundations of heavy-fermion superconductivity: lattice Kondo effect and Mott physics.

PubMed

Steglich, Frank; Wirth, Steffen

2016-08-01

This article overviews the development of heavy-fermion superconductivity, notably in such rare-earth-based intermetallic compounds which behave as Kondo-lattice systems. Heavy-fermion superconductivity is of unconventional nature in the sense that it is not mediated by electron-phonon coupling. Rather, in most cases the attractive interaction between charge carriers is apparently magnetic in origin. Fluctuations associated with an antiferromagnetic (AF) quantum critical point (QCP) play a major role. The first heavy-fermion superconductor CeCu2Si2 turned out to be the prototype of a larger group of materials for which the underlying, often pressure-induced, AF QCP is likely to be of a three-dimensional (3D) spin-density-wave (SDW) variety. For UBe13, the second heavy-fermion superconductor, a magnetic-field-induced 3D SDW QCP inside the superconducting phase can be conjectured. Such a 'conventional', itinerant QCP can be well understood within Landau's paradigm of order-parameter fluctuations. In contrast, the low-temperature normal-state properties of a few heavy-fermion superconductors are at odds with the Landau framework. They are characterized by an 'unconventional', local QCP which may be considered a zero-temperature 4 f-orbital selective Mott transition. Here, as concluded for YbRh2Si2, the breakdown of the Kondo effect concurring with the AF instability gives rise to an abrupt change of the Fermi surface. Very recently, superconductivity was discovered for this compound at ultra-low temperatures. Therefore, YbRh2Si2 along with CeRhIn5 under pressure provide a natural link between the large group of about fifty low-temperature heavy-fermion superconductors and other families of unconventional superconductors with substantially higher T c, e.g. the doped Mott insulators of the perovskite-type cuprates and the organic charge-transfer salts.

Surface impedance and optimum surface resistance of a superconductor with an imperfect surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gurevich, Alex; Kubo, Takayuki

2017-11-01

We calculate a low-frequency surface impedance of a dirty, s -wave superconductor with an imperfect surface incorporating either a thin layer with a reduced pairing constant or a thin, proximity-coupled normal layer. Such structures model realistic surfaces of superconducting materials which can contain oxide layers, absorbed impurities, or nonstoichiometric composition. We solved the Usadel equations self-consistently and obtained spatial distributions of the order parameter and the quasiparticle density of states which then were used to calculate a low-frequency surface resistance Rs(T ) and the magnetic penetration depth λ (T ) as functions of temperature in the limit of local London electrodynamics. It is shown that the imperfect surface in a single-band s -wave superconductor results in a nonexponential temperature dependence of Z (T ) at T ≪Tc which can mimic the behavior of multiband or d -wave superconductors. The imperfect surface and the broadening of the gap peaks in the quasiparticle density of states N (ɛ ) in the bulk give rise to a weakly temperature-dependent residual surface resistance. We show that the surface resistance can be optimized and even reduced below its value for an ideal surface by engineering N (ɛ ) at the surface using pair-breaking mechanisms, particularly by incorporating a small density of magnetic impurities or by tuning the thickness and conductivity of the normal layer and its contact resistance. The results of this work address the limit of Rs in superconductors at T ≪Tc , and the ways of engineering the optimal density of states by surface nanostructuring and impurities to reduce losses in superconducting microresonators, thin-film strip lines, and radio-frequency cavities for particle accelerators.

Impact of the Order Parameter Symmetries on the Vortex Core Structure in Iron-Based Superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belova, Polina; Zakharchuk, Ivan; Traito, Konstantin Borisovich; Lähderanta, Erkki

2012-08-01

Effects of the order parameter symmetries on the cutoff parameter ξh (determining the magnetic field distribution) in the mixed state are investigated in the framework of quasiclassical Eilenberger theory for isotropic s±, s++ and anisotropic dx2-y2-wave superconducting pairings. These symmetries are proposed for the pairing state of the Fe-pnictides. In s± pairing symmetry, the gap function has opposite sign at the electron and hole pockets of the Fermi surface, it is connected with interband antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations. In s++ pairing symmetry, the gap function has the same sign at the Fermi surface, it is mediated by moderate electron-phonon interaction due to Fe-ion oscillation and the critical orbital fluctuation. The dx2-y2 pairing symmetry can rise from intraband antiferromagnetic spin fluctuation in strongly hole overdoped iron pnictide KFe2As2 and ternary chalcogenides. The s± pairing symmetry results in different effects of intraband (Γ0) and interband (Γπ) impurity scattering on ξh. It is found that ξh/ξc2 value decreases with Γ0 leading to the values much less than those predicted by the analytical Ginzburg-Landau (AGL) theory for high Γ0. At very high Γ0, the interband scattering suppresses ξh/ξc2 considerably below one in the whole field range making it flat for both s± and s++ pairing symmetries. Scaling of the cutoff parameter with the electromagnetic coherence length shows the importance of the nonlocal effects in mixed state. The small values of ξh/ξc2 were observed in μSR measurements of Co-doped BaFe2As2. If Γ0 and Γπ are small and equal than the ξh/ξc2(B/Bc2) dependence for s± symmetry behaves like that of the AGL model and shows a minimum with value much more than that obtained for s++ superconductors. With high Γπ, the ξh/ξc2(B/Bc2) dependence resides above the AGL curve for s± pairing symmetry, as observed in SANS measurements of stoichiometrical LiFeAs compound. In d-wave superconductors, ξh/ξc2 always increases with Γ similar to the s± symmetry case with Γ0 = Γπ.

Critical phenomena at the complex tensor ordering phase transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boettcher, Igor; Herbut, Igor F.

2018-02-01

We investigate the critical properties of the phase transition towards complex tensor order that has been proposed to occur in spin-orbit-coupled superconductors. For this purpose, we formulate the bosonic field theory for fluctuations of the complex irreducible second-rank tensor order parameter close to the transition. We then determine the scale dependence of the couplings of the theory by means of the perturbative renormalization group (RG). For the isotropic system, we generically detect a fluctuation-induced first-order phase transition. The initial values for the running couplings are determined by the underlying microscopic model for the tensorial order. As an example, we study three-dimensional Luttinger semimetals with electrons at a quadratic band-touching point. Whereas the strong-coupling transition of the model receives substantial fluctuation corrections, the weak-coupling transition at low temperatures is rendered only weakly first order due to the presence of a fixed point in the vicinity of the RG trajectory. If the number of fluctuating complex components of the order parameter is reduced by cubic anisotropy, the theory maps onto the field theory for frustrated magnetism.

Switching Magnetism and Superconductivity with Spin-Polarized Current in Iron-Based Superconductor.

PubMed

Choi, Seokhwan; Choi, Hyoung Joon; Ok, Jong Mok; Lee, Yeonghoon; Jang, Won-Jun; Lee, Alex Taekyung; Kuk, Young; Lee, SungBin; Heinrich, Andreas J; Cheong, Sang-Wook; Bang, Yunkyu; Johnston, Steven; Kim, Jun Sung; Lee, Jhinhwan

2017-12-01

We explore a new mechanism for switching magnetism and superconductivity in a magnetically frustrated iron-based superconductor using spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy (SPSTM). Our SPSTM study on single-crystal Sr_{2}VO_{3}FeAs shows that a spin-polarized tunneling current can switch the Fe-layer magnetism into a nontrivial C_{4} (2×2) order, which cannot be achieved by thermal excitation with an unpolarized current. Our tunneling spectroscopy study shows that the induced C_{4} (2×2) order has characteristics of plaquette antiferromagnetic order in the Fe layer and strongly suppresses superconductivity. Also, thermal agitation beyond the bulk Fe spin ordering temperature erases the C_{4} state. These results suggest a new possibility of switching local superconductivity by changing the symmetry of magnetic order with spin-polarized and unpolarized tunneling currents in iron-based superconductors.

Switching Magnetism and Superconductivity with Spin-Polarized Current in Iron-Based Superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Seokhwan; Choi, Hyoung Joon; Ok, Jong Mok; Lee, Yeonghoon; Jang, Won-Jun; Lee, Alex Taekyung; Kuk, Young; Lee, SungBin; Heinrich, Andreas J.; Cheong, Sang-Wook; Bang, Yunkyu; Johnston, Steven; Kim, Jun Sung; Lee, Jhinhwan

2017-12-01

We explore a new mechanism for switching magnetism and superconductivity in a magnetically frustrated iron-based superconductor using spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy (SPSTM). Our SPSTM study on single-crystal Sr2VO3FeAs shows that a spin-polarized tunneling current can switch the Fe-layer magnetism into a nontrivial C4 (2 ×2 ) order, which cannot be achieved by thermal excitation with an unpolarized current. Our tunneling spectroscopy study shows that the induced C4 (2 ×2 ) order has characteristics of plaquette antiferromagnetic order in the Fe layer and strongly suppresses superconductivity. Also, thermal agitation beyond the bulk Fe spin ordering temperature erases the C4 state. These results suggest a new possibility of switching local superconductivity by changing the symmetry of magnetic order with spin-polarized and unpolarized tunneling currents in iron-based superconductors.

High temperature superconductors applications in telecommunications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kumar, A. Anil; Li, Jiang; Zhang, Ming Fang

1995-01-01

The purpose of this paper is twofold: (1) to discuss high temperature superconductors with specific reference to their employment in telecommunications applications; and (2) to discuss a few of the limitations of the normally employed two-fluid model. While the debate on the actual usage of high temperature superconductors in the design of electronic and telecommunications devices - obvious advantages versus practical difficulties - needs to be settled in the near future, it is of great interest to investigate the parameters and the assumptions that will be employed in such designs. This paper deals with the issue of providing the microwave design engineer with performance data for such superconducting waveguides. The values of conductivity and surface resistance, which are the primary determining factors of a waveguide performance, are computed based on the two-fluid model. A comparison between two models - a theoretical one in terms of microscopic parameters (termed Model A) and an experimental fit in terms of macroscopic parameters (termed Model B) - shows the limitations and the resulting ambiguities of the two-fluid model at high frequencies and at temperatures close to the transition temperature. The validity of the two-fluid model is then discussed. Our preliminary results show that the electrical transport description in the normal and superconducting phases as they are formulated in the two-fluid model needs to be modified to incorporate the new and special features of high temperature superconductors. Parameters describing the waveguide performance - conductivity, surface resistance and attenuation constant - will be computed. Potential applications in communications networks and large scale integrated circuits will be discussed. Some of the ongoing work will be reported. In particular, a brief proposal is made to investigate of the effects of electromagnetic interference and the concomitant notion of electromagnetic compatibility (EMI/EMC) of high T(sub c) superconductors.

High temperature superconductors applications in telecommunications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kumar, A.A.; Li, J.; Zhang, M.F.

1994-12-31

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to discuss high temperature superconductors with specific reference to their employment in telecommunications applications; and to discuss a few of the limitations of the normally employed two-fluid model. While the debate on the actual usage of high temperature superconductors in the design of electronic and telecommunications devices-obvious advantages versus practical difficulties-needs to be settled in the near future, it is of great interest to investigate the parameters and the assumptions that will be employed in such designs. This paper deals with the issue of providing the microwave design engineer with performance data formore » such superconducting waveguides. The values of conductivity and surface resistance, which are the primary determining factors of a waveguide performance, are computed based on the two-fluid model. A comparison between two models-a theoretical one in terms of microscopic parameters (termed Model A) and an experimental fit in terms of macroscopic parameters (termed Model B)-shows the limitations and the resulting ambiguities of the two-fluid model at high frequencies and at temperatures close to the transition temperature. The validity of the two-fluid model is then discussed. Our preliminary results show that the electrical transport description in the normal and superconducting phases as they are formulated in the two-fluid model needs to be modified to incorporate the new and special features of high temperature superconductors. Parameters describing the waveguide performance-conductivity, surface resistance and attenuation constant-will be computed. Potential applications in communications networks and large scale integrated circuits will be discussed. Some of the ongoing work will be reported. In particular, a brief proposal is made to investigate of the effects of electromagnetic interference and the concomitant notion of electromagnetic compatibility (EMI/EMC) of high T{sub c} superconductors.« less

Competing s-wave orders from Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Zhi-Hong; Fu, Yun-Chang; Nie, Zhang-Yu

2018-01-01

In this paper, the holographic superconductor model with two s-wave orders from 4 + 1 dimensional Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity is explored in the probe limit. At different values of the Gauss-Bonnet coefficient α, we study the influence of tuning the mass and charge parameters of the bulk scalar field on the free energy curve of condensed solution with signal s-wave order, and compare the difference of tuning the two different parameters while the changes of the critical temperature are the same. Based on the above results, it is indicated that the two free energy curves of different s-wave orders can have one or two intersection points, where two typical phase transition behaviors of the s + s coexistent phase, including the reentrant phase transition near the Chern-Simons limit α = 0.25, can be found. We also give an explanation to the nontrivial behavior of the Tc- α curves near the Chern-Simons limit, which might be heuristic to understand the origin of the reentrant behavior near the Chern-Simons limit.

Hidden Order as a Source of Interface Superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moor, Andreas; Volkov, Anatoly; Efetov, Konstantin

2015-03-01

We propose a new mechanism of the interfacial superconductivity observed in many heterostructures composed of different materials including high-temperature superconductors. Our proposal is based on the use of the Ginzburg-Landau equations applicable to a wide class of systems. The system under consideration is assumed to have, alongside the superconducting order parameter, also another competing order that might be a charge- or spin-density wave. At certain temperatures or doping level the superconducting state is not realized (thus, ``hidden''), while the amplitude of another order parameter corresponds to a minimum of the free energy. We also assume that at an interface or at a defect, the non-superconducting order parameter is suppressed (strongly or weakly), e.g., due to an enhanced impurity scattering. The local superconductivity is shown to emerge at the interface, and the spatial dependence of the corresponding order parameter is described by the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. The quantized values of the temperature and doping levels, at which Δ (x) arises, are determined by the ``energy'' levels of the linearized Gross-Pitaevskii equation, i.e., of the Schrodinger equation. Interestingly, the local superconductivity arises even at a small suppression of the rival order. We appreciate the support from DFG via the Projekt EF 11/8-1; K. B. E. gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation in the framework of Increase Competitiveness Program of NUST ``MISiS.''

Gravity at a Quantum Condensate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atanasov, Victor

2017-07-01

Provided a quantum superconducting condensate is allowed to occupy a curved hyper-plane of space-time, a geometric potential from the kinetic term arises. An energy conservation relation involving the geometric field at every material point in the superconductor can be demonstrated. The induced three-dimensional scalar curvature is directly related to the wavefunction/order parameter of the quantum condensate thus pointing the way to a possible experimental procedure to artificially induce curvature of space-time via change in the electric/probability current density.

Nanoscale Electronic Structure of Cuprate Superconductors Investigated with Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, Tess Lawanna

Despite 25 years of intense research activity, high-temperature superconductors remain poorly understood, with the underlying pairing mechanism still unidentified. Efforts are complicated by the remarkably complex phase diagram, rich in energy-dependent charge and spin orders. In this thesis I describe the use of a Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) to study energy-dependent charge orders in Bi2-- yPbySr2CuO6+delta , a cuprate high-temperature superconductor. STM, a surface-sensitive probe used to map electronic structure with sub-meV energy resolution and sub-A spatial resolution, has contributed greatly to our current understanding of the cuprate high-temperature superconductors. However, STM data is acquired with a constant-current normalization condition. The measured differential conductance, g(x, y, V), is often taken to be proportional to the density of states at energy eV (where V is the voltage applied between tip and sample). In fact, due to the normalization condition, the measured g(x, y, V) is actually the quotient of the density of states at energy eV and the integrated density of states from the Fermi energy to eV. This unavoidable quotient may fold electronic structure from its true energy range into other energies. I discuss a new method to correct STM differential conductance spectra to remove the constant-current normalization condition. Using local work function measurements and the constant-current topograph, I create a map which does not suffer from the setpoint effect and contains a mixture of topographic information and properly normalized spectroscopic information. I apply this method to the extraction of the incommensurate charge modulation at q⃗˜34 2pa0 . I also extend the study of electronic nematic order, an atomic-lattice-periodic C4 → C2 symmetry breaking, from highly underdoped Bi2 Sr2CaCu2O 8+delta [28] to overdoped Bi2--yPb ySr2CuO6+/-delta. I find that the electronic nematic order parameter is robust to change of scan angle. I define and contrast three different electronic nematic orders with different phases with respect to the crystal. I discuss the effect of the choice of normalization and possible alternate explanations for the source of the calculated nematic order. Finally, I discuss a drift-correction technique, which removes picometer scale drift that is introduced into a spectral map by experimental imperfections, and characterize the optimal algorithm and potential artifacts that drift-correction may introduce.

Evolution of Anisotropic Displacement Parameters and Superconductivity with Chemical Pressure in BiS2-Based REO0.5F0.5BiS2 (RE = La, Ce, Pr, and Nd)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mizuguchi, Yoshikazu; Hoshi, Kazuhisa; Goto, Yosuke; Miura, Akira; Tadanaga, Kiyoharu; Moriyoshi, Chikako; Kuroiwa, Yoshihiro

2018-02-01

In order to understand the mechanisms behind the emergence of superconductivity by the chemical pressure effect in REO0.5F0.5BiS2 (RE = La, Ce, Pr, and Nd), where bulk superconductivity is induced by the substitutions with a smaller-radius RE, we performed synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction, and analyzed the crystal structure and anisotropic displacement parameters. With the decrease of the RE3+ ionic radius, the in-plane disorder of the S1 sites significantly decreased, very similar to the trend observed in the Se-substituted systems: LaO0.5F0.5BiS2-xSex and Eu0.5La0.5FBiS2-xSex. Therefore, the emergence of bulk superconductivity upon the suppression of the in-plane disorder at the chalcogen sites is a universal scenario for the BiCh2-based superconductors. In addition, we indicated that the amplitude of vibration along the c-axis of the in-plane chalcogen sites may be related to the Tc in the BiCh2-based superconductors.

Information and complexity measures in the interface of a metal and a superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moustakidis, Ch. C.; Panos, C. P.

2018-06-01

Fisher information, Shannon information entropy and Statistical Complexity are calculated for the interface of a normal metal and a superconductor, as a function of the temperature for several materials. The order parameter Ψ (r) derived from the Ginzburg-Landau theory is used as an input together with experimental values of critical transition temperature Tc and the superconducting coherence length ξ0. Analytical expressions are obtained for information and complexity measures. Thus Tc is directly related in a simple way with disorder and complexity. An analytical relation is found of the Fisher Information with the energy profile of superconductivity i.e. the ratio of surface free energy and the bulk free energy. We verify that a simple relation holds between Shannon and Fisher information i.e. a decomposition of a global information quantity (Shannon) in terms of two local ones (Fisher information), previously derived and verified for atoms and molecules by Liu et al. Finally, we find analytical expressions for generalized information measures like the Tsallis entropy and Fisher information. We conclude that the proper value of the non-extensivity parameter q ≃ 1, in agreement with previous work using a different model, where q ≃ 1.005.

Improvement in trapped fields by stacking bulk superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suzuki, A.; Wongsatanawarid, A.; Seki, H.; Murakami, M.

2009-10-01

We studied the effects of stacking several bulk superconductor blocks on the field trapping properties. In order to avoid the detrimental effects of the bottom deteriorated parts, bulk Dy-Ba-Cu-O superconductors 45 mm in diameter and 10 mm in thickness were cut from the top parts of as-grown bulk blocks of 25 mm diameter. We stacked the superconductors and measured the field distribution as a function of the gap. The trapped field measurements were performed by field-cooling the samples inserted in between two permanent magnets with liquid nitrogen. It was found that the trapped field values are almost doubled when the number of stacked bulk superconductors increased from two to three. The present results clearly show that one can expect beneficial effects of increasing the ratio of the height to the diameter even in bulk high temperature superconductors.

Techniques for Connecting Superconducting Thin Films

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mester, John; Gwo, Dz-Hung

2006-01-01

Several improved techniques for connecting superconducting thin films on substrates have been developed. The techniques afford some versatility for tailoring the electronic and mechanical characteristics of junctions between superconductors in experimental electronic devices. The techniques are particularly useful for making superconducting or alternatively normally conductive junctions (e.g., Josephson junctions) between patterned superconducting thin films in order to exploit electron quantum-tunneling effects. The techniques are applicable to both low-Tc and high-Tc superconductors (where Tc represents the superconducting- transition temperature of a given material), offering different advantages for each. Most low-Tc superconductors are metallic, and heretofore, connections among them have been made by spot welding. Most high-Tc superconductors are nonmetallic and cannot be spot welded. These techniques offer alternatives to spot welding of most low-Tc superconductors and additional solutions to problems of connecting most high-Tc superconductors.

Competing Quantum Orderings in Cuprate Superconductors:

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, I.; Ortiz, G.; Balatsky, A. V.; Bishop, A. R.

We present a minimal model for cuprate superconductors. At the unrestricted mean-field level, the model produces homogeneous superconductivity at large doping, striped superconductivity in the underdoped regime and various antiferromagnetic phases at low doping and for high temperatures. On the underdoped side, the superconductor is intrinsically inhomogeneous and global phase coherence is achieved through Josephson-like coupling of the superconducting stripes. The model is applied to calculate experimentally measurable ARPES spectra.

Nematic topological superconducting phase in Nb-doped Bi2Se3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Junying; He, Wen-Yu; Yuan, Noah Fan Qi; Huang, Zengle; Cho, Chang-woo; Lee, Seng Huat; Hor, Yew San; Law, Kam Tuen; Lortz, Rolf

2017-10-01

A nematic topological superconductor has an order parameter symmetry, which spontaneously breaks the crystalline symmetry in its superconducting state. This state can be observed, for example, by thermodynamic or upper critical field experiments in which a magnetic field is rotated with respect to the crystalline axes. The corresponding physical quantity then directly reflects the symmetry of the order parameter. We present a study on the superconducting upper critical field of the Nb-doped topological insulator NbxBi2Se3 for various magnetic field orientations parallel and perpendicular to the basal plane of the Bi2Se3 layers. The data were obtained by two complementary experimental techniques, magnetoresistance and DC magnetization, on three different single crystalline samples of the same batch. Both methods and all samples show with perfect agreement that the in-plane upper critical fields clearly demonstrate a two-fold symmetry that breaks the three-fold crystal symmetry. The two-fold symmetry is also found in the absolute value of the magnetization of the initial zero-field-cooled branch of the hysteresis loop and in the value of the thermodynamic contribution above the irreversibility field, but also in the irreversible properties such as the value of the characteristic irreversibility field and in the width of the hysteresis loop. This provides strong experimental evidence that Nb-doped Bi2Se3 is a nematic topological superconductor similar to the Cu- and Sr-doped Bi2Se3.

Tracking vortices in superconductors: Extracting singularities from a discretized complex scalar field evolving in time

DOE PAGES

Phillips, Carolyn L.; Guo, Hanqi; Peterka, Tom; ...

2016-02-19

In type-II superconductors, the dynamics of magnetic flux vortices determine their transport properties. In the Ginzburg-Landau theory, vortices correspond to topological defects in the complex order parameter field. Earlier, we introduced a method for extracting vortices from the discretized complex order parameter field generated by a large-scale simulation of vortex matter. With this method, at a fixed time step, each vortex [simplistically, a one-dimensional (1D) curve in 3D space] can be represented as a connected graph extracted from the discretized field. Here we extend this method as a function of time as well. A vortex now corresponds to a 2Dmore » space-time sheet embedded in 4D space time that can be represented as a connected graph extracted from the discretized field over both space and time. Vortices that interact by merging or splitting correspond to disappearance and appearance of holes in the connected graph in the time direction. This method of tracking vortices, which makes no assumptions about the scale or behavior of the vortices, can track the vortices with a resolution as good as the discretization of the temporally evolving complex scalar field. In addition, even details of the trajectory between time steps can be reconstructed from the connected graph. With this form of vortex tracking, the details of vortex dynamics in a model of a superconducting materials can be understood in greater detail than previously possible.« less

Graphene based superconducting junctions as spin sources for spintronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Emamipour, Hamidreza

2018-02-01

We investigate spin-polarized transport in graphene-based ferromagnet-superconductor junctions within the Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk formalism by using spin-polarized Dirac-Bogoliubov-de-Gennes equations. We consider superconductor in spin-singlet s-wave pairing state and ferromagnet is modeled by an exchange field with energy of Ex. We have found that graphene-based junctions can be used to produce highly spin-polarized current in different situations. For example, if we design a junction with high Ex and EF compared to order parameter of superconductor, then one can have a large spin-polarized current which is tunable in magnitude and sign by bias voltage and Ex. Therefore graphene-based superconducting junction can be used in spintronic devices in alternative to conventional junctions or half-metallic ferromagnets. Also, we have found that the calculated spin polarization can be used as a tool to distinguish specular Andreev reflection (SAR) from the conventional Andreev reflection (CAR) such that in the case of CAR, spin polarization in sub-gap region is completely negative which means that spin-down current is greater than spin-up current. When the SAR is dominated, the spin polarization is positive at all bias-voltages, which itself shows that spin-up current is greater than spin-down current.

S-Shaped Suppression of the Superconducting Transition Temperature in Cu-Intercalated NbSe 2

DOE PAGES

Luo, Huixia; Strychalska-Nowak, Judyta; Li, Jun; ...

2017-03-21

2H-NbSe 2 is the prototype and most frequently studied of the well-known transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) superconductors. As 2H-NbSe 2 is widely acknowledged as a conventional superconductor, its transition temperature to the superconducting state (T c) is 7.3 K, a T c that is substantially higher than those seen for the majority of TMDCs, where Tc values between 2 and 4 K are the norm. We report the intercalation of Cu into 2H-NbSe 2 to make Cu xNbSe 2. As is typically found when chemically altering an optimal superconductor, T c decreases with an increase in x, but the waymore » that Tc is suppressed in this case is unusual: an S-shaped character is observed, with an inflection point near x = 0.03 and, at higher x values, a leveling off of the T c near 3 K, down to the usual value for a layered TMDC. Electronic characterization reveals corresponding S-like behavior for many of the parameters of the materials that influence T c. In order to illustrate its character, the superconducting phase diagram for Cu xNbSe 2 is contrasted with those of FexNbSe 2 and NbSe 2–xS x.« less

Charge of a quasiparticle in a superconductor

PubMed Central

Ronen, Yuval; Cohen, Yonatan; Kang, Jung-Hyun; Haim, Arbel; Rieder, Maria-Theresa; Heiblum, Moty; Mahalu, Diana; Shtrikman, Hadas

2016-01-01

Nonlinear charge transport in superconductor–insulator–superconductor (SIS) Josephson junctions has a unique signature in the shuttled charge quantum between the two superconductors. In the zero-bias limit Cooper pairs, each with twice the electron charge, carry the Josephson current. An applied bias VSD leads to multiple Andreev reflections (MAR), which in the limit of weak tunneling probability should lead to integer multiples of the electron charge ne traversing the junction, with n integer larger than 2Δ/eVSD and Δ the superconducting order parameter. Exceptionally, just above the gap eVSD ≥ 2Δ, with Andreev reflections suppressed, one would expect the current to be carried by partitioned quasiparticles, each with energy-dependent charge, being a superposition of an electron and a hole. Using shot-noise measurements in an SIS junction induced in an InAs nanowire (with noise proportional to the partitioned charge), we first observed quantization of the partitioned charge q = e*/e=n, with n = 1–4, thus reaffirming the validity of our charge interpretation. Concentrating next on the bias region eVSD∼2Δ, we found a reproducible and clear dip in the extracted charge to q ∼0.6, which, after excluding other possibilities, we attribute to the partitioned quasiparticle charge. Such dip is supported by numerical simulations of our SIS structure. PMID:26831071

Superconductor to Mott insulator transition in YBa2Cu3O7/LaCaMnO3 heterostructures.

PubMed

Gray, B A; Middey, S; Conti, G; Gray, A X; Kuo, C-T; Kaiser, A M; Ueda, S; Kobayashi, K; Meyers, D; Kareev, M; Tung, I C; Liu, Jian; Fadley, C S; Chakhalian, J; Freeland, J W

2016-09-15

The superconductor-to-insulator transition (SIT) induced by means such as external magnetic fields, disorder or spatial confinement is a vivid illustration of a quantum phase transition dramatically affecting the superconducting order parameter. In pursuit of a new realization of the SIT by interfacial charge transfer, we developed extremely thin superlattices composed of high Tc superconductor YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) and colossal magnetoresistance ferromagnet La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 (LCMO). By using linearly polarized resonant X-ray absorption spectroscopy and magnetic circular dichroism, combined with hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we derived a complete picture of the interfacial carrier doping in cuprate and manganite atomic layers, leading to the transition from superconducting to an unusual Mott insulating state emerging with the increase of LCMO layer thickness. In addition, contrary to the common perception that only transition metal ions may respond to the charge transfer process, we found that charge is also actively compensated by rare-earth and alkaline-earth metal ions of the interface. Such deterministic control of Tc by pure electronic doping without any hindering effects of chemical substitution is another promising route to disentangle the role of disorder on the pseudo-gap and charge density wave phases of underdoped cuprates.

The use of high temperature superconductors to levitate lunar telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, Beth A.

1992-01-01

The objective of this paper was to assist in the construction of a lunar telescope mirror model by conducting research on composite materials and other lightweight, rigid materials, and by determining how much weight can be levitated by available superconductors. It is believed that with the construction of four magnets suspended over four bulk superconductors (or vice versa), there should be no problems lifting a model mirror and stabilizing it at different positions. It may be necessary to increase the size and quality of the superconductors and/or magnets in order to achieve this.

Large-moment antiferromagnetic order in overdoped high-Tc superconductor 154SmFeAsO1-xDx

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iimura, Soshi; Okanishi, Hiroshi; Matsuishi, Satoru; Hiraka, Haruhiro; Honda, Takashi; Ikeda, Kazutaka; Hansen, Thomas C.; Otomo, Toshiya; Hosono, Hideo

2017-05-01

In iron-based superconductors, high critical temperature (Tc) superconductivity over 50 K has only been accomplished in electron-doped hREFeAsO (hRE is heavy rare earth (RE) element). Although hREFeAsO has the highest bulk Tc (58 K), progress in understanding its physical properties has been relatively slow due to difficulties in achieving high-concentration electron doping and carrying out neutron experiments. Here, we present a systematic neutron powder diffraction study of 154SmFeAsO1-xDx, and the discovery of a long-range antiferromagnetic ordering with x ≥ 0.56 (AFM2) accompanying a structural transition from tetragonal to orthorhombic. Surprisingly, the Fe magnetic moment in AFM2 reaches a magnitude of 2.73 μB/Fe, which is the largest in all nondoped iron pnictides and chalcogenides. Theoretical calculations suggest that the AFM2 phase originates in kinetic frustration of the Fe-3dxy orbital, in which the nearest-neighbor hopping parameter becomes zero. The unique phase diagram, i.e., highest-Tc superconducting phase adjacent to the strongly correlated phase in electron-overdoped regime, yields important clues to the unconventional origins of superconductivity.

Effect of processing parameters on the characteristics of high-Tc superconductor YBa2Cu3Oy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bansal, Narottam P.

1988-01-01

SEM, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction,and measurements of electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility, are presently used to characterize the influence of sintering temperature, sintering and annealing atmospheres, and quench-rate on the properties of the YBa2Cu3Oy superconducting oxide. It is established that annealing in oxygen, together with slow cooling rates, are required for preparation of high-Tc superconductors with sharp transitions; rapid quenching from high temperature does not yield good superconductors, due to low oxygen content.

Phase diagram of (Li(1-x)Fe(x))OHFeSe: a bridge between iron selenide and arsenide superconductors.

PubMed

Dong, Xiaoli; Zhou, Huaxue; Yang, Huaixin; Yuan, Jie; Jin, Kui; Zhou, Fang; Yuan, Dongna; Wei, Linlin; Li, Jianqi; Wang, Xinqiang; Zhang, Guangming; Zhao, Zhongxian

2015-01-14

Previous experimental results have shown important differences between iron selenide and arsenide superconductors which seem to suggest that the high-temperature superconductivity in these two subgroups of iron-based families may arise from different electronic ground states. Here we report the complete phase diagram of a newly synthesized superconducting (SC) system, (Li1-xFex)OHFeSe, with a structure similar to that of FeAs-based superconductors. In the non-SC samples, an antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin-density-wave (SDW) transition occurs at ∼127 K. This is the first example to demonstrate such an SDW phase in an FeSe-based superconductor system. Transmission electron microscopy shows that a well-known √5×√5 iron vacancy ordered state, resulting in an AFM order at ∼500 K in AyFe2-xSe2 (A = metal ions) superconductor systems, is absent in both non-SC and SC samples, but a unique superstructure with a modulation wave vector q = (1)/2(1,1,0), identical to that seen in the SC phase of KyFe2-xSe2, is dominant in the optimal SC sample (with an SC transition temperature Tc = 40 K). Hence, we conclude that the high-Tc superconductivity in (Li1-xFex)OHFeSe stems from the similarly weak AFM fluctuations as FeAs-based superconductors, suggesting a universal physical picture for both iron selenide and arsenide superconductors.

Two-band induced superconductivity in single-layer graphene and topological insulator bismuth selenide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Talantsev, E. F.; Crump, W. P.; Tallon, J. L.

2018-01-01

Proximity-induced superconductivity in single-layer graphene (SLG) and in topological insulators represent almost ideal examples of superconductivity in two dimensions. Fundamental mechanisms governing superconductivity in the 2D limit are of central interest for modern condensed-matter physics. To deduce fundamental parameters of superconductor/graphene/superconductor and superconductor/bismuth selenide/superconductor junctions we investigate the self-field critical currents in these devices using the formalism of the Ambegaokar-Baratoff model. Our central finding is that the induced superconducting state in SLG and bismuth selenide each exhibits gapping on two superconducting bands. Based on recent results obtained on ultra-thin films of natural superconductors, including single-atomic layer of iron selenide, double and triple atomic layers of gallium, and several atomic layer tantalum disulphide, we conclude that a two-band induced superconducting state in SLG and bismuth selenide is part of a wider, more general multiple-band phenomenology of currently unknown origin.

Superconductivity between standard types: Multiband versus single-band materials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vagov, A.; Shanenko, A. A.; Milošević, M. V.

In the nearest vicinity of the critical temperature, types I and II of conventional single-band superconductors interchange at the Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ = 1/√2. At lower temperatures this point unfolds into a narrow but finite interval of κ’s, shaping an intertype (transitional) domain in the (κ,T ) plane. In the present work, based on the extended Ginzburg-Landau formalism, we show that the same picture of the two standard types with the transitional domain in between applies also to multiband superconductors. However, the intertype domain notably widens in the presence of multiple bands and can become extremely large when the systemmore » has a significant disparity between the band parameters. It is concluded that many multiband superconductors, such as recently discovered borides and iron-based materials, can belong to the intertype regime.« less

Competing quantum orderings in cuprate superconductors: A minimal model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, I.; Ortiz, G.; Balatsky, A. V.; Bishop, A. R.

2001-02-01

We present a minimal model for cuprate superconductors. At the unrestricted mean-field level, the model produces homogeneous superconductivity at large doping, striped superconductivity in the underdoped regime and various antiferromagnetic phases at low doping and for high temperatures. On the underdoped side, the superconductor is intrinsically inhomogeneous and global phase coherence is achieved through Josephson-like coupling of the superconducting stripes. The model is applied to calculate experimentally measurable ARPES spectra.

Experimental Setup for the Investigation of Superconducting Persistent Current

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-01

This documentation is intended to support future investigations of coated conductors in either tape or wire form or for bulk superconductors in an...Introduction Second-generation, high-temperature, coated superconductors , such as yttrium barium copper oxide (Y1Ba2Cu3O7-δ, or REBCO, or RE123), are...source applications.8 In order to push the high-temperature superconductors to a more mature degree, new knowledge and deeper understanding of the

Thermoelectric refrigerator having improved temperature stabilization means

DOEpatents

Falco, Charles M.

1982-01-01

A control system for thermoelectric refrigerators is disclosed. The thermoelectric refrigerator includes at least one thermoelectric element that undergoes a first order change at a predetermined critical temperature. The element functions as a thermoelectric refrigerator element above the critical temperature, but discontinuously ceases to function as a thermoelectric refrigerator element below the critical temperature. One example of such an arrangement includes thermoelectric refrigerator elements which are superconductors. The transition temperature of one of the superconductor elements is selected as the temperature control point of the refrigerator. When the refrigerator attempts to cool below the point, the metals become superconductors losing their ability to perform as a thermoelectric refrigerator. An extremely accurate, first-order control is realized.

Influence of Magnetic Ordering between Cr Adatoms on the Yu-Shiba-Rusinov States of the β -Bi2Pd Superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Deung-Jang; Fernández, Carlos García; Herrera, Edwin; Rubio-Verdú, Carmen; Ugeda, Miguel M.; Guillamón, Isabel; Suderow, Hermann; Pascual, José Ignacio; Lorente, Nicolás

2018-04-01

We show that the magnetic ordering of coupled atomic dimers on a superconductor is revealed by their intragap spectral features. Chromium atoms on the superconductor β -Bi2Pd surface display Yu-Shiba-Rusinov bound states, detected as pairs of intragap excitations in tunneling spectra. By means of atomic manipulation with a scanning tunneling microscope's tip, we form Cr dimers with different arrangements and find that their intragap features appear either shifted or split with respect to single atoms. These spectral variations are associated with the magnetic coupling, ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic, of the dimer, as confirmed by density functional theory simulations. The striking qualitative differences between the observed tunneling spectra prove that intragap Shiba states are extremely sensitive to the magnetic ordering on the atomic scale.

High-pressure electronic phase diagrams in FeSe1-xSx superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsuura, Kohei; Arai, Yuki; Hosoi, Suguru; Ishida, Kousuke; Mizukami, Yuta; Watashige, Tatsuya; Kasahara, Shigeru; Matsuda, Yuji; Maejima, Naoyuki; Machida, Akihiko; Watanuki, Tetsu; Fukuda, Tatsuo; Uwatoko, Yoshiya; Shibauchi, Takasada

The spin fluctuations are believed to be related to the mechanism of the unconventional superconductors. On the other hand, many recent studies suggest that the nematic order that spontaneously breaks rotational symmetry of the system exists in the Fe-based superconductors and its quantum fluctuations may play an essential role for the superconductivity. However, this remains unclear because the nematic order usually coexists with the magnetic order. To solve this issue, FeSe exhibiting a nonmagnetic nematic order is a key system. Under pressure, this order is suppressed and concurrently magnetic order appears, which competes with high-Tc superconducting phase. In isovalent substitution system FeSe1-xSx, we found a nonmagnetic nematic quantum critical point. Here we report our recent high-pressure studies in high-quality single-crystalline FeSe1-xSx up to 8 GPa. We find a systematic change of the pressure phase diagram in FeSe by the S-substitution. Our results imply that the respective role of nematic and magnetic fluctuations can be elucidated from the precise control of pressure and substitution in this system.

Local tuning of the order parameter in superconducting weak links: A zero-inductance nanodevice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winik, Roni; Holzman, Itamar; Dalla Torre, Emanuele G.; Buks, Eyal; Ivry, Yachin

2018-03-01

Controlling both the amplitude and the phase of the superconducting quantum order parameter (" separators="|ψ ) in nanostructures is important for next-generation information and communication technologies. The lack of electric resistance in superconductors, which may be advantageous for some technologies, hinders convenient voltage-bias tuning and hence limits the tunability of ψ at the microscopic scale. Here, we demonstrate the local tunability of the phase and amplitude of ψ, obtained by patterning with a single lithography step a Nb nano-superconducting quantum interference device (nano-SQUID) that is biased at its nanobridges. We accompany our experimental results by a semi-classical linearized model that is valid for generic nano-SQUIDs with multiple ports and helps simplify the modelling of non-linear couplings among the Josephson junctions. Our design helped us reveal unusual electric characteristics with effective zero inductance, which is promising for nanoscale magnetic sensing and quantum technologies.

Soliton formation in the FFLO phase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Croitoru, M. D.; Buzdin, A. I.

2016-12-01

There is increasing body of experimental evidences of the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) phase in quasi-low-dimensional organic and heavy-fermion superconductors. The emergence of the FFLO phase has been demonstrated mainly based on a thermodynamic quantity or microscopically with spin polarization distribution that exhibit anomalies within the superconducting state in the presence of the in-plane magnetic field. However, the direct observation of superconducting order parameter modulation is so far (still) missing. Within the quasiclassical approach and Ginzburg-Landau formalism we study how the orbital effect of the in-plane field influences the FFLO instability in quasi-one-dimensional superconductors with a sufficiently weak interlayer coupling locking the magnetic flux to Josephson-type vortices. By making use of the continuum limit approximation of the Frenkel-Kontorova model for competing periodicities, we find and characterize the locking behavior of the modulation wave vector, when it remains equal to the magnetic length through some range of values of the external field.

Proximity-induced superconductivity in all-silicon superconductor /normal-metal junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiodi, F.; Duvauchelle, J.-E.; Marcenat, C.; Débarre, D.; Lefloch, F.

2017-07-01

We have realized laser-doped all-silicon superconducting (S)/normal metal (N) bilayers of tunable thickness and dopant concentration. We observed a strong reduction of the bilayers' critical temperature when increasing the normal metal thickness, a signature of the highly transparent S/N interface associated to the epitaxial sharp laser doping profile. We extracted the interface resistance by fitting with the linearized Usadel equations, demonstrating a reduction of 1 order of magnitude from previous superconductor/doped Si interfaces. In this well-controlled crystalline system we exploited the low-resistance S/N interfaces to elaborate all-silicon lateral SNS junctions with long-range proximity effect. Their dc transport properties, such as the critical and retrapping currents, could be well understood in the diffusive regime. Furthermore, this work led to the estimation of important parameters in ultradoped superconducting Si, such as the Fermi velocity, the coherence length, or the electron-phonon coupling constant, fundamental to conceive all-silicon superconducting electronics.

Quasiclassical analysis of vortex lattice states in Rashba noncentrosymmetric superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dan, Yuichiro; Ikeda, Ryusuke

2015-10-01

Vortex lattice states occurring in noncentrosymmetric superconductors with a spin-orbit coupling of Rashba type under a magnetic field parallel to the symmetry plane are examined by assuming the s -wave pairing case and in an approach combining the quasiclassical theory with the Landau level expansion of the superconducting order parameter. The resulting field-temperature phase diagrams include not only a discontinuous transition but a continuous crossover between different vortex lattice structures, and, further, a critical end point of a structural transition line is found at an intermediate field and a low temperature in the present approach. It is pointed out that the strange field dependence of the vortex lattice structure is a consequence of that of its anisotropy stemming from the Rashba spin-orbit coupling, and that the critical end point is related to the helical phase modulation peculiar to these materials in the ideal Pauli-limited case. Furthermore, calculation results on the local density of states detectable in STM experiments are also presented.

Magnetotransport Properties in High-Quality Ultrathin Two-Dimensional Superconducting Mo2C Crystals.

PubMed

Wang, Libin; Xu, Chuan; Liu, Zhibo; Chen, Long; Ma, Xiuliang; Cheng, Hui-Ming; Ren, Wencai; Kang, Ning

2016-04-26

Ultrathin transition metal carbides are a class of developing two-dimensional (2D) materials with superconductivity and show great potentials for electrical energy storage and other applications. Here, we report low-temperature magnetotransport measurements on high-quality ultrathin 2D superconducting α-Mo2C crystals synthesized by a chemical vapor deposition method. The magnetoresistance curves exhibit reproducible oscillations at low magnetic fields for temperature far below the superconducting transition temperature of the crystals. We interpret the oscillatory magnetoresistance as a consequence of screening currents circling around the boundary of triangle-shaped terraces found on the surface of ultrathin Mo2C crystals. As the sample thickness decreases, the Mo2C crystals exhibit negative magnetoresistance deep in the superconducting transition regime, which reveals strong phase fluctuations of the superconducting order parameters associated with the superconductor-insulator transition. Our results demonstrate that the ultrathin superconducting Mo2C crystals provide an interesting system for studying rich transport phenomena in a 2D crystalline superconductor with enhanced quantum fluctuations.

Topological antiferromagnetic spintronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Šmejkal, Libor; Mokrousov, Yuriy; Yan, Binghai; MacDonald, Allan H.

2018-03-01

The recent demonstrations of electrical manipulation and detection of antiferromagnetic spins have opened up a new chapter in the story of spintronics. Here, we review the emerging research field that is exploring the links between antiferromagnetic spintronics and topological structures in real and momentum space. Active topics include proposals to realize Majorana fermions in antiferromagnetic topological superconductors, to control topological protection and Dirac points by manipulating antiferromagnetic order parameters, and to exploit the anomalous and topological Hall effects of zero-net-moment antiferromagnets. We explain the basic concepts behind these proposals, and discuss potential applications of topological antiferromagnetic spintronics.

Flux tubes in the SU(3) vacuum: London penetration depth and coherence length

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cea, Paolo; Cosmai, Leonardo; Cuteri, Francesca; Papa, Alessandro

2014-05-01

Within the dual superconductor scenario for the QCD confining vacuum, the chromoelectric field generated by a static qq¯ pair can be fitted by a function derived, by dual analogy, from a simple variational model for the magnitude of the normalized order parameter of an isolated Abrikosov vortex. Previous results for the SU(3) vacuum are revisited, but here the transverse chromoelectric field is measured by means of the connected correlator of two Polyakov loops and, in order to reduce noise, the smearing procedure is used instead of cooling. The penetration and coherence lengths of the flux tube are then extracted from the fit and compared with previous results.

Nondestructive x-ray Scattering Characterization of High Temperature Superconducting Wires

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Thurston, T R

The purpose of this CRADA was to characterize the structural properties of the superconductor material within the wires in order to determine which processing procedures produce the best superconductor texture and phase development, and hence the best ultimate current carrying capacity.

Fe-vacancy and superconductivity in FeSe-based superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, C. H.; Chen, T. K.; Chang, C. C.; Lee, Y. C.; Wang, M. J.; Huang, K. C.; Wu, P. M.; Wu, M. K.

2018-06-01

This review summarizes recent advancements in FeSe and related systems. The FeSe and related superconductors are currently receiving considerable attention for the high Tcs observed and for many similar features to the high Tc cuprate superconductors. These similarities suggest that understanding the FeSe based compounds could potentially help our understanding of the cuprates. We shall first review the common features observed in the FeSe-based system. It was found that with a careful control of material synthesizing processes, numerous rich phases have been observed in the FeSe-based system. Detailed studies show that the Fe-vacancy ordered phases found in the FeSe based compounds, which are non-superconducting Mott insulators, are the parent compounds of the superconductors. Superconductivity emerges from the parent phases by disordering the Fe vacancy order, often by a simple annealing treatment. Recent high temperature X-ray diffraction experiments show that the degree of structural distortion associated with the disorder of Fe-vacancy is closely related to volume fraction of the superconductivity observed. These results suggest the strong lattice to spin coupling are important for the occurrence of superconductivity in FeSe based superconductors.

Lattice parameters guide superconductivity in iron-arsenides

DOE PAGES

Konzen, Lance M. N.; Sefat, Athena S.

2017-01-12

The discovery of superconducting materials has led to their use in modern technological marvels, such as magnetic field sensors in MRI machines, powerful research magnets, and high-speed trains. Despite such applications, the uses of superconductors are not widespread due to high cooling costs. Since the discovery of Cu- and Fe-based high-temperature superconductors (HTS), numerous studies have tried to explain and understand the superconducting phenomenon. While no exact explanations are given, several trends are reported in relation to the materials basis in magnetism and spin excitations. In fact, most HTS have antiferromagnetic undoped ‘parent’ materials that undergo a superconducting transition uponmore » small chemical substitutions in them. As it is currently unclear which ‘dopants’ can favor of superconductivity, this manuscript investigates crystal structure changes upon chemical substitutions, to find clues in lattice parameters for the superconducting occurrence. We review the chemical substitution effects on the crystal lattice of iron-based materials (2008 to present). We note that (a) HTS compounds have nearly tetragonal structures with a-lattice parameter close to 4 Å, and (b) superconductivity can depend strongly on the c-lattice parameter changes with chemical substitution. For example, a decrease in c-lattice parameter is required to induce ‘in-plane’ superconductivity. The review of lattice parameter trends in iron-based superconductors presented here, should guide synthesis of new materials and give clues for superconductivity.« less

Electromechanical properties of superconductors for DOE fusion applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ekin, J.W.; Moreland, J.; Brauch, J.C.

1986-03-01

This is an interim report presenting data on superconductor performance under mechanical load, which are needed for the selection of superconductors and the mechanical design of superconducting magnets for DOE fusion energy systems. A further aim of the reported research is to measure and understand the electromechanical properties of promising new superconductor materials with strong application potential at high magnetic fields. Results include the following. The first strain vs. critical-current studies were made on a Chevrel-phase superconductor, PbMo/sub 6/S/sub 8/. Chevrel-phase superconductors were found to have a large strain effect, comparable in magnitude to A-15 superconductors like Nb/sub 3/Sn. Electromechanical-propertymore » measurements of an experimental liquid-tin-infiltrated Nb/sub 3/Sn conductor showed it to have an irreversible strain limit twice as large as bronze-process supercondutors and a significantly higher overall critical-current denstiy; the liquid-infiltration process thus has the potential for development of a practical Nb/sub 3/Sn conductors with both superior critical-current density and extremely good mechanical properties. Electromechanical parameters were obtained on several Nb/sub 3/Sn conductors that are candidate materials for superconducting fusion magnets, icluding conductors fabricated by the bronze, internal-tin, and jelly-roll processes. Thermal contraction data are reported on several new structural materials for superconductor sheathing and reinforcement, and a new diagnostic tool for probing the energy gap of practical superconductors has been developed using electron tunneling.« less

Magnetic order and spin dynamics in La2O2Fe2OSe2 probed by 57Fe Mössbauer, 139La NMR, and muon-spin relaxation spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Günther, M.; Kamusella, S.; Sarkar, R.; Goltz, T.; Luetkens, H.; Pascua, G.; Do, S.-H.; Choi, K.-Y.; Zhou, H. D.; Blum, C. G. F.; Wurmehl, S.; Büchner, B.; Klauss, H.-H.

2014-11-01

We present a detailed local probe study of the magnetic order in the oxychalcogenide La2O2Fe2OSe2 utilizing 57Fe Mössbauer, 139La NMR, and muon-spin relaxation spectroscopy. This system can be regarded as an insulating reference system of the Fe arsenide and chalcogenide superconductors. From the combination of the local probe techniques we identify a noncollinear magnetic structure similar to Sr2F2Fe2OS2 . The analysis of the magnetic order parameter yields an ordering temperature TN=90.1 K and a critical exponent of β =0.133 , which is close to the two-dimensional Ising universality class as reported in the related oxychalcogenide family.

Dynamical cluster approximation plus semiclassical approximation study for a Mott insulator and d-wave pairing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, SungKun; Lee, Hunpyo

2017-06-01

Via a dynamical cluster approximation with N c = 4 in combination with a semiclassical approximation (DCA+SCA), we study the doped two-dimensional Hubbard model. We obtain a plaquette antiferromagnetic (AF) Mott insulator, a plaquette AF ordered metal, a pseudogap (or d-wave superconductor) and a paramagnetic metal by tuning the doping concentration. These features are similar to the behaviors observed in copper-oxide superconductors and are in qualitative agreement with the results calculated by the cluster dynamical mean field theory with the continuous-time quantum Monte Carlo (CDMFT+CTQMC) approach. The results of our DCA+SCA differ from those of the CDMFT+CTQMC approach in that the d-wave superconducting order parameters are shown even in the high doped region, unlike the results of the CDMFT+CTQMC approach. We think that the strong plaquette AF orderings in the dynamical cluster approximation (DCA) with N c = 4 suppress superconducting states with increasing doping up to strongly doped region, because frozen dynamical fluctuations in a semiclassical approximation (SCA) approach are unable to destroy those orderings. Our calculation with short-range spatial fluctuations is initial research, because the SCA can manage long-range spatial fluctuations in feasible computational times beyond the CDMFT+CTQMC tool. We believe that our future DCA+SCA calculations should supply information on the fully momentum-resolved physical properties, which could be compared with the results measured by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy experiments.

Observation of antiferromagnetic order collapse in the pressurized insulator LaMnPO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Jing; Simonson, Jack; Sun, Liling; Wu, Qi; Guo, Peiwen; Zhang, Chao; Gu, Dachun; Kotliar, Gabriel; Aronson, Meigan; Zhao, Zhongxian

2014-03-01

The emergence of superconductivity in the iron pnictide or cuprate high temperature superconductors usually accompanies the suppression of a long-ranged antiferromagnetic (AFM) order state in a corresponding parent compound by doping or pressurizing. A great deal of effort by doping has been made to find superconductivity in Mn-based compounds, which are thought to bridge the gap between the two families of high temperature superconductors, but the AFM order was not successfully suppressed. Here we report the first observations of the pressure-induced elimination of long-ranged AFM order at ~ 34 GPa and a crossover from an AFM insulating to an AFM metallic state at ~ 20 GPa in LaMnPO single crystals that are iso-structural to the LaFeAsO superconductor by in-situ high pressure resistance and ac susceptibility measurements. These findings are of importance to explore potential superconductivity in Mn-based compounds and to shed new light on the underlying mechanism of high temperature superconductivity.

Observation of antiferromagnetic order collapse in the pressurized insulator LaMnPO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Jing; Simonson, J. W.; Sun, Liling; Wu, Qi; Gao, Peiwen; Zhang, Chao; Gu, Dachun; Kotliar, Gabriel; Aronson, Meigan; Zhao, Zhongxian

2013-08-01

The emergence of superconductivity in the iron pnictide or cuprate high temperature superconductors usually accompanies the suppression of a long-ranged antiferromagnetic (AFM) order state in a corresponding parent compound by doping or pressurizing. A great deal of effort by doping has been made to find superconductivity in Mn-based compounds, which are thought to bridge the gap between the two families of high temperature superconductors, but the AFM order was not successfully suppressed. Here we report the first observations of the pressure-induced elimination of long-ranged AFM order at ~ 34 GPa and a crossover from an AFM insulating to an AFM metallic state at ~ 20 GPa in LaMnPO single crystals that are iso-structural to the LaFeAsO superconductor by in-situ high pressure resistance and ac susceptibility measurements. These findings are of importance to explore potential superconductivity in Mn-based compounds and to shed new light on the underlying mechanism of high temperature superconductivity.

Observation of antiferromagnetic order collapse in the pressurized insulator LaMnPO.

PubMed

Guo, Jing; Simonson, J W; Sun, Liling; Wu, Qi; Gao, Peiwen; Zhang, Chao; Gu, Dachun; Kotliar, Gabriel; Aronson, Meigan; Zhao, Zhongxian

2013-01-01

The emergence of superconductivity in the iron pnictide or cuprate high temperature superconductors usually accompanies the suppression of a long-ranged antiferromagnetic (AFM) order state in a corresponding parent compound by doping or pressurizing. A great deal of effort by doping has been made to find superconductivity in Mn-based compounds, which are thought to bridge the gap between the two families of high temperature superconductors, but the AFM order was not successfully suppressed. Here we report the first observations of the pressure-induced elimination of long-ranged AFM order at ~ 34 GPa and a crossover from an AFM insulating to an AFM metallic state at ~ 20 GPa in LaMnPO single crystals that are iso-structural to the LaFeAsO superconductor by in-situ high pressure resistance and ac susceptibility measurements. These findings are of importance to explore potential superconductivity in Mn-based compounds and to shed new light on the underlying mechanism of high temperature superconductivity.

Conventional magnetic superconductors

DOE PAGES

Wolowiec, C. T.; White, B. D.; Maple, M. B.

2015-07-01

We discuss several classes of conventional magnetic superconductors including the ternary rhodium borides and molybdenum chalcogenides (or Chevrel phases), and the quaternary nickel-borocarbides. These materials exhibit some exotic phenomena related to the interplay between superconductivity and long-range magnetic order including: the coexistence of superconductivity and antiferromagnetic order; reentrant and double reentrant superconductivity, magnetic field induced superconductivity, and the formation of a sinusoidally-modulated magnetic state that coexists with superconductivity. We introduce the article with a discussion of the binary and pseudobinary superconducting materials containing magnetic impurities which at best exhibit short-range “glassy” magnetic order. Early experiments on these materials led tomore » the idea of a magnetic exchange interaction between the localized spins of magnetic impurity ions and the spins of the conduction electrons which plays an important role in understanding conventional magnetic superconductors. Furthermore, these advances provide a natural foundation for investigating unconventional superconductivity in heavy-fermion compounds, cuprates, and other classes of materials in which superconductivity coexists with, or is in proximity to, a magnetically-ordered phase.« less

Foundations of heavy-fermion superconductivity: lattice Kondo effect and Mott physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steglich, Frank; Wirth, Steffen

2016-08-01

This article overviews the development of heavy-fermion superconductivity, notably in such rare-earth-based intermetallic compounds which behave as Kondo-lattice systems. Heavy-fermion superconductivity is of unconventional nature in the sense that it is not mediated by electron-phonon coupling. Rather, in most cases the attractive interaction between charge carriers is apparently magnetic in origin. Fluctuations associated with an antiferromagnetic (AF) quantum critical point (QCP) play a major role. The first heavy-fermion superconductor CeCu2Si2 turned out to be the prototype of a larger group of materials for which the underlying, often pressure-induced, AF QCP is likely to be of a three-dimensional (3D) spin-density-wave (SDW) variety. For UBe13, the second heavy-fermion superconductor, a magnetic-field-induced 3D SDW QCP inside the superconducting phase can be conjectured. Such a ‘conventional’, itinerant QCP can be well understood within Landau’s paradigm of order-parameter fluctuations. In contrast, the low-temperature normal-state properties of a few heavy-fermion superconductors are at odds with the Landau framework. They are characterized by an ‘unconventional’, local QCP which may be considered a zero-temperature 4 f-orbital selective Mott transition. Here, as concluded for YbRh2Si2, the breakdown of the Kondo effect concurring with the AF instability gives rise to an abrupt change of the Fermi surface. Very recently, superconductivity was discovered for this compound at ultra-low temperatures. Therefore, YbRh2Si2 along with CeRhIn5 under pressure provide a natural link between the large group of about fifty low-temperature heavy-fermion superconductors and other families of unconventional superconductors with substantially higher T c, e.g. the doped Mott insulators of the perovskite-type cuprates and the organic charge-transfer salts.

A review of finite size effects in quasi-zero dimensional superconductors.

PubMed

Bose, Sangita; Ayyub, Pushan

2014-11-01

Quantum confinement and surface effects (SEs) dramatically modify most solid state phenomena as one approaches the nanometer scale, and superconductivity is no exception. Though we may expect significant modifications from bulk superconducting properties when the system dimensions become smaller than the characteristic length scales for bulk superconductors-such as the coherence length or the penetration depth-it is now established that there is a third length scale which ultimately determines the critical size at which Cooper pairing is destroyed. In quasi-zero-dimensional (0D) superconductors (e.g. nanocrystalline materials, isolated or embedded nanoparticles), one may define a critical particle diameter below which the mean energy level spacing arising from quantum confinement becomes equal to the bulk superconducting energy gap. The so-called Anderson criterion provides a remarkably accurate estimate of the limiting size for the destabilization of superconductivity in nanosystems. This review of size effects in quasi-0D superconductors is organized as follows. A general summary of size effects in nanostructured superconductors (section 1) is followed by a brief overview of their synthesis (section 2) and characterization using a variety of techniques (section 3). Section 4 reviews the size-evolution of important superconducting parameters-the transition temperature, critical fields and critical current-as the Anderson limit is approached from above. We then discuss the effect of thermodynamic fluctuations (section 5), which become significant in confined systems. Improvements in fabrication methods and the increasing feasibility of addressing individual nanoparticles using scanning probe techniques have lately opened up new directions in the study of nanoscale superconductivity. Section 6 reviews both experimental and theoretical aspects of the recently discovered phenomena of 'parity effect' and 'shell effect' that lead to a strong, non-monotonic size dependence of the superconducting energy gap and associated properties. Finally, we discuss in section 7 the properties of ordered heterostructures (bilayers and multilayers of alternating superconducting and normal phases) and disordered heterostructures (nanocomposites consisting of superconducting and normal phases), which are primarily controlled by the proximity effect.

How the vortex lattice of a superconductor becomes disordered: a study by scanning tunneling spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Zehetmayer, M.

2015-01-01

Order-disorder transitions take place in many physical systems, but observing them in detail in real materials is difficult. In two- or quasi-two-dimensional systems, the transition has been studied by computer simulations and experimentally in electron sheets, dusty plasmas, colloidal and other systems. Here I show the different stages of defect formation in the vortex lattice of a superconductor while it undergoes an order-disorder transition by presenting real-space images of the lattice from scanning tunneling spectroscopy. When the system evolves from the ordered to the disordered state, the predominant kind of defect changes from dislocation pairs to single dislocations, and finally to defect clusters forming grain boundaries. Correlation functions indicate a hexatic-like state preceding the disordered state. The transition in the microscopic vortex distribution is mirrored by the well-known spectacular second peak effect observed in the macroscopic current density of the superconductor. PMID:25784605

How the vortex lattice of a superconductor becomes disordered: a study by scanning tunneling spectroscopy.

PubMed

Zehetmayer, M

2015-03-18

Order-disorder transitions take place in many physical systems, but observing them in detail in real materials is difficult. In two- or quasi-two-dimensional systems, the transition has been studied by computer simulations and experimentally in electron sheets, dusty plasmas, colloidal and other systems. Here I show the different stages of defect formation in the vortex lattice of a superconductor while it undergoes an order-disorder transition by presenting real-space images of the lattice from scanning tunneling spectroscopy. When the system evolves from the ordered to the disordered state, the predominant kind of defect changes from dislocation pairs to single dislocations, and finally to defect clusters forming grain boundaries. Correlation functions indicate a hexatic-like state preceding the disordered state. The transition in the microscopic vortex distribution is mirrored by the well-known spectacular second peak effect observed in the macroscopic current density of the superconductor.

Progress towards an effective model for FeSe from high-accuracy first-principles quantum Monte Carlo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Busemeyer, Brian; Wagner, Lucas K.

While the origin of superconductivity in the iron-based materials is still controversial, the proximity of the superconductivity to magnetic order is suggestive that magnetism may be important. Our previous work has suggested that first-principles Diffusion Monte Carlo (FN-DMC) can capture magnetic properties of iron-based superconductors that density functional theory (DFT) misses, but which are consistent with experiment. We report on the progress of efforts to find simple effective models consistent with the FN-DMC description of the low-lying Hilbert space of the iron-based superconductor, FeSe. We utilize a procedure outlined by Changlani et al.[1], which both produces parameter values and indications of whether the model is a good description of the first-principles Hamiltonian. Using this procedure, we evaluate several models of the magnetic part of the Hilbert space found in the literature, as well as the Hubbard model, and a spin-fermion model. We discuss which interaction parameters are important for this material, and how the material-specific properties give rise to these interactions. U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research, Scientific Discovery through Advanced Computing (SciDAC) program under Award No. FG02-12ER46875, as well as the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

Chemical bond and superconductivity. Technical report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Messmer, R.P.

1987-07-01

The search for understanding of the physical mechanisms operating in the recently discovered high-T/sub c/ superconductors forces a re-examination of the basic concepts and physical assumptions of current theoretical approaches. The attractive interaction of a more-general theory may be rather more complicated than the electron-phonon interaction usually assumed. In fact, it probably contains the critical chemical parameters of the material. This is the motivation for the present work in which the focus is two-fold: first, to call attention to some recent developments in our understanding of the chemical bond, and second, to prepose that this new understanding is not onlymore » germane to the electronic structure of solids but also provides a new perspective on the relationship between the chemical bond and superconductivity. Studying the connection between chemical bonding and superconductivity would seem to be rather an academic exercise if it were not for the high-temperature superconductors. These materials have brought attention in a dramatic fashion to the ignorance that exists in relating chemistry to the important physical parameters of a superconductor. Although this point was raised in numerous contributions by Matthias, its full import was never so apparent when the superconductors were traditional metals and alloys.« less

Fragile charge order in the nonsuperconducting ground state of the underdoped high-temperature superconductors.

PubMed

Tan, B S; Harrison, N; Zhu, Z; Balakirev, F; Ramshaw, B J; Srivastava, A; Sabok-Sayr, S A; Sabok, S A; Dabrowski, B; Lonzarich, G G; Sebastian, Suchitra E

2015-08-04

The normal state in the hole underdoped copper oxide superconductors has proven to be a source of mystery for decades. The measurement of a small Fermi surface by quantum oscillations on suppression of superconductivity by high applied magnetic fields, together with complementary spectroscopic measurements in the hole underdoped copper oxide superconductors, point to a nodal electron pocket from charge order in YBa2Cu3(6+δ). Here, we report quantum oscillation measurements in the closely related stoichiometric material YBa2Cu4O8, which reveals similar Fermi surface properties to YBa2Cu3(6+δ), despite the nonobservation of charge order signatures in the same spectroscopic techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, that revealed signatures of charge order in YBa2Cu3(6+δ). Fermi surface reconstruction in YBa2Cu4O8 is suggested to occur from magnetic field enhancement of charge order that is rendered fragile in zero magnetic fields because of its potential unconventional nature and/or its occurrence as a subsidiary to more robust underlying electronic correlations.

Dome-shaped magnetic order competing with high-temperature superconductivity at high pressures in FeSe.

PubMed

Sun, J P; Matsuura, K; Ye, G Z; Mizukami, Y; Shimozawa, M; Matsubayashi, K; Yamashita, M; Watashige, T; Kasahara, S; Matsuda, Y; Yan, J-Q; Sales, B C; Uwatoko, Y; Cheng, J-G; Shibauchi, T

2016-07-19

The coexistence and competition between superconductivity and electronic orders, such as spin or charge density waves, have been a central issue in high transition-temperature (Tc) superconductors. Unlike other iron-based superconductors, FeSe exhibits nematic ordering without magnetism whose relationship with its superconductivity remains unclear. Moreover, a pressure-induced fourfold increase of Tc has been reported, which poses a profound mystery. Here we report high-pressure magnetotransport measurements in FeSe up to ∼15 GPa, which uncover the dome shape of magnetic phase superseding the nematic order. Above ∼6 GPa the sudden enhancement of superconductivity (Tc≤38.3 K) accompanies a suppression of magnetic order, demonstrating their competing nature with very similar energy scales. Above the magnetic dome, we find anomalous transport properties suggesting a possible pseudogap formation, whereas linear-in-temperature resistivity is observed in the normal states of the high-Tc phase above 6 GPa. The obtained phase diagram highlights unique features of FeSe among iron-based superconductors, but bears some resemblance to that of high-Tc cuprates.

Competing Quantum Orderings in Cuprate Superconductors: A Minimal Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, Ivar; Ortiz, Gerardo; Balatsky, A. V.; Bishop, A. R.

2001-03-01

We present a minimal model for cuprate superconductors. At the unrestricted mean-field level, the model produces homogeneous superconductivity at large doping, striped superconductivity in the underdoped regime and various antiferromagnetic phases at low doping and for high temperatures. On the underdoped side, the superconductor is intrinsically inhomogeneous and global phase coherence is achieved through Josephson-like coupling of the superconducting stripes. The model is applied to calculate experimentally measurable ARPES spectra, and local density of states measurable by STM.

Exotic magnetic states in Pauli-limited superconductors.

PubMed

Kenzelmann, M

2017-03-01

Magnetism and superconductivity compete or interact in complex and intricate ways. Here we review the special case where novel magnetic phenomena appear due to superconductivity, but do not exist without it. Such states have recently been identified in unconventional superconductors. They are different from the mere coexistence of magnetic order and superconductivity in conventional superconductors, or from competing magnetic and superconducting phases in many materials. We describe the recent progress in the study of such exotic magnetic phases, and articulate the many open questions in this field.

Model of electron pairs in electron-doped cuprates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, R. J.; Khan, Shakeel

2016-07-01

In the order parameter of hole-doped cuprate superconductors in the pseudogap phase, two holes enter the order parameter from opposite sides and pass through various CuO2 cells jumping from one O2- to the other under the influence of magnetic field offered by the Cu2+ ions in that CuO2 cell and thus forming hole pairs. In the pseudogap phase of electron-doped cuprates, two electrons enter the order parameter at Cu2+ sites from opposite ends and pass from one Cu2+ site to the diagonally opposite Cu2+ site. Following this type of path, they are subjected to high magnetic fields from various Cu2+ ions in that cell. They do not travel from one Cu2+ site to the other along straight path but by helical path. As they pass through the diagonal, they face high to low to very high magnetic field. Therefore, frequency of helical motion and pitch goes on changing with the magnetic field. Just before reaching the Cu2+ ions at the exit points of all the cells, the pitch of the helical motion is enormously decreased and thus charge density at these sites is increased. So the velocity of electrons along the diagonal path is decreased. Consequently, transition temperature of electron-doped cuprates becomes less than that of hole-doped cuprates. Symmetry of the order parameter of the electron-doped cuprates has been found to be of 3dx2-y2 + iS type. It has been inferred that internal magnetic field inside the order parameter reconstructs the Fermi surface, which is requisite for superconductivity to take place. Electron pairs formed in the pseudogap phase are the precursors of superconducting order parameter when cooled below Tc.

Disappearance of nodal gap across the insulator-superconductor transition in a copper-oxide superconductor.

PubMed

Peng, Yingying; Meng, Jianqiao; Mou, Daixiang; He, Junfeng; Zhao, Lin; Wu, Yue; Liu, Guodong; Dong, Xiaoli; He, Shaolong; Zhang, Jun; Wang, Xiaoyang; Peng, Qinjun; Wang, Zhimin; Zhang, Shenjin; Yang, Feng; Chen, Chuangtian; Xu, Zuyan; Lee, T K; Zhou, X J

2013-01-01

The parent compound of the copper-oxide high-temperature superconductors is a Mott insulator. Superconductivity is realized by doping an appropriate amount of charge carriers. How a Mott insulator transforms into a superconductor is crucial in understanding the unusual physical properties of high-temperature superconductors and the superconductivity mechanism. Here we report high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission measurement on heavily underdoped Bi₂Sr₂-xLaxCuO(₆+δ) system. The electronic structure of the lightly doped samples exhibit a number of characteristics: existence of an energy gap along the nodal direction, d-wave-like anisotropic energy gap along the underlying Fermi surface, and coexistence of a coherence peak and a broad hump in the photoemission spectra. Our results reveal a clear insulator-superconductor transition at a critical doping level of ~0.10 where the nodal energy gap approaches zero, the three-dimensional antiferromagnetic order disappears, and superconductivity starts to emerge. These observations clearly signal a close connection between the nodal gap, antiferromagnetism and superconductivity.

Experimental investigations of recent anomalous results in superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Souw, Victor K.

2000-12-01

This thesis examines three recent anomalous results associated with irreversibility in type-II superconductivity: (1) The magnetic properties of the predicted superconductors LiBeH3 and Li2BeH 4, (2) the paramagnetic transition near T = Tc in Nb, and (3) a noise transition in a YBa2Cu3O7-delta thin film near the vortex-solid transition. The investigation of Li 2BeH4 and LiBeH3 was prompted by theoretical predictions of room-temperature superconductivity for Li2BeH4 and LiBeH3 and a recent report that Li2BeH4 showed magnetic irreversibilities similar to those of type-II superconductors. A modified experimental method is introduced in order to avoid artifacts due to background signals. The resulting data is suggestive of a superparamagnetic impurity from one of the reagents used in the synthesis and after subtracting this contribution, the temperature-dependent susceptibilities of Li2 BeH4 and LiBeH3 are estimated. However, no magnetic irreversibility suggestive of superconductivity is observed. The anomalous paramagnetic transition in Nb is intriguing because Nb does not share the d-wave order parameter symmetry often invoked to explain the phenomenon in other superconductors. A modified experimental method was developed in order to avoid instrumental artifacts known to produce a similar apparently paramagnetic response, but the results of this method indicate that the paramagnetic response is a physical property of the sample. Finally, a very sharp noise transition in a YBa2Cu3O7-delta thin film was found to be distinct from previously reported features in the voltage noise commonly associated with vortex fluctuations near the irreversibility line. In each of these three cases the examination of experimental techniques is an integral part of the investigation of novel vortex behavior near the onset of irreversibility.

Campbell penetration depth in Fe-based superconductors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Prommapan, Plegchart

A 'true' critical current density, j c, as opposite to commonly measured relaxed persistent (Bean) current, j B, was extracted from the Campbell penetration depth, Λ c(T,H) measured in single crystals of LiFeAs, and optimally electron-doped Ba(Fe 0.954Ni 0.046) 2As 2 (FeNi122). In LiFeAs, the effective pinning potential is nonparabolic, which follows from the magnetic field - dependent Labusch parameter α. At the equilibrium (upon field - cooling), α(H) is non-monotonic, but it is monotonic at a finite gradient of the vortex density. This behavior leads to a faster magnetic relaxation at the lower fields and provides a natural dynamicmore » explanation for the fishtail (second peak) effect. We also find the evidence for strong pinning at the lower fields.The inferred field dependence of the pinning potential is consistent with the evolution from strong pinning, through collective pinning, and eventually to a disordered vortex lattice. The value of jc(2 K) ≅ 1.22 x 10 6 A/cm 2 provide an upper estimate of the current carrying capability of LiFeAs. Overall, vortex behavior of almost isotropic, fully-gapped LiFeAs is very similar to highly anisotropic d-wave cuprate superconductors, the similarity that requires further studies in order to understand unconventional superconductivity in cuprates and pnictides. In addition to LiFeAs, we also report the magnetic penetration depth in BaFe 2As 2 based superconductors including irradiation of FeNi122. In unirradiated FeNi122, the maximum critical current value is, j c(2K) ≅ 3.3 x 10 6 A/cm 2. The magnetic-dependent feature was observed near the transition temperature in FeTe 0.53Se 0.47 and irradiated FeNi122. Because of this feature, further studies are required in order to properly calibrate the Campbell penetration depth. Finally, we detected the crossing between the magnetic penetration depth and London penetration depth in optimally hold-doped Ba 0.6K 0.4Fe 2As 2 (BaK122) and isovalent doped BaFe 2(As 0.7P 0.3) 2 (BaP122). These phenomena probably coincide with anomalous Meissner effect reported in pnicitde superconductors [Prozorov et al. (2010b)] however more studies are needed in order to clarify this.« less

Campbell penetration depth in iron-based superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prommapan, Plengchart

2011-12-01

A "true" critical current density, jc, as opposite to commonly measured relaxed persistent (Bean) current, jB, was extracted from the Campbell penetration depth, lambda C(T, H) measured in single crystals of LiFeAs, and optimally electron-doped Ba (Fe0.954Ni 0.046)2As2 (FeNi122). In LiFeAs, the effective pinning potential is non-parabolic, which follows from the magnetic field - dependent Labusch parameter alpha. At the equilibrium (upon field - cooling), alpha( H) is non-monotonic, but it is monotonic at a finite gradient of the vortex density. This behavior leads to a faster magnetic relaxation at the lower fields and provides a natural dynamic explanation for the fishtail (second peak) effect. We also find the evidence for strong pinning at the lower fields.The inferred field dependence of the pinning potential is consistent with the evolution from strong pinning, through collective pinning, and eventually to a disordered vortex lattice. The value of j c (2 K) ≃ 1:22 x106 A/cm² provide an upper estimate of the current carrying capability of LiFeAs. Overall, vortex behavior of almost isotropic, fully-gapped LiFeAs is very similar to highly anisotropic d-wave cuprate superconductors, the similarity that requires further studies in order to understand unconventional superconductivity in cuprates and pnictides. In addition to LiFeAs, we also report the magnetic penetration depth in BaFe2As2 based superconductors including irradiation of FeNi122. In unirradiated FeNi122, the maximum critical current value is, jc(2 K) ≃ 3.3 x 106 A/cm². The magnetic-dependent feature was observed near the transition temperature in FeTe0.53Se0.47 and irradiated FeNi122. Because of this feature, further studies are required in order to properly calibrate the Campbell penetration depth. Finally, we detected the crossing between the magnetic penetration depth and London penetration depth in optimally hold-doped Ba0.6K 0.4Fe2As2 (BaK122) and isovalent doped BaFe2(As0.7P0.3)2 (BaP122). These phenomena probably coincide with anomalous Meissner effect reported in pnictide superconductors [Prozorov et al. (2010b)] however more studies are needed in order to clarify this.

Local suppression of the superfluid density of PuCoGa5 by strong onsite disorder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Tanmoy; Zhu, Jian-Xin; Graf, Matthias J.

2011-10-01

We present superfluid density calculations for the unconventional superconductor PuCoGa5 by solving the real-space Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations on a square lattice within the Swiss-cheese model in the presence of strong onsite disorder. We find that, despite strong electronic inhomogeneity, one can establish a one-to-one correspondence between the local maps of the density of states, superconducting order parameter, and superfluid density. In this model, strong onsite impurity scattering punches localized holes into the fabric of d-wave superconductivity similar to a Swiss cheese. Already, a two-dimensional impurity concentration of nimp=4% gives rise to a pronounced short-range suppression of the order parameter and a suppression of the superconducting transition temperature Tc by roughly 20% compared to its pure limit value Tc0, whereas the superfluid density ρs is reduced drastically by about 70%. This result is consistent with available experimental data for aged (400-day-old) and fresh (25-day-old) PuCoGa5 superconducting samples. In addition, we show that the T2 dependence of the low-T superfluid density, a signature of dirty d-wave superconductivity, originates from a combined effect in the density of states of “gap filling” and “gap closing.” Finally, we demonstrate that the Uemuera plot of Tc versus ρs deviates sharply from the conventional Abrikosov-Gor’kov theory for radiation-induced defects in PuCoGa5, but follows the same trend of short-coherence-length high-Tc cuprate superconductors.

Studies of superconducting materials with muon spin rotation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, Michael R.; Stronach, Carey E.; Kossler, W. J.; Schone, H. E.; Yu, X. H.; Uemura, Y. J.; Sternlieb, B. J.; Kempton, J. R.; Oostens, J.; Lankford, W. F.

1989-01-01

The muon spin rotation/relaxation technique was found to be an exceptionally effective means of measuring the magnetic properties of superconductors, including the new high temperature superconductor materials, at the microscopic level. The technique directly measures the magnetic penetration depth (type II superconductors (SC's)) and detects the presence of magnetic ordering (antiferromagnetism or spin-glass ordering were observed in some high temperature superconductor (HTSC's) and in many closely related compounds). Extensive studies of HTSC materials were conducted by the Virginia State University - College of William and Mary - Columbia University collaboration at Brookhaven National Laboratory and TRIUMF (Vancouver). A survey of LaSrCuO and YBaCaCuO systems shows an essentially linear relationship between the transition temperature T(sub c) and the relaxation rate. This appears to be a manifestation of the proportionality between T(sub c) and the Fermi energy, which suggests a high energy scale for the SC coupling, and which is not consistent with the weak coupling of phonon-mediated SC. Studies of LaCuO and YBaCuO parent compounds show clear evidence of antiferromagnetism. YBa2Cu(3-x)CO(x)O7 shows the simultaneous presence of spin-glass magnetic ordering and superconductivity. Three-dimensional SC, (Ba, K) BiO3, unlike the layered CuO-based compounds, shows no suggestion of magnetic ordering. Experimental techniques and theoretical implications are discussed.

High-pressure effects on isotropic superconductivity in the iron-free layered pnictide superconductor BaPd2As2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdel-Hafiez, M.; Zhao, Y.; Huang, Z.; Cho, C.-w.; Wong, C. H.; Hassen, A.; Ohkuma, M.; Fang, Y.-W.; Pan, B.-J.; Ren, Z.-A.; Sadakov, A.; Usoltsev, A.; Pudalov, V.; Mito, M.; Lortz, R.; Krellner, C.; Yang, W.

2018-04-01

While the layered 122 iron arsenide superconductors are highly anisotropic, unconventional, and exhibit several forms of electronic orders that coexist or compete with superconductivity in different regions of their phase diagrams, we find in the absence of iron in the structure that the superconducting characteristics of the end member BaPd2As2 are surprisingly conventional. Here we report on complementary measurements of specific heat, magnetic susceptibility, resistivity measurements, Andreev spectroscopy, and synchrotron high pressure x-ray diffraction measurements supplemented with theoretical calculations for BaPd2As2 . Its superconducting properties are completely isotropic as demonstrated by the critical fields, which do not depend on the direction of the applied field. Under the application of high pressure, Tc is linearly suppressed, which is the typical behavior of classical phonon-mediated superconductors with some additional effect of a pressure-induced decrease in the electronic density of states and the electron-phonon coupling parameters. Structural changes in the layered BaPd2As2 have been studied by means of angle-dispersive diffraction in a diamond-anvil cell. At 12 GPa and 24.2 GPa we observed pressure induced lattice distortions manifesting as the discontinuity and, hence discontinuity in the Birch-Murnaghan equation of state. The bulk modulus is B0=40 (6 ) GPa below 12 GPa and B0=142 (3 ) GPa below 27.2 GPa.

Superconductor to Mott insulator transition in YBa 2Cu 3O 7/LaCaMnO 3 heterostructures

DOE PAGES

Gray, B. A.; Middey, S.; Conti, G.; ...

2016-09-15

The superconductor-to-insulator transition (SIT) induced by means such as external magnetic fields, disorder or spatial confinement is a vivid illustration of a quantum phase transition dramatically affecting the superconducting order parameter. In this paper, in pursuit of a new realization of the SIT by interfacial charge transfer, we developed extremely thin superlattices composed of high Tc superconductor YBa 2Cu 3O 7 (YBCO) and colossal magnetoresistance ferromagnet La 0.67Ca 0.33MnO 3 (LCMO). By using linearly polarized resonant X-ray absorption spectroscopy and magnetic circular dichroism, combined with hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we derived a complete picture of the interfacial carrier doping inmore » cuprate and manganite atomic layers, leading to the transition from superconducting to an unusual Mott insulating state emerging with the increase of LCMO layer thickness. In addition, contrary to the common perception that only transition metal ions may respond to the charge transfer process, we found that charge is also actively compensated by rare-earth and alkaline-earth metal ions of the interface. Finally, such deterministic control of Tc by pure electronic doping without any hindering effects of chemical substitution is another promising route to disentangle the role of disorder on the pseudo-gap and charge density wave phases of underdoped cuprates.« less

Limits on superconductivity-related magnetization in Sr 2RuO 4 and PrOs 4Sb 12 from scanning SQUID microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moler, Kathryn

2010-08-26

We present scanning SQUID microscopy data on the superconductors Sr{sub 2}RuO{sub 4} (T{sub c} = 1.5 K) and PrOs{sub 4}Sb{sub 12} (T{sub c} = 1.8 K). In both of these materials, superconductivity-related time-reversal symmetry-breaking fields have been observed by muon spin rotation; our aim was to visualize the structure of these fields. However in neither Sr{sub 2}RuO{sub 4} nor PrOs{sub 4}Sb{sub 12} do we observe spontaneous superconductivity-related magnetization. In Sr{sub 2}RuO{sub 4}, many experimental results have been interpreted on the basis of a p{sub x} {+-} ip{sub y} superconducting order parameter. This order parameter is expected to give spontaneous magneticmore » induction at sample edges and order parameter domain walls. Supposing large domains, our data restrict domain wall and edge fields to no more than {approx}0.1% and {approx}0.2% of the expected magnitude, respectively. Alternatively, if the magnetization is of the expected order, the typical domain size is limited to {approx}30 nm for random domains, or {approx} 500 nm for periodic domains.« less

Doping dependence of charge order in electron-doped cuprate superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mou, Yingping; Feng, Shiping

2017-12-01

In the recent studies of the unconventional physics in cuprate superconductors, one of the central issues is the interplay between charge order and superconductivity. Here the mechanism of the charge-order formation in the electron-doped cuprate superconductors is investigated based on the t-J model. The experimentally observed momentum dependence of the electron quasiparticle scattering rate is qualitatively reproduced, where the scattering rate is highly anisotropic in momentum space, and is intriguingly related to the charge-order gap. Although the scattering strength appears to be weakest at the hot spots, the scattering in the antinodal region is stronger than that in the nodal region, which leads to the original electron Fermi surface is broken up into the Fermi pockets and their coexistence with the Fermi arcs located around the nodal region. In particular, this electron Fermi surface instability drives the charge-order correlation, with the charge-order wave vector that matches well with the wave vector connecting the hot spots, as the charge-order correlation in the hole-doped counterparts. However, in a striking contrast to the hole-doped case, the charge-order wave vector in the electron-doped side increases in magnitude with the electron doping. The theory also shows the existence of a quantitative link between the single-electron fermiology and the collective response of the electron density.

Characteristics of YBa2Cu3O7 high-Tc superconductor with KCl

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoon, Ki Hyun; Chang, Sung Sik

1990-03-01

The lattice parameters, microstructural change, transition temperature, and electrical properties of the YBa2-xKxCu3O7 high-Tc superconductor in the range from x=0 to x=0.25 have been investigated. The high-Tc orthorhombic phase increases with increasing KCl up to x=0.20, above which it decreases. The lattice parameters decrease with increasing KCl up to x=0.10, and then become nearly uniform. The grain size increases with increasing KCl up to x=0.20 due to its role as sintering agent. The specimens with x=0.2 have transition temperatures of 96 K and high magnetic susceptibility due to the contraction of lattice parameters a and b and the increase of orthorhombic distortion.

Strong competition between ΘI I-loop-current order and d -wave charge order along the diagonal direction in a two-dimensional hot spot model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Carvalho, Vanuildo S.; Kloss, Thomas; Montiel, Xavier; Freire, Hermann; Pépin, Catherine

2015-08-01

We study the fate of the so-called ΘI I-loop-current order that breaks both time-reversal and parity symmetries in a two-dimensional hot spot model with antiferromagnetically mediated interactions, using Fermi surfaces relevant to the phenomenology of the cuprate superconductors. We start from a three-band Emery model describing the hopping of holes in the CuO2 plane that includes two hopping parameters tp p and tp d, local onsite Coulomb interactions Ud and Up, and nearest-neighbor Vp d couplings between the fermions in the copper [Cu (3 dx2-y2) ] and oxygen [O (2 px) and O (2 py)] orbitals. By focusing on the lowest-energy band, we proceed to decouple the local interaction Ud of the Cu orbital in the spin channel using a Hubbard-Stratonovich transformation to arrive at the interacting part of the so-called spin-fermion model. We also decouple the nearest-neighbor interaction Vp d to introduce the order parameter of the ΘI I-loop-current order. In this way, we are able to construct a consistent mean-field theory that describes the strong competition between the composite order parameter made of a quadrupole-density wave and d -wave pairing fluctuations proposed in Efetov et al. [Nat. Phys. 9, 442 (2013), 10.1038/nphys2641] with the ΘI I-loop-current order parameter that is argued to be relevant for explaining important aspects of the physics of the pseudogap phase displayed in the underdoped cuprates.

GaN/NbN epitaxial semiconductor/superconductor heterostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Rusen; Khalsa, Guru; Vishwanath, Suresh; Han, Yimo; Wright, John; Rouvimov, Sergei; Katzer, D. Scott; Nepal, Neeraj; Downey, Brian P.; Muller, David A.; Xing, Huili G.; Meyer, David J.; Jena, Debdeep

2018-03-01

Epitaxy is a process by which a thin layer of one crystal is deposited in an ordered fashion onto a substrate crystal. The direct epitaxial growth of semiconductor heterostructures on top of crystalline superconductors has proved challenging. Here, however, we report the successful use of molecular beam epitaxy to grow and integrate niobium nitride (NbN)-based superconductors with the wide-bandgap family of semiconductors—silicon carbide, gallium nitride (GaN) and aluminium gallium nitride (AlGaN). We apply molecular beam epitaxy to grow an AlGaN/GaN quantum-well heterostructure directly on top of an ultrathin crystalline NbN superconductor. The resulting high-mobility, two-dimensional electron gas in the semiconductor exhibits quantum oscillations, and thus enables a semiconductor transistor—an electronic gain element—to be grown and fabricated directly on a crystalline superconductor. Using the epitaxial superconductor as the source load of the transistor, we observe in the transistor output characteristics a negative differential resistance—a feature often used in amplifiers and oscillators. Our demonstration of the direct epitaxial growth of high-quality semiconductor heterostructures and devices on crystalline nitride superconductors opens up the possibility of combining the macroscopic quantum effects of superconductors with the electronic, photonic and piezoelectric properties of the group III/nitride semiconductor family.

GaN/NbN epitaxial semiconductor/superconductor heterostructures.

PubMed

Yan, Rusen; Khalsa, Guru; Vishwanath, Suresh; Han, Yimo; Wright, John; Rouvimov, Sergei; Katzer, D Scott; Nepal, Neeraj; Downey, Brian P; Muller, David A; Xing, Huili G; Meyer, David J; Jena, Debdeep

2018-03-07

Epitaxy is a process by which a thin layer of one crystal is deposited in an ordered fashion onto a substrate crystal. The direct epitaxial growth of semiconductor heterostructures on top of crystalline superconductors has proved challenging. Here, however, we report the successful use of molecular beam epitaxy to grow and integrate niobium nitride (NbN)-based superconductors with the wide-bandgap family of semiconductors-silicon carbide, gallium nitride (GaN) and aluminium gallium nitride (AlGaN). We apply molecular beam epitaxy to grow an AlGaN/GaN quantum-well heterostructure directly on top of an ultrathin crystalline NbN superconductor. The resulting high-mobility, two-dimensional electron gas in the semiconductor exhibits quantum oscillations, and thus enables a semiconductor transistor-an electronic gain element-to be grown and fabricated directly on a crystalline superconductor. Using the epitaxial superconductor as the source load of the transistor, we observe in the transistor output characteristics a negative differential resistance-a feature often used in amplifiers and oscillators. Our demonstration of the direct epitaxial growth of high-quality semiconductor heterostructures and devices on crystalline nitride superconductors opens up the possibility of combining the macroscopic quantum effects of superconductors with the electronic, photonic and piezoelectric properties of the group III/nitride semiconductor family.

Nonequilibrium optical control of dynamical states in superconducting nanowire circuits.

PubMed

Madan, Ivan; Buh, Jože; Baranov, Vladimir V; Kabanov, Viktor V; Mrzel, Aleš; Mihailovic, Dragan

2018-03-01

Optical control of states exhibiting macroscopic phase coherence in condensed matter systems opens intriguing possibilities for materials and device engineering, including optically controlled qubits and photoinduced superconductivity. Metastable states, which in bulk materials are often associated with the formation of topological defects, are of more practical interest. Scaling to nanosize leads to reduced dimensionality, fundamentally changing the system's properties. In one-dimensional superconducting nanowires, vortices that are present in three-dimensional systems are replaced by fluctuating topological defects of the phase. These drastically change the dynamical behavior of the superconductor and introduce dynamical periodic long-range ordered states when the current is driven through the wire. We report the control and manipulation of transitions between different dynamically stable states in superconducting δ 3 -MoN nanowire circuits by ultrashort laser pulses. Not only can the transitions between different dynamically stable states be precisely controlled by light, but we also discovered new photoinduced hidden states that cannot be reached under near-equilibrium conditions, created while laser photoexcited quasi-particles are outside the equilibrium condition. The observed switching behavior can be understood in terms of dynamical stabilization of various spatiotemporal periodic trajectories of the order parameter in the superconductor nanowire, providing means for the optical control of the superconducting phase with subpicosecond control of timing.

Large-moment antiferromagnetic order in overdoped high-Tc superconductor 154SmFeAsO1-x D x .

PubMed

Iimura, Soshi; Okanishi, Hiroshi; Matsuishi, Satoru; Hiraka, Haruhiro; Honda, Takashi; Ikeda, Kazutaka; Hansen, Thomas C; Otomo, Toshiya; Hosono, Hideo

2017-05-30

In iron-based superconductors, high critical temperature ( T c ) superconductivity over 50 K has only been accomplished in electron-doped hRE FeAsO ( hRE is heavy rare earth ( RE ) element). Although hRE FeAsO has the highest bulk T c (58 K), progress in understanding its physical properties has been relatively slow due to difficulties in achieving high-concentration electron doping and carrying out neutron experiments. Here, we present a systematic neutron powder diffraction study of 154 SmFeAsO 1- x D x , and the discovery of a long-range antiferromagnetic ordering with x ≥ 0.56 (AFM2) accompanying a structural transition from tetragonal to orthorhombic. Surprisingly, the Fe magnetic moment in AFM2 reaches a magnitude of 2.73 μ B /Fe, which is the largest in all nondoped iron pnictides and chalcogenides. Theoretical calculations suggest that the AFM2 phase originates in kinetic frustration of the Fe-3 d xy orbital, in which the nearest-neighbor hopping parameter becomes zero. The unique phase diagram, i.e., highest- T c superconducting phase adjacent to the strongly correlated phase in electron-overdoped regime, yields important clues to the unconventional origins of superconductivity.

Optimization of HTS superconducting magnetic energy storage magnet volume

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korpela, Aki; Lehtonen, Jorma; Mikkonen, Risto

2003-08-01

Nonlinear optimization problems in the field of electromagnetics have been successfully solved by means of sequential quadratic programming (SQP) and the finite element method (FEM). For example, the combination of SQP and FEM has been proven to be an efficient tool in the optimization of low temperature superconductors (LTS) superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) magnets. The procedure can also be applied for the optimization of HTS magnets. However, due to a strongly anisotropic material and a slanted electric field, current density characteristic high temperature superconductors HTS optimization is quite different from that of the LTS. In this paper the volumes of solenoidal conduction-cooled Bi-2223/Ag SMES magnets have been optimized at the operation temperature of 20 K. In addition to the electromagnetic constraints the stress caused by the tape bending has also been taken into account. Several optimization runs with different initial geometries were performed in order to find the best possible solution for a certain energy requirement. The optimization constraints describe the steady-state operation, thus the presented coil geometries are designed for slow ramping rates. Different energy requirements were investigated in order to find the energy dependence of the design parameters of optimized solenoidal HTS coils. According to the results, these dependences can be described with polynomial expressions.

Nonequilibrium optical control of dynamical states in superconducting nanowire circuits

PubMed Central

Madan, Ivan; Baranov, Vladimir V.

2018-01-01

Optical control of states exhibiting macroscopic phase coherence in condensed matter systems opens intriguing possibilities for materials and device engineering, including optically controlled qubits and photoinduced superconductivity. Metastable states, which in bulk materials are often associated with the formation of topological defects, are of more practical interest. Scaling to nanosize leads to reduced dimensionality, fundamentally changing the system’s properties. In one-dimensional superconducting nanowires, vortices that are present in three-dimensional systems are replaced by fluctuating topological defects of the phase. These drastically change the dynamical behavior of the superconductor and introduce dynamical periodic long-range ordered states when the current is driven through the wire. We report the control and manipulation of transitions between different dynamically stable states in superconducting δ3-MoN nanowire circuits by ultrashort laser pulses. Not only can the transitions between different dynamically stable states be precisely controlled by light, but we also discovered new photoinduced hidden states that cannot be reached under near-equilibrium conditions, created while laser photoexcited quasi-particles are outside the equilibrium condition. The observed switching behavior can be understood in terms of dynamical stabilization of various spatiotemporal periodic trajectories of the order parameter in the superconductor nanowire, providing means for the optical control of the superconducting phase with subpicosecond control of timing. PMID:29670935

Conductivity of higher dimensional holographic superconductors with nonlinear electrodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheykhi, Ahmad; Hashemi Asl, Doa; Dehyadegari, Amin

2018-06-01

We investigate analytically as well as numerically the properties of s-wave holographic superconductors in d-dimensional spacetime and in the presence of Logarithmic nonlinear electrodynamics. We study three aspects of this kind of superconductors. First, we obtain, by employing analytical Sturm-Liouville method as well as numerical shooting method, the relation between critical temperature and charge density, ρ, and disclose the effects of both nonlinear parameter b and the dimensions of spacetime, d, on the critical temperature Tc. We find that in each dimension, Tc /ρ 1 / (d - 2) decreases with increasing the nonlinear parameter b while it increases with increasing the dimension of spacetime for a fixed value of b. Then, we calculate the condensation value and critical exponent of the system analytically and numerically and observe that in each dimension, the dimensionless condensation get larger with increasing the nonlinear parameter b. Besides, for a fixed value of b, it increases with increasing the spacetime dimension. We confirm that the results obtained from our analytical method are in agreement with the results obtained from numerical shooting method. This fact further supports the correctness of our analytical method. Finally, we explore the holographic conductivity of this system and find out that the superconducting gap increases with increasing either the nonlinear parameter or the spacetime dimension.

Fracture analysis of a transversely isotropic high temperature superconductor strip based on real fundamental solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Zhiwen; Zhou, Youhe

2015-04-01

Real fundamental solution for fracture problem of transversely isotropic high temperature superconductor (HTS) strip is obtained. The superconductor E-J constitutive law is characterized by the Bean model where the critical current density is independent of the flux density. Fracture analysis is performed by the methods of singular integral equations which are solved numerically by Gauss-Lobatto-Chybeshev (GSL) collocation method. To guarantee a satisfactory accuracy, the convergence behavior of the kernel function is investigated. Numerical results of fracture parameters are obtained and the effects of the geometric characteristics, applied magnetic field and critical current density on the stress intensity factors (SIF) are discussed.

A comparison of ASTROMAG coils made with aluminum and copper based superconductor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Green, M. A.

1991-01-01

The use of an aluminum matrix superconductor in the coils for the ASTROMAG magnet will increase the integrated field for conducting particle astrophysics experiments in space as compared to equal mass coils made with a copper matrix superconductor. The increased ability to detect charged particles can be achieved without decreasing the current margin of the superconductor in the coils. The use of a low-resistivity aluminum matrix conductor increases the energy needed to initiate a quench by two orders or magnitude. The current decay time constant during a quench is substantially increased. As a result, the quench energy dumped into the helium tank is reduced (the ASTROMAG coils are thermally decoupled from the helium tank), and the forces on the shield and shells due to eddy currents will be lower. A description is also given of the problems associated with the use of an aluminum matrix superconductor in the coils.

Application Study of a High Temperature Superconducting Fault Current Limiter for Electric Power System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naito, Yuji; Shimizu, Iwao; Yamaguchi, Iwao; Kaiho, Katsuyuki; Yanabu, Satoru

Using high temperature superconductor, a Superconducting Fault Current Limiter (SFCL) was made and tested. Superconductor and vacuum interrupter as commutation switch are connected in parallel with bypass coil. When a fault occurs and the excessive current flows, superconductor is first quenched and the current is transferred to bypass coil because on voltage drop of superconductor. At the same time, since magnetic field is generated by current which flows in bypass coil, commutation switch is immediately driven by electromagnetic repulsion plate connected to driving rod of vacuum interrupter, and superconductor is separated from this circuit. Using the testing model, we could separate the superconductor from a circuit due to movement of vacuum interrupter within half-cycle current and transfer all current to bypass coil. Since operation of a commutation switch is included in current limiting operation of this testing model, it is one of helpful circuit of development of SFCL in the future. Moreover, since it can make the consumed energy of superconductor small during fault state due to realization of high-speed switch with simple composition, the burden of superconductor is reduced compared with conventional resistive type SFCL and it is considered that the flexibility of a SFCL design increases. Cooperation with a circuit breaker was also considered, the trial calculation of a parameter and energy of operation is conducted and discussion in the case of installing the SFCL to electric power system is made.

238U Mössbauer study on the magnetic properties of uranium-based heavy fermion superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsutsui, Satoshi; Nakada, Masami; Nasu, Saburo; Haga, Yoshinori; Honma, Tetsuo; Yamamoto, Etsuji; Ohkuni, Hitoshi; Ōnuki, Yoshichika

2000-07-01

We have performed 238U Mössbauer spectroscopy of uranium-based heavy fermion superconductors, UPd2Al3 and URu2Si2, in order to investigate their physical properties, mainly their magnetic properties. The slow relaxation of magnetic hyperfine interaction in a paramagnetic state and the static hyperfine field has been observed in an antiferromagnetic ordered state for each compound. The line-widths have maximum at their characteristic temperatures where their magnetic susceptibilities have maximum values.

Pressure-decoupled magnetic and structural transitions of the parent compound of iron-based 122 superconductors BaFe2As2

PubMed Central

Wu, J. J.; Lin, Jung-Fu; Wang, X. C.; Liu, Q. Q.; Zhu, J. L.; Xiao, Y. M.; Chow, P.; Jin, Changqing

2013-01-01

The recent discovery of iron ferropnictide superconductors has received intensive concern in connection with magnetically involved superconductors. Prominent features of ferropnictide superconductors are becoming apparent: the parent compounds exhibit an antiferromagnetic ordered spin density wave (SDW) state, the magnetic-phase transition is always accompanied by a crystal structural transition, and superconductivity can be induced by suppressing the SDW phase via either chemical doping or applied external pressure to the parent state. These features generated considerable interest in the interplay between magnetism and structure in chemically doped samples, showing crystal structure transitions always precede or coincide with magnetic transition. Pressure-tuned transition, on the other hand, would be more straightforward to superconducting mechanism studies because there are no disorder effects caused by chemical doping; however, remarkably little is known about the interplay in the parent compounds under controlled pressure due to the experimental challenge of in situ measuring both of magnetic and crystal structure evolution at high pressure and low temperatures. Here we show from combined synchrotron Mössbauer and X-ray diffraction at high pressures that the magnetic ordering surprisingly precedes the structural transition at high pressures in the parent compound BaFe2As2, in sharp contrast to the chemical-doping case. The results can be well understood in terms of the spin fluctuations in the emerging nematic phase before the long-range magnetic order that sheds light on understanding how the parent compound evolves from a SDW state to a superconducting phase, a key scientific inquiry of iron-based superconductors. PMID:24101468

Hedgehog spin-vortex crystal stabilized in a hole-doped iron-based superconductor

DOE PAGES

Meier, William R.; Ding, Qing-Ping; Kreyssig, Andreas; ...

2018-02-09

Magnetism is widely considered to be a key ingredient of unconventional superconductivity. In contrast to cuprate high-temperature superconductors, antiferromagnetism in most Fe-based superconductors (FeSCs) is characterized by a pair of magnetic propagation vectors, (π,0) and (0,π). Consequently, three different types of magnetic order are possible. Of these, only stripe-type spin-density wave (SSDW) and spin-charge-density wave (SCDW) orders have been observed. A realization of the proposed spin-vortex crystal (SVC) order is noticeably absent. We report a magnetic phase consistent with the hedgehog variation of SVC order in Ni-doped and Co-doped CaKFe 4As 4 based on thermodynamic, transport, structural and local magneticmore » probes combined with symmetry analysis. The exotic SVC phase is stabilized by the reduced symmetry of the CaKFe 4As 4 structure. Thus, our results suggest that the possible magnetic ground states in FeSCs have very similar energies, providing an enlarged configuration space for magnetic fluctuations to promote high-temperature superconductivity.« less

Hedgehog spin-vortex crystal stabilized in a hole-doped iron-based superconductor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Meier, William R.; Ding, Qing-Ping; Kreyssig, Andreas

Magnetism is widely considered to be a key ingredient of unconventional superconductivity. In contrast to cuprate high-temperature superconductors, antiferromagnetism in most Fe-based superconductors (FeSCs) is characterized by a pair of magnetic propagation vectors, (π,0) and (0,π). Consequently, three different types of magnetic order are possible. Of these, only stripe-type spin-density wave (SSDW) and spin-charge-density wave (SCDW) orders have been observed. A realization of the proposed spin-vortex crystal (SVC) order is noticeably absent. We report a magnetic phase consistent with the hedgehog variation of SVC order in Ni-doped and Co-doped CaKFe 4As 4 based on thermodynamic, transport, structural and local magneticmore » probes combined with symmetry analysis. The exotic SVC phase is stabilized by the reduced symmetry of the CaKFe 4As 4 structure. Thus, our results suggest that the possible magnetic ground states in FeSCs have very similar energies, providing an enlarged configuration space for magnetic fluctuations to promote high-temperature superconductivity.« less

Local antiferromagnetic exchange and collaborative Fermi surface as key ingredients of high temperature superconductors

PubMed Central

Hu, Jiangping; Ding, Hong

2012-01-01

Cuprates, ferropnictides and ferrochalcogenides are three classes of unconventional high temperature superconductors, who share similar phase diagrams in which superconductivity develops after a magnetic order is suppressed, suggesting a strong interplay between superconductivity and magnetism, although the exact picture of this interplay remains elusive. Here we show that there is a direct bridge connecting antiferromagnetic exchange interactions determined in the parent compounds of these materials to the superconducting gap functions observed in the corresponding superconducting materials: in all high temperature superconductors, the Fermi surface topology matches the form factor of the pairing symmetry favored by local magnetic exchange interactions. We suggest that this match offers a principle guide to search for new high temperature superconductors. PMID:22536479

Flux pinning characteristics and irreversibility line in high temperature superconductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Matsushita, T.; Ihara, N.; Kiuchi, M.

1995-01-01

The flux pinning properties in high temperature superconductors are strongly influenced by thermally activated flux motion. The scaling relation of the pinning force density and the irreversibility line in various high temperature superconductors are numerically analyzed in terms of the flux creep model. The effect of two factors, i.e., the flux pinning strength and the dimensionality of the material, on these properties are investigated. It is speculated that the irreversibility line in Bi-2212 superconductors is one order of magnitude smaller than that in Y-123, even if the flux pinning strength in Bi-2212 is improved up to the level of Y-123. It is concluded that these two factors are equally important in determination of the flux pinning characteristics at high temperatures.

Charged fixed point in the Ginzburg-Landau superconductor and the role of the Ginzburg parameter /κ

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kleinert, Hagen; Nogueira, Flavio S.

2003-02-01

We present a semi-perturbative approach which yields an infrared-stable fixed point in the Ginzburg-Landau for N=2, where N/2 is the number of complex components. The calculations are done in d=3 dimensions and below Tc, where the renormalization group functions can be expressed directly as functions of the Ginzburg parameter κ which is the ratio between the two fundamental scales of the problem, the penetration depth λ and the correlation length ξ. We find a charged fixed point for κ>1/ 2, that is, in the type II regime, where Δκ≡κ-1/ 2 is shown to be a natural expansion parameter. This parameter controls a momentum space instability in the two-point correlation function of the order field. This instability appears at a non-zero wave-vector p0 whose magnitude scales like ˜ Δκ β¯, with a critical exponent β¯=1/2 in the one-loop approximation, a behavior known from magnetic systems with a Lifshitz point in the phase diagram. This momentum space instability is argued to be the origin of the negative η-exponent of the order field.

Thermal and electrical transport in metals and superconductors across antiferromagnetic and topological quantum transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chatterjee, Shubhayu; Sachdev, Subir; Eberlein, Andreas

2017-08-01

We study thermal and electrical transport in metals and superconductors near a quantum phase transition where antiferromagnetic order disappears. The same theory can also be applied to quantum phase transitions involving the loss of certain classes of intrinsic topological order. For a clean superconductor, we recover and extend well-known universal results. The heat conductivity for commensurate and incommensurate antiferromagnetism coexisting with superconductivity shows a markedly different doping dependence near the quantum critical point, thus allowing us to distinguish between these states. In the dirty limit, the results for the conductivities are qualitatively similar for the metal and the superconductor. In this regime, the geometric properties of the Fermi surface allow for a very good phenomenological understanding of the numerical results on the conductivities. In the simplest model, we find that the conductivities do not track the doping evolution of the Hall coefficient, in contrast to recent experimental findings. We propose a doping dependent scattering rate, possibly due to quenched short-range charge fluctuations below optimal doping, to consistently describe both the Hall data and the longitudinal conductivities.

Crack problem in superconducting cylinder with exponential distribution of critical-current density

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yufeng; Xu, Chi; Shi, Liang

2018-04-01

The general problem of a center crack in a long cylindrical superconductor with inhomogeneous critical-current distribution is studied based on the extended Bean model for zero-field cooling (ZFC) and field cooling (FC) magnetization processes, in which the inhomogeneous parameter η is introduced for characterizing the critical-current density distribution in inhomogeneous superconductor. The effect of the inhomogeneous parameter η on both the magnetic field distribution and the variations of the normalized stress intensity factors is also obtained based on the plane strain approach and J-integral theory. The numerical results indicate that the exponential distribution of critical-current density will lead a larger trapped field inside the inhomogeneous superconductor and cause the center of the cylinder to fracture more easily. In addition, it is worth pointing out that the nonlinear field distribution is unique to the Bean model by comparing the curve shapes of the magnetization loop with homogeneous and inhomogeneous critical-current distribution.

Preparation, structure and superconductivity of high T(c) compounds: Research of high temperature superconductors in Hungary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kirschner, I.

1995-01-01

In this paper the main directions, methods and results of the investigation of high-T(c) superconductors in Hungary are briefly summarized. The fundamental idea of this research is to study the effect of starting conditions on the microstructure of samples and the influence of the latter one on their superconducting parameters. The investigation concerning technical development is also mentioned.

Dome-shaped magnetic order competing with high-temperature superconductivity at high pressures in FeSe

DOE PAGES

Sun, J. P.; Matsuura, K.; Ye, G. Z.; ...

2016-07-19

The coexistence and competition between superconductivity and electronic orders, such as spin or charge density waves, have been a central issue in high transition-temperature (T c) superconductors. Unlike other iron-based superconductors, FeSe exhibits nematic ordering without magnetism whose relationship with its superconductivity remains unclear. Moreover, a pressure-induced fourfold increase of T c has been reported, which poses a profound mystery. Here we report high-pressure magnetotransport measurements in FeSe up to ~15 GPa, which uncover the dome shape of magnetic phase superseding the nematic order. Above ~6 GPa the sudden enhancement of superconductivity (T c ≤ 38.3 K) accompanies a suppressionmore » of magnetic order, demonstrating their competing nature with very similar energy scales. Above the magnetic dome, we find anomalous transport properties suggesting a possible pseudogap formation, whereas linear-in-temperature resistivity is observed in the normal states of the high-T c phase above 6 GPa. In conclusion, the obtained phase diagram highlights unique features of FeSe among iron-based superconductors, but bears some resemblance to that of high-T c cuprates.« less

Magnetic ground state of FeSe

PubMed Central

Wang, Qisi; Shen, Yao; Pan, Bingying; Zhang, Xiaowen; Ikeuchi, K.; Iida, K.; Christianson, A. D.; Walker, H. C.; Adroja, D. T.; Abdel-Hafiez, M.; Chen, Xiaojia; Chareev, D. A.; Vasiliev, A. N.; Zhao, Jun

2016-01-01

Elucidating the nature of the magnetism of a high-temperature superconductor is crucial for establishing its pairing mechanism. The parent compounds of the cuprate and iron-pnictide superconductors exhibit Néel and stripe magnetic order, respectively. However, FeSe, the structurally simplest iron-based superconductor, shows nematic order (Ts=90 K), but not magnetic order in the parent phase, and its magnetic ground state is intensely debated. Here we report inelastic neutron-scattering experiments that reveal both stripe and Néel spin fluctuations over a wide energy range at 110 K. On entering the nematic phase, a substantial amount of spectral weight is transferred from the Néel to the stripe spin fluctuations. Moreover, the total fluctuating magnetic moment of FeSe is ∼60% larger than that in the iron pnictide BaFe2As2. Our results suggest that FeSe is a novel S=1 nematic quantum-disordered paramagnet interpolating between the Néel and stripe magnetic instabilities. PMID:27431986

Magnetic ground state of FeSe.

PubMed

Wang, Qisi; Shen, Yao; Pan, Bingying; Zhang, Xiaowen; Ikeuchi, K; Iida, K; Christianson, A D; Walker, H C; Adroja, D T; Abdel-Hafiez, M; Chen, Xiaojia; Chareev, D A; Vasiliev, A N; Zhao, Jun

2016-07-19

Elucidating the nature of the magnetism of a high-temperature superconductor is crucial for establishing its pairing mechanism. The parent compounds of the cuprate and iron-pnictide superconductors exhibit Néel and stripe magnetic order, respectively. However, FeSe, the structurally simplest iron-based superconductor, shows nematic order (Ts=90 K), but not magnetic order in the parent phase, and its magnetic ground state is intensely debated. Here we report inelastic neutron-scattering experiments that reveal both stripe and Néel spin fluctuations over a wide energy range at 110 K. On entering the nematic phase, a substantial amount of spectral weight is transferred from the Néel to the stripe spin fluctuations. Moreover, the total fluctuating magnetic moment of FeSe is ∼60% larger than that in the iron pnictide BaFe2As2. Our results suggest that FeSe is a novel S=1 nematic quantum-disordered paramagnet interpolating between the Néel and stripe magnetic instabilities.

Critical Current Test of Liquid Hydrogen Cooled HTC Superconductors under External Magnetic Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shirai, Yasuyuki; Shiotsu, Masahiro; Tatsumoto, Hideki; Kobayashi, Hiroaki; Naruo, Yoshihiro; Nonaka, Satoshi; Inatani, Yoshifumi

High-Tc (HTC) superconductors including MgB2 will show excellent properties under temperature of Liquid Hydrogen (LH2:20K), which has large latent heat and low viscosity coefficient. In order to design and fabricate the LH2 cooled superconducting energy devices, we must clear the cooling property of LH2 for superconductors, the cooling system and safety design of LH2 cooled superconducting devices and electro-magnetic property evaluation of superconductors (BSCCO, REBCO and MgB2) and their magnets cooled by LH2. As the first step of the study, an experimental setup which can be used for investigating heat transfer characteristics of LH2 in a pool and also in forced flow (circulation loop with a pump), and also for evaluation of electro-magnetic properties of LH2 cooled superconductors under external magnetic field (up to 7 T). In this paper, we will show a short sketch of the experimental set-up, practical experiences in safety operation of liquid hydrogen cooling system and example test results of critical current evaluation of HTC superconductors cooled by LH2.

Charge ordering in stoichiometric FeTe: Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy

DOE PAGES

Li, Wei; Yin, Wei -Guo; Wang, Lili; ...

2016-01-04

In this study, we use scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy to reveal a unique stripy charge order in a parent phase of iron-based superconductors in stoichiometric FeTe epitaxy films. The charge order has unusually the same—usually half—period as the spin order. We also found highly anisotropic electron band dispersions being large and little along the ferromagnetic (crystallographic b) and antiferromagnetic (a) directions, respectively. Our data suggest that the microscopic mechanism is likely of the Stoner type driven by interatomic Coulomb repulsion V ij, and that V ij and charge fluctuations, so far much neglected, are important to the understanding ofmore » iron-based superconductors.« less

Phase diagram of the underdoped cuprates at high magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chakraborty, Debmalya; Morice, Corentin; Pépin, Catherine

2018-06-01

The experimentally measured phase diagram of cuprate superconductors in the temperature-applied magnetic field plane illuminates key issues in understanding the physics of these materials. At low temperature, the superconducting state gives way to a long-range charge order with increasing magnetic field; both the orders coexist in a small intermediate region. The charge order transition is strikingly insensitive to temperature and quickly reaches a transition temperature close to the zero-field superconducting Tc. We argue that such a transition along with the presence of the coexisting phase is difficult to obtain in a weak coupling competing orders formalism. We demonstrate that for some range of parameters there is an enlarged symmetry of the strongly coupled charge and superconducting orders in the system depending on their relative masses and the coupling strength of the two orders. We establish that this sharp switch from the superconducting phase to the charge order phase can be understood in the framework of a composite SU(2) order parameter comprising the charge and superconducting orders. Finally, we illustrate that there is a possibility of the coexisting phase of the competing charge and superconducting orders only when the SU(2) symmetry between them is weakly broken due to biquadratic terms in the free energy. The relation of this sharp transition to the proximity to the pseudogap quantum critical doping is also discussed.

Topological superfluids with finite-momentum pairing and Majorana fermions.

PubMed

Qu, Chunlei; Zheng, Zhen; Gong, Ming; Xu, Yong; Mao, Li; Zou, Xubo; Guo, Guangcan; Zhang, Chuanwei

2013-01-01

Majorana fermions (MFs), quantum particles that are their own antiparticles, are not only of fundamental importance in elementary particle physics and dark matter, but also building blocks for fault-tolerant quantum computation. Recently MFs have been intensively studied in solid state and cold atomic systems. These studies are generally based on superconducting pairing with zero total momentum. On the other hand, finite total momentum Cooper pairings, known as Fulde-Ferrell (FF) Larkin-Ovchinnikov (LO) states, were widely studied in many branches of physics. However, whether FF and LO superconductors can support MFs has not been explored. Here we show that MFs can exist in certain types of gapped FF states, yielding a new quantum matter: topological FF superfluids/superconductors. We demonstrate the existence of such topological FF superfluids and the associated MFs using spin-orbit-coupled degenerate Fermi gases and derive their parameter regions. The implementation of topological FF superconductors in semiconductor/superconductor heterostructures is also discussed.

Vortices in high-performance high-temperature superconductors

DOE PAGES

Kwok, Wai-Kwong; Welp, Ulrich; Glatz, Andreas; ...

2016-09-21

The behavior of vortex matter in high-temperature superconductors (HTS) controls the entire electromagnetic response of the material, including its current carrying capacity. In this paper, we review the basic concepts of vortex pinning and its application to a complex mixed pinning landscape to enhance the critical current and to reduce its anisotropy. We focus on recent scientific advances that have resulted in large enhancements of the in-field critical current in state-of-the-art second generation (2G) YBCO coated conductors and on the prospect of an isotropic, high-critical current superconductor in the iron-based superconductors. Finally, we discuss an emerging new paradigm of criticalmore » current by design—a drive to achieve a quantitative correlation between the observed critical current density and mesoscale mixed pinning landscapes by using realistic input parameters in an innovative and powerful large-scale time dependent Ginzburg–Landau approach to simulating vortex dynamics.« less

Reduced anti-ferromagnetism promoted by Zn 3d 10 substitution at CuO 2 planar sites of Cu 0.5Tl 0.5Ba 2Ca 3Cu 4O 12-δ superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mumtaz, M.; Khan, Nawazish A.

2009-11-01

The role of charge carriers in ZnO 2/CuO 2 planes of Cu 0.5Tl 0.5Ba 2Ca 3Cu 4-yZn yO 12-δ material in bringing about superconductivity has been explained. Due to suppression of anti-ferromagnetic order with Zn 3d 10 ( S=0) substitution at Cu 3d 9(S={1}/{2}) sites in the inner CuO 2 planes of Cu 0.5Tl 0.5Ba 2Ca 3Cu 4O 12-δ superconductor, the distribution of charge carriers becomes homogeneous and optimum, which is evident from the enhanced superconductivity parameters. The decreased c-axis length with the increase of Zn doping improves interlayer coupling and hence the three dimensional (3D) conductivity in the unit cell is enhanced. Also the softening of phonon modes with the increased Zn doping indicates that the electron-phonon interaction has an essential role in the mechanism of high- Tc superconductivity in these compounds.

Superfluid-ferromagnet-superfluid junction and the {pi} phase in a superfluid Fermi gas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kashimura, Takashi; Tsuchiya, Shunji; CREST

2010-09-15

We investigate the possibility of a superfluid-ferromagnet-superfluid (SFS) junction in a superfluid Fermi gas. To examine this possibility in a simple manner, we consider an attractive Hubbard model at T=0 within the mean-field theory. When a potential barrier is embedded in a superfluid Fermi gas with population imbalance (N{sub {up_arrow}}>N{sub {down_arrow}}, where N{sub {sigma}} is the number of atoms with pseudospin {sigma}= {up_arrow}, {down_arrow}), this barrier is shown to be magnetized in the sense that excess {up_arrow}-spin atoms are localized around it. The resulting superfluid Fermi gas is spatially divided into two by this ferromagnet, so that one obtains amore » junction similar to the superconductor-ferromagnet-superconductor junction discussed in superconductivity. Indeed, we show that the so-called {pi} phase, which is a typical phenomenon in the SFS junction, is realized, where the superfluid order parameter changes its sign across the junction. Our results would be useful for the study of magnetic effects on fermion superfluidity using an ultracold Fermi gas.« less

Bond and flux-disorder effects on the superconductor-insulator transition of a honeycomb array of Josephson junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Granato, Enzo

2018-05-01

We study the effects of disorder on the zero-temperature quantum phase transition of a honeycomb array of Josephson junctions in a magnetic field with an average of fo flux quantum per plaquette. Bond disorder due to spatial variations in the Josephson couplings and magnetic flux disorder due to variations in the plaquette areas are considered. The model can describe the superconductor-insulator transition in ultra-thin films with a triangular pattern of nanoholes. Path integral Monte Carlo simulations of the equivalent (2 + 1)-dimensional classical model are used to study the critical behavior and estimate the universal resistivity at the transition. The results show that bond disorder leads to a rounding of the first-order phase transition for fo = 1 / 3 to a continuous transition. For integer fo, the decrease of the critical coupling parameter with flux disorder is significantly different from that of the same model defined on a square lattice. The results are compared with recent experimental observations on nanohole thin films with geometrical disorder and external magnetic field.

Frustrated proximity effects between s and s± superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stanev, Valentin; Koshelev, Alexei E.

2011-03-01

The nature of the superconducting order parameter (OP) in iron pnictides and chalcogenides is a hotly debated issue. It was theoretically proposed that the OP has opposite signs on the hole and the electron bands, i.e., it belongs to the unconventional class of s +/- (or extended s)-wave. There are, however, very few experiments that can directly distinguish this state from the ordinary s-wave OP. One way to address this problem is to study the proximity effects in a sandwich composed of conventional and iron pnictide superconductors (SC). If the pnictides indeed have the s +/- OP this system is intrinsically frustrated. In the case of strong frustration, a time-reversal symmetry-breaking (TRSB) SC state emerges, in which the OP phases in different bands are tilted at an angle, different from π , and controlled by the coupling strength. Observation of such state in the iron-based SC materials would give definite evidence for the s +/- OP. We present a microscopic, fully self-consistent approach to this problem, based on Usadel equations. We have studied the conditions for existence of the TRSB state and its experimental signatures.

Electron—phonon Coupling and the Superconducting Phase Diagram of the LaAlO3—SrTiO3 Interface

PubMed Central

Boschker, Hans; Richter, Christoph; Fillis-Tsirakis, Evangelos; Schneider, Christof W.; Mannhart, Jochen

2015-01-01

The superconductor at the LaAlO3—SrTiO3 interface provides a model system for the study of two-dimensional superconductivity in the dilute carrier density limit. Here we experimentally address the pairing mechanism in this superconductor. We extract the electron—phonon spectral function from tunneling spectra and conclude, without ruling out contributions of further pairing channels, that electron—phonon mediated pairing is strong enough to account for the superconducting critical temperatures. Furthermore, we discuss the electron—phonon coupling in relation to the superconducting phase diagram. The electron—phonon spectral function is independent of the carrier density, except for a small part of the phase diagram in the underdoped region. The tunneling measurements reveal that the increase of the chemical potential with increasing carrier density levels off and is zero in the overdoped region of the phase diagram. This indicates that the additionally induced carriers do not populate the band that hosts the superconducting state and that the superconducting order parameter therefore is weakened by the presence of charge carriers in another band. PMID:26169351

Theory of noise equivalent power of a high-temperature superconductor far-infrared bolometer in a photo-thermoelectrical mode of operation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaila, M. M.; Russell, G. J.

2000-12-01

We present a theory of noise equivalent power (NEP) and related parameters for a high-temperature superconductor (HTSC) bolometer in which temperature and resistance are the noise sources for open circuit operation and phonon and resistance are the noise sources for voltage-biased operation of the bolometer. The bolometer is designed to use a photo-thermoelectrical mode of operation. A mathematical formulation for the open circuit operation is first presented followed by an analysis of the heterodyne case with a bias applied in constant voltage mode. For the first time electrothermal (ET) and thermoelectrical (TE) feedback are treated in the heat balance equation simultaneously. A parallel resistance geometry consisting of thermoelectric and HTSC material legs has been chosen for the device. Computations for the ET-TE feedback show that the response time improves by three orders of magnitude and the responsivity becomes double for the same TE feedback. In the heat balance equation we have included among the heat transfer processes the temperature dependence of the thermal conductance at the bolometer-substrate interface for the dynamic state.

Electronic properties of high-temperature superconductors and novel carbon-based conductors and superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuhrer, Michael Sears

This thesis is divided into three sections. The first section discusses the electrical transport properties of a highly anisotropic high temperature superconductor, Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8, in magnetic fields. High temperature superconductivity has greatly expanded the study of vortex matter: the state of the quantized magnetic field excitations, or vortices, in a superconductor. The effects of tilted fields and fields parallel to the planes are studied: striking deviations from the expectations of a simple anisotropic superconductivity model are found, indicating that the layered structure of high temperature superconductors plays a significant role in determining the dynamics and phases of vortex matter. For the case of parallel magnetic fields, the Josephson vortex state, a new phase transition is identified, the melting of the Josephson vortex lattice. A mechanism for Josephson vortex lattice melting is proposed to explain the differences in the phase diagrams from the usual case of Abrikosov vortex lattice melting. The second section discusses experiments on C60-containing solids. A method for growing high quality single crystals of C60 is described. Isotopically pure single crystal samples of the fulleride superconductor Rb3C60 were synthesized in order to measure the carbon isotope effect on superconductivity. By measuring the superconducting transitions in the resistance of single crystals of Rb3C60, the carbon isotope effect was determined with unprecedented accuracy. Measurement of the isotope effect gives essential information for determination of the superconducting parameters, necessary for a complete theoretical picture of superconductivity in this material. New intercalated graphite compounds containing C60, and their electronic properties, are also discussed. The third section discusses the electrical transport and magnetotransport properties of mats of single-walled carbon nanotubes. Single-walled nanotubes are an intriguing new physical system: nanowires of pure carbon with nanometerscale diameters and lengths of microns. The previously unexplained low-temperature properties are shown to be due to localization. The radius of the localized states is determined, and the hopping conduction is found to be three-dimensional in nature. The magnetotransport also agrees with models of variable range hopping in two or greater dimensions, indicating that mats of single-walled nanotubes are well-connected metallic networks.

Winding numbers of nodal points in Fe-based superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chichinadze, Dmitry V.; Chubukov, Andrey V.

2018-03-01

We analyze the nodal points in multiorbital Fe-based superconductors from a topological perspective. We consider the s+- gap structure with accidental nodes, and the d -wave gap with nodes along the symmetry directions. In both cases, the nodal points can be moved by varying an external parameter, e.g., a degree of interpocket pairing. Eventually, the nodes merge and annihilate via a Lifshitz-type transition. We discuss the Lifshitz transition in Fe-based superconductors from a topological point of view. We show, both analytically and numerically, that the merging nodal points have winding numbers of opposite sign. This is consistent with the general reasoning that the total winding number is a conserved quantity in the Lifshitz transition.

Terahertz frequency superconductor-nanocomposite photonic band gap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elsayed, Hussein A.; Aly, Arafa H.

2018-02-01

In the present work, we discuss the transmittance properties of one-dimensional (1D) superconductor nanocomposite photonic crystals (PCs) in THz frequency regions. Our modeling is essentially based on the two-fluid model, Maxwell-Garnett model and the characteristic matrix method. The numerical results investigate the appearance of the so-called cutoff frequency. We have obtained the significant effect of some parameters such as the volume fraction, the permittivity of the host material, the size of the nanoparticles and the permittivity of the superconductor material on the properties of the cutoff frequency. The present results may be useful in the optical communications and photonic applications to act as tunable antenna in THz, reflectors and high-pass filter.

One-dimensional backreacting holographic superconductors with exponential nonlinear electrodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghotbabadi, B. Binaei; Zangeneh, M. Kord; Sheykhi, A.

2018-05-01

In this paper, we investigate the effects of nonlinear exponential electrodynamics as well as backreaction on the properties of one-dimensional s-wave holographic superconductors. We continue our study both analytically and numerically. In analytical study, we employ the Sturm-Liouville method while in numerical approach we perform the shooting method. We obtain a relation between the critical temperature and chemical potential analytically. Our results show a good agreement between analytical and numerical methods. We observe that the increase in the strength of both nonlinearity and backreaction parameters causes the formation of condensation in the black hole background harder and critical temperature lower. These results are consistent with those obtained for two dimensional s-wave holographic superconductors.

Electronic structure of the bismuth family of high-temperature superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Donglai

High temperature superconductivity remains the central intellectual problem in condensed matter physics fifteen years after its discovery. Angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) directly probes the electronic structure, and has played an important role in the field of high temperature superconductors. With the recent advances in sample growth and the photoemission technique, we are able to study the electronic structure in great detail, and address regimes that were previously inaccessible. This thesis work contains systematic photoemission studies of the electronic structure of the Bi-family of high temperature superconductors, which include the single-layer system (Bi2201), the bi-layer system (Bi2212), and the tri-layer system (Bi2223). We show that, unlike conventional BCS superconductors, phase coherence information emerges in the single particle excitation spectrum of high temperature superconductors as the superconducting peak in Bi2212. The universality and various properties of this superconducting peak are studied in various systems. We argue that the origin of the superconducting peak may provide the key to understanding the mechanism of High-Tc superconductors. In addition, we identified a new experimental energy scale in the bilayer material, the anisotropic intra-bilayer coupling energy. For a long time, it was predicted that this energy scale would cause bilayer band splitting. We observe this phenomenon, for the first time, in heavily overdoped Bi2212. This new observation requires the revision of the previous picture of the electronic excitation in the Brillouin zone boundary. As the first ARPES study of a trilayer system, various detailed electronic properties of Bi2223 are examined. We show that, comparing with Bi2212, both superconducting gap and relative superconducting peak intensity become larger in Bi2223, however, the strength of the interlayer coupling within each unit cell is possibly weaker. These results suggest that the large superconducting phase transition temperature in a high temperature superconductor is associated with parameters that cause both large pairing strength and strong phase coherence in the system. The number of CuO2 layers in each unit cell is just one of the factors that affect these parameters.

High spin polarization and the origin of unique ferromagnetic ground state in CuFeSb

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sirohi, Anshu; Saha, Preetha; Gayen, Sirshendu

CuFeSb is isostructural to the ferro-pnictide and chalcogenide superconductors and it is one of the few materials in the family that are known to stabilize in a ferromagnetic ground state. Majority of the members of this family are either superconductors or antiferromagnets. Therefore, CuFeSb may be used as an ideal source of spin polarized current in spin-transport devices involving pnictide and the chalcogenide superconductors. However, for that the Fermi surface of CuFeSb needs to be sufficiently spin polarized. In this paper we report direct measurement of transport spin polarization in CuFeSb by spin-resolved Andreev reflection spectroscopy. From a number ofmore » measurements using multiple superconducting tips we found that the intrinsic transport spin polarization in CuFeSb is high (∼47%). In order to understand the unique ground state of CuFeSb and the origin of large spin polarization at the Fermi level, we have evaluated the spin-polarized band structure of CuFeSb through first principles calculations. Apart from supporting the observed 47% transport spin polarization, such calculations also indicate that the Sb-Fe-Sb angles and the height of Sb from the Fe plane are strikingly different for CuFeSb than the equivalent parameters in other members of the same family thereby explaining the origin of the unique ground state of CuFeSb.« less

a Study of High Transition Temperature Superconductors: Mercury-Copper Oxide Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirven, Paul Douglas

1995-01-01

The Hg-based copper-oxides viz., HgBa _2Ca_{n-1}Cu_ nO _{2n+2+delta}, were discovered in 1993. A system consisting of many different, but related, compounds can be synthesized by including or substituting one or more elements in the original compound (e.g. Hg _{1-x}Pb_ x). In this thesis, the superconducting and normal state properties of several of these compounds were investigated. In the normal state electrical resistivity rho(T) is a linear function of temperature (T) and the magnetic susceptibility, X(T), is weakly paramagnetic. Many were observed to superconduct at very high temperatures. At 5 K up to 80% perfect diamagnetic X(T) was measured. The onset transition temperature (T_ c), where a specimen starts to superconduct, is observed to be as high as 135 K. Although T_ c is about 10 K higher than that of any previously known material, in many respects the properties of this new system are similar to that of other type II superconductors. Flux flow behavior and the nature of these type II superconductors was investigated via SQUID measurements and high field longitudinal magneto-resistance R(T,H) as a function of field and temperature. The study of flux motion allows one to observe Anderson-Kim type logarithimic flux creep at low temperature and field (T < 80K and B < 2T) and giant -flux flow at high temperature and field (80 < T < 130; B < 17T). Key parameters were determined. Some of which include reversibility temperature T*(H), critical field Hc, and pinning potential, Uo. Normal state properties which were also measured include the following: Curie constant, Curie-Weiss temperature (15-25 K), temperature independent susceptibility, and Sommerfeld constant (10-25 mJ/mol.Cu K^2). The values of these parameters of the Hg-based superconductors were compared to those of other superconductors. The results of this investigation are expected to yield a better understanding of this newest family of high temperature superconductors.

Electronic Phase Separation in the Slightly Underdoped Iron Pnictide Superconductor Ba{sub 1-x}K{sub x}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 2}

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Park, J. T.; Inosov, D. S.; Sun, G. L.

2009-03-20

Here we present a combined study of the slightly underdoped novel pnictide superconductor Ba{sub 1-x}K{sub x}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 2} by means of x-ray powder diffraction, neutron scattering, muon-spin rotation ({mu}SR), and magnetic force microscopy (MFM). Static antiferromagnetic order sets in below T{sub m}{approx_equal}70 K as inferred from the neutron scattering and zero-field-{mu}SR data. Transverse-field {mu}SR below T{sub c} shows a coexistence of magnetically ordered and nonmagnetic states, which is also confirmed by MFM imaging. We explain such coexistence by electronic phase separation into antiferromagnetic and superconducting- or normal-state regions on a lateral scale of several tens of nanometers. Our findings indicatemore » that such mesoscopic phase separation can be considered an intrinsic property of some iron pnictide superconductors.« less

Unified Phase Diagram for Iron-Based Superconductors.

PubMed

Gu, Yanhong; Liu, Zhaoyu; Xie, Tao; Zhang, Wenliang; Gong, Dongliang; Hu, Ding; Ma, Xiaoyan; Li, Chunhong; Zhao, Lingxiao; Lin, Lifang; Xu, Zhuang; Tan, Guotai; Chen, Genfu; Meng, Zi Yang; Yang, Yi-Feng; Luo, Huiqian; Li, Shiliang

2017-10-13

High-temperature superconductivity is closely adjacent to a long-range antiferromagnet, which is called a parent compound. In cuprates, all parent compounds are alike and carrier doping leads to superconductivity, so a unified phase diagram can be drawn. However, the properties of parent compounds for iron-based superconductors show significant diversity and both carrier and isovalent dopings can cause superconductivity, which casts doubt on the idea that there exists a unified phase diagram for them. Here we show that the ordered moments in a variety of iron pnictides are inversely proportional to the effective Curie constants of their nematic susceptibility. This unexpected scaling behavior suggests that the magnetic ground states of iron pnictides can be achieved by tuning the strength of nematic fluctuations. Therefore, a unified phase diagram can be established where superconductivity emerges from a hypothetical parent compound with a large ordered moment but weak nematic fluctuations, which suggests that iron-based superconductors are strongly correlated electron systems.

The interaction of Ag with Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dou, S. X.; Song, K. H.; Liu, H. K.; Sorrell, C. C.; Apperley, M. H.; Gouch, A. J.; Savvides, N.; Hensley, D. W.

1989-10-01

Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconductor compounds have been doped with up to 30 wt% Ag, sintered under variable oxygen partial pressure, and characterised in terms of the electrical and crystallographic behaviour. In contrast to previous reports that claim that Ag is the only metal non-poisoning to the superconductivity of Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O (BSCCO), it has been found that Ag additions to Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O depress Tc and Jc drastically and cause a large decrease in lattice parameters when samples are treated in air or pure oxygen. However, the lattice parameters, Tc and Jc remain unaffected by Ag additions when samples are heat treated in 0.030-0.067 atm oxygen. It is clear that the Ag reacts with and destabilises the superconducting phase when the samples are treated in air or pure oxygen while, when the samples are heat treated in low oxygen partial pressures, the Ag remains as an isolated inert metal phase that improves the weak links between the grains. This discovery clearly shows the feasibility of Ag-clad superconductor wire. For Ag-clad superconductor tape of 0.1 mm 2 cross sectional area heat treated in air, Jc was measured to be 54 A/cm 2. The same specimen sintered in 0.067 atm oxygen showed that the Jc increased to 2078 A/cm 2.

Upper critical and irreversibility fields in Ni- and Co-doped pnictide bulk superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikolo, Martin; Singleton, John; Solenov, Dmitry; Jiang, Jianyi; Weiss, Jeremy; Hellstrom, Eric

2018-05-01

A comprehensive study of upper critical and irreversibility magnetic fields in Ba(Fe0.95Ni0.05)2As2 (large grain and small grain samples), Ba(Fe0.94Ni0.06)2As2, Ba(Fe0.92Co0.08)2As2, and Ba(Fe0.92Co0.09)2As2 polycrystalline bulk pnictide superconductors was made in pulsed fields of up to 65 T. The full magnetic field-temperature (H-T) phase diagrams, starting at 1.5 K, were measured. The higher temperature, upper critical field Hc2 data are well described by the one-band Werthamer, Helfand, and Hohenberg (WHH) model. At low temperatures, the experimental data depart from the fitted WHH curves, suggesting an emergence of a new phase that could be attributed to the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state. The large values of the Maki fitting parameter α indicate that the Zeeman pair breaking dominates over the orbital pair breaking and spin-paramagnetic pair-breaking effect is significant in these materials. Possible multi-band structure of these materials is lumped into effective parameters of the single-band model. Table of measured physical parameters allows us to compare these pnictide superconductors for different Co- and Ni- doping levels and granularity.

Proximity effects in ferromagnet-superconductor structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halterman, Klaus Byron

I present an extensive theoretical investigation of the proximity effects that occur in ferromagnet/superconductor systems. I use a numerical method to solve self consistently the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations in the continuum. I obtain the pair amplitude and the local density of states (DOS), and use these results to extract the relevant lengths characterizing both the leakage of superconductivity into the magnet and to study spin splitting induced in the superconductor. These phenomena are investigated as a function of parameters such as temperature, magnet polarization, interfacial scattering, sample size and Fermi wave vector mismatch, all of which turn out to have an important influence on the results. These comprehensive results should help characterize and analyze future data, and are shown to be in agreement with existing experiments.

The phenomenon of voltage controlled switching in disordered superconductors.

PubMed

Ghosh, Sanjib; De Munshi, D

2014-01-15

The superconductor-to-insulator transition (SIT) is a phenomenon occurring in highly disordered superconductors and may be useful in the development of superconducting switches. The SIT has been demonstrated to be induced by different external parameters: temperature, magnetic field, electric field, etc. However, the electric field induced SIT (ESIT), which has been experimentally demonstrated for some specific materials, holds particular promise for practical device development. Here, we demonstrate, from theoretical considerations, the occurrence of the ESIT. We also propose a general switching device architecture using the ESIT and study some of its universal behavior, such as the effects of sample size, disorder strength and temperature on the switching action. This work provides a general framework for the development of such a device.

The effect of processing parameters during heat treatment of bulk high-T(sub c) superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cha, Y. S.; Dorris, S. E.; Hull, J. R.; Poeppel, R. B.

1991-04-01

Plastic extrusion is a promising method for producing the long lengths of high-Tc superconductor that will be necessary to meet many potential applications. A crucial phase of the extrusion method is removal of organic constituents. Incomplete removal can leave residual carbon at grain boundaries, which can adversely affect the superconducting properties, whereas excessively rapid removal of the organics can cause the extruded superconductor to disintegrate completely. In this paper, we analyze the effects of the following aspects of organics removal, as they apply to the firing of extruded YBa2Cu3O(x) coils: (1) total pressure in the furnace, (2) oxygen flow, (3) heat conduction, and (4) diffusion of volatile components during removal of organics.

How to detect fluctuating stripes in the high-temperature superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kivelson, S. A.; Bindloss, I. P.; Fradkin, E.; Oganesyan, V.; Tranquada, J. M.; Kapitulnik, A.; Howald, C.

2003-10-01

This article discusses fluctuating order in a quantum disordered phase proximate to a quantum critical point, with particular emphasis on fluctuating stripe order. Optimal strategies are derived for extracting information concerning such local order from experiments, with emphasis on neutron scattering and scanning tunneling microscopy. These ideas are tested by application to two model systems—an exactly solvable one-dimensional (1D) electron gas with an impurity, and a weakly interacting 2D electron gas. Experiments on the cuprate high-temperature superconductors which can be analyzed using these strategies are extensively reviewed. The authors adduce evidence that stripe correlations are widespread in the cuprates. They compare and contrast the advantages of two limiting perspectives on the high-temperature superconductor: weak coupling, in which correlation effects are treated as a perturbation on an underlying metallic (although renormalized) Fermi-liquid state, and strong coupling, in which the magnetism is associated with well-defined localized spins, and stripes are viewed as a form of micro phase separation. The authors present quantitative indicators that the latter view better accounts for the observed stripe phenomena in the cuprates.

Effects of disorder on the intrinsically hole-doped iron-based superconductor KC a2F e4A s4F2 by cobalt substitution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishida, Junichi; Iimura, Soshi; Hosono, Hideo

2017-11-01

In this paper, the effects of cobalt substitution on the transport and electronic properties of the recently discovered iron-based superconductor KC a2F e4A s4F2 , with Tc=33 K , are reported. This material is an unusual superconductor showing intrinsic hole conduction (0.25 holes /F e2 + ). Upon doping of Co, the Tc of KC a2(Fe1-xC ox) 4A s4F2 gradually decreased, and bulk superconductivity disappeared when x ≥0.25 . Conversion of the primary carrier from p type to n type upon Co-doping was clearly confirmed by Hall measurements, and our results are consistent with the change in the calculated Fermi surface. Nevertheless, neither spin density wave (SDW) nor an orthorhombic phase, which are commonly observed for nondoped iron-based superconductors, was observed in the nondoped or electron-doped samples. The electron count in the 3 d orbitals and structural parameters were compared with those of other iron-based superconductors to show that the physical properties can be primarily ascribed to the effects of disorder.

Fracture analysis of a central crack in a long cylindrical superconductor with exponential model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yu Feng; Xu, Chi

2018-05-01

The fracture behavior of a long cylindrical superconductor is investigated by modeling a central crack that is induced by electromagnetic force. Based on the exponential model, the stress intensity factors (SIFs) with the dimensionless parameter p and the length of the crack a/R for the zero-field cooling (ZFC) and field-cooling (FC) processes are numerically simulated using the finite element method (FEM) and assuming a persistent current flow. As the applied field Ba decreases, the dependence of p and a/R on the SIFs in the ZFC process is exactly opposite to that observed in the FC process. Numerical results indicate that the exponential model exhibits different characteristics for the trend of the SIFs from the results obtained using the Bean and Kim models. This implies that the crack length and the trapped field have significant effects on the fracture behavior of bulk superconductors. The obtained results are useful for understanding the critical-state model of high-temperature superconductors in crack problem.

Nature of superconductor-insulator transition at LaAlO{sub 3}/SrTiO{sub 3} interface

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mohanta, N., E-mail: nmohanta@phy.iitkgp.ernet.in; Taraphder, A.; Centre for Theoretical Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, W. B. 721302

2015-05-15

The two-dimensional electron liquid, at the interface between two band insulators LaAlO{sub 3} and SrTiO{sub 3}, exhibits novel, unconventional superconductivity below 200 mK. One of the remarkable properties of the two-dimensional superconductor is its fantastic tunability by external parameters such as gate-voltage or magnetic field. We study the superconductor to insulator transition induced by gate-voltage by employing a self-consistent, mean-field Bogoliubov-de Gennes treatment based on an effective model. We show that the non-monotonic behaviour of the superconductivity with respect to gate-voltage is intrinsically due to the Rashba spin-orbit coupling. With increasing gate-voltage both the electron concentration and Rashba spin-orbit splittingmore » increases. Elevated electron filling boosts superconductivity whereas enhanced spin-orbit splitting annihilates electron-pairing. The non-monotonicity is a result of this competition. The device application of the superconductor-insulator transition in this interface is discussed.« less

Polar Kerr effect studies of time reversal symmetry breaking states in heavy fermion superconductors

DOE PAGES

Schemm, E. R.; Levenson-Falk, E. M.; Kapitulnik, A.

2016-11-30

The connection between chiral superconductivity and topological order has emerged as an active direction in research as more instances of both have been identified in condensed matter systems. Moreover, with the notable exception of 3He-B, all of the known or suspected chiral – that is to say time-reversal symmetry-breaking (TRSB) – superfluids arise in heavy fermion superconductors, although the vast majority of heavy fermion superconductors preserve time-reversal symmetry. We review recent experimental efforts to identify TRSB states in heavy fermion systems via measurement of polar Kerr effect, which is a direct consequence of TRSB.

Metal Matrix Superconductor Composites for SMES-Driven, Ultra High Power BEP Applications: Part 2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gross, Dan A.; Myrabo, Leik N.

2006-05-01

A 2.5 TJ superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) design presentation is continued from the preceding paper (Part 1) with electromagnetic and associated stress analysis. The application of interest is a rechargeable power-beaming infrastructure for manned microwave Lightcraft operations. It is demonstrated that while operational performance is within manageable parameter bounds, quench (loss of superconducting state) imposes enormous electrical stresses. Therefore, alternative multiple toroid modular configurations are identified, alleviating simultaneously all excessive stress conditions, operational and quench, in the structural, thermal and electromagnetic sense — at some reduction in specific energy, but presenting programmatic advantages for a lengthy technology development, demonstration and operation schedule. To this end several natural units, based on material properties and operating parameters are developed, in order to identify functional relationships and optimization paths more effectively.

Crystallographic orientation mapping with an electron backscattered diffraction technique in (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10 superconductor tapes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, T. T.; Li, S.; Oh, J. T.; Gao, W.; Liu, H. K.; Dou, S. X.

2001-02-01

It is believed that grain boundaries act as weak links in limiting the critical current density (Jc) of bulk high-Tc superconductors. The weak-link problem can be greatly reduced by elimination or minimization of large-angle grain boundaries. It has been reported that the distribution of the Jc in (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+x (Bi2223) superconductor tapes presents a parabolic relationship in the transverse cross section of the tapes, with the lowest currents occurring at the centre of the tapes. It was proposed that the Jc distribution is strongly dependent on the local crystallographic orientation distribution of the Bi2223 oxides. However, the local three-dimensional crystallographic orientation distribution of Bi2223 crystals in (Bi, Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+x superconductor tapes has not yet been experimentally determined. In this work, the electron backscattered diffraction technique was employed to map the crystallographic orientation distribution, determine the misorientation of grain boundaries and also map the misorientation distribution in Bi2223 superconductor tapes. Through crystallographic orientation mapping, the relationship between the crystallographic orientation distribution, the boundary misorientation distribution and the fabrication parameters may be understood. This can be used to optimize the fabrication processes thus increasing the critical current density in Bi2223 superconductor tapes.

Specific heat and Nernst effect of electron-doped cuprate superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balci, Hamza

This thesis consists of two separate studies on Pr2- xCexCuO4 (PCCO), a member of the electron-doped high temperature cuprate superconductor family: specific heat and the Nernst effect. We measured the specific heat of PCCO single crystals in order to probe the symmetry of the superconducting order parameter, to study the effect of oxygen reduction (annealing) on bulk properties of the crystals, and to determine proper ties like the condensation energy and the thermodynamic critical field. The order parameter symmetry has been established to be d-wave in the hole-doped cuprates. Experiments performed on electron-doped cuprates show conflicting results. Different experiments suggest s-wave symmetry, d-wave symmetry, or a transition from d-wave to s-wave symmetry with increasing cerium doping. However, most of these experiments are surface sensitive experiments. Specific heat, as a bulk method of probing the gap symmetry is essential in order to convincingly determine the gap symmetry. Our data proposes a way to reconcile all these conflicting results regarding the gap symmetry. In addition, prior specific heat measurements attempting to determine thermodynamic properties like the condensation energy were not successful due to inefficient methods of data analysis or poor sample quality. With improvements on sample quality and data analysis, we reliably determined these properties. The second part of this thesis is a study of the Nernst effect in PCCO thin films with different cerium dopings. We probed the superconducting fluctuations, studied transport phenomena in the normal state, and accurately measured H c2 by using the Nernst effect. After the discovery of the anomalous Nernst effect in the normal state of the hole-doped cuprates, many alternative explanations have been proposed. Vortex-like excitations above Tc, superconducting fluctuations, AFM fluctuations, and preformed Cooper pairs are some of these proposals. The electron-doped cuprates, due to their significant differences from the hole-doped cuprates in terms of coherence length and the phase stiffness temperature (a measure of superfluid density) are the ideal materials to test these ideas. Our data on the electron-doped cuprates does not show any anomalous Nernst effect, and hence it supports the superconducting fluctuations picture among the various proposals.

Observation of an hexatic vortex glass in flux lattices of the high- Tc superconductor Bi 2.1Sr 1.9Ca 0.9Cu 2O 8+δ

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bishop, D. J.; Gammel, P. L.; Murray, C. A.; Mitzi, D. B.; Kapitulnik, A.

1991-02-01

We report observation of hexatic order in Abrikosov flux lattices in very clean crystals of the high- Tc superconductor Bi 2.1Sr 1.9Ca 0.9Cu 2O 8+δ (BSCCO). Our experiments consist of in situ magnetic decoration of the flux lattice at 4.2 K. Analysis of the decoration images shows that the positional order decays exponentially with a correlation length of a few lattice constants while the orientational order persists for hundreds of lattice constants and decays algebraically with an exponent η 6 = 0.6 ± 0.01. Our results confirm recent theoretical speculation that the positional order should be far more sensitive to disorder than the orientational order and that the low-temperature ordered phase of the flux lines in these systems might be an hexatic glass.

Observation of an hexatic vortex glass in flux lattices of the high Tc superconductor Bi2.1Sr1.9Ca0.9Cu2O8+δ

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bishop, D. J.; Gammel, P. L.; Murray, C. A.; Mitzi, D. B.; Kapitulnik, A.

1990-10-01

We report observation of hexatic order in Abrikosov flux lattices in very clean crystals of the high Tc superconductor Bi2.1Sr1.9Ca0.9Cu2O8+δ (BSCCO). Our experiments consist of in situ magnetic decoration of the flux lattice at 4.2 K. Analysis of the decoration images shows that the positional order decays exponentially with a correlation length of a few lattice constants while the orientational order persists for hundreds of lattice constants and decays algebraically with an exponent η6=0.06±0.01. Our results confirm recent theoretical speculation that the positional order should be far more sensitive to disorder than the orientational order and that the low temperature ordered phase of the flux lines in these systems might be an hexatic glass.

Observation of a hexatic vortex glass in flux lattices of the High-Tc superconductor Bi(2.1)Sr(1.9)Ca(0.9)Cu2O(8 + delta)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murray, C. A.; Gammel, P. L.; Bishop, D. J.; Mitzi, D. B.; Kapitulnik, A.

1990-05-01

Hexatic order is observed in Abrikosov flux lattices in very clean crystals of the high-Tc superconductor Bi(2.1)Sr(1.9)Ca(0.9)Cu2O(8 + delta) by in situ magnetic decoration of the flux lattice at 4.2 K. Analysis of the decoration images shows that the positional order decays exponentially with a correlation length of a few lattice constants, while the orientational order persists for hundreds of lattice constants and decays algebraically with an exponent eta6 = 0.06 + or - 0.01. These results confirm recent theoretical speculation that the positional order should be far more sensitive to disorder than the orientational order, and that the low-temperature ordered phase of the flux lines in these systems might be a hexatic glass.

Superconducting dome in doped quasi-two-dimensional organic Mott insulators: A paradigm for strongly correlated superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hébert, Charles-David; Sémon, Patrick; Tremblay, A.-M. S.

2015-11-01

Layered organic superconductors of the BEDT family are model systems for understanding the interplay of the Mott transition with superconductivity, magnetic order, and frustration, ingredients that are essential to understand superconductivity also in the cuprate high-temperature superconductors. Recent experimental studies on a hole-doped version of the organic compounds reveals an enhancement of superconductivity and a rapid crossover between two different conducting phases above the superconducting dome. One of these phases is a Fermi liquid, the other not. Using plaquette cellular dynamical mean field theory with state-of-the-art continuous-time quantum Monte Carlo calculations, we study this problem with the two-dimensional Hubbard model on the anisotropic triangular lattice. Phase diagrams as a function of temperature T and interaction strength U /t are obtained for anisotropy parameters t'=0.4 t ,t'=0.8 t and for various fillings. As in the case of the cuprates, we find, at finite doping, a first-order transition between two normal-state phases. One of theses phases has a pseudogap while the other does not. At temperatures above the critical point of the first-order transition, there is a Widom line where crossovers occur. The maximum (optimal) superconducting critical temperature Tcm at finite doping is enhanced by about 25% compared with its maximum at half filling and the range of U /t where superconductivity appears is greatly extended. These results are in broad agreement with experiment. Also, increasing frustration (larger t'/t ) significantly reduces magnetic ordering, as expected. This suggests that for compounds with intermediate to high frustration, very light doping should reveal the influence of the first-order transition and associated crossovers. These crossovers could possibly be even visible in the superconducting phase through subtle signatures. We also predict that destroying the superconducting phase by a magnetic field should reveal the first-order transition between metal and pseudogap. Finally, we predict that electron doping should also lead to an increased range of U /t for superconductivity but with a reduced maximum Tc. This work also clearly shows that the superconducting dome in organic superconductors is tied to the Mott transition and its continuation as a transition separating pseudogap phase from correlated metal in doped compounds, as in the cuprates. Contrary to heavy fermions for example, the maximum Tc is definitely not attached to an antiferromagnetic quantum critical point. That can also be verified experimentally.

Phase stability and large in-plane resistivity anisotropy in the 112-type iron-based superconductor Ca 1 - x La x FeAs 2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kang, Chang-Jong; Birol, Turan; Kotliar, Gabriel

The recently discovered high-T c superconductor Ca 1-xLa xFeAs 2 is a unique compound not just because of its low-symmetry crystal structure but also because of its electronic structure, which hosts Dirac-like metallic bands resulting from (spacer) zigzag As chains. We present a comprehensive first-principles theoretical study of the electronic and crystal structures of Ca 1-xLa xFeAs 2. After discussing the connection between the crystal structure of the 112 family, which Ca 1-xLa xFeAs 2 is a member of, with the other known structures of Fe pnictide superconductors, we check the thermodynamic phase stability of CaFeAs 2, and similar hyphotheticalmore » compounds SrFeAs 2 and BaFeAs 2 which, we find, are slightly higher in energy. We calculate the optical conductivity of Ca 1-xLa xFeAs 2 using the DFT+DMFT method and predict a large in-plane resistivity anisotropy in the normal phase, which does not originate from electronic nematicity, but is enhanced by the electronic correlations. In particular, we predict a 0.34 eV peak in the yy component of the optical conductivity of the 30% La-doped compound, which corresponds to coherent interband transitions within a fast-dispersing band arising from the zigzag As chains, which are unique to this compound. We also study the Landau free energy for Ca 1-xLa xFeAs 2 including the order parameter relevant for the nematic transition and find that the free energy does not have any extra terms that could induce ferro-orbital order. This explains why the presence of As chains does not broaden the nematic transition in Ca 1-xLa xFeAs 2.« less

Phase stability and large in-plane resistivity anisotropy in the 112-type iron-based superconductor Ca 1 - x La x FeAs 2

DOE PAGES

Kang, Chang-Jong; Birol, Turan; Kotliar, Gabriel

2017-01-17

The recently discovered high-T c superconductor Ca 1-xLa xFeAs 2 is a unique compound not just because of its low-symmetry crystal structure but also because of its electronic structure, which hosts Dirac-like metallic bands resulting from (spacer) zigzag As chains. We present a comprehensive first-principles theoretical study of the electronic and crystal structures of Ca 1-xLa xFeAs 2. After discussing the connection between the crystal structure of the 112 family, which Ca 1-xLa xFeAs 2 is a member of, with the other known structures of Fe pnictide superconductors, we check the thermodynamic phase stability of CaFeAs 2, and similar hyphotheticalmore » compounds SrFeAs 2 and BaFeAs 2 which, we find, are slightly higher in energy. We calculate the optical conductivity of Ca 1-xLa xFeAs 2 using the DFT+DMFT method and predict a large in-plane resistivity anisotropy in the normal phase, which does not originate from electronic nematicity, but is enhanced by the electronic correlations. In particular, we predict a 0.34 eV peak in the yy component of the optical conductivity of the 30% La-doped compound, which corresponds to coherent interband transitions within a fast-dispersing band arising from the zigzag As chains, which are unique to this compound. We also study the Landau free energy for Ca 1-xLa xFeAs 2 including the order parameter relevant for the nematic transition and find that the free energy does not have any extra terms that could induce ferro-orbital order. This explains why the presence of As chains does not broaden the nematic transition in Ca 1-xLa xFeAs 2.« less

Superconductor coil geometry and ac losses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pierce, T. V., Jr.; Zapata, R. N.

1976-01-01

An empirical relation is presented which allows simple computation of volume-averaged winding fields from central fields for coils of small rectangular cross sections. This relation suggests that, in certain applications, ac-loss minimization can be accomplished by use of low winding densities, provided that hysteresis losses are independent of winding density. The ac-loss measurements on coils wound of twisted multifilamentary composite superconductors show no significant dependence on ac losses on winding density, thus permitting the use of winding density as an independent design parameter in loss minimization.

Modeling the Effects of Varying the Capacitance, Resistance, Temperature, and Frequency Dependence for HTS Josephson Junctions, DC SQUIDs and DC bi-SQUIDS

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-01

junction is a thin layer of insulating material sep- arating two superconductors that is thin enough for electrons to tunnel through. Two Josephson...can sense minute magnetic fields approaching 1015 Tesla. These SQUIDs can be arranged in arrays with different coupling schemes and parameter values to...different material and/or method on the bisecting Josephson junction for high temperature superconductor (HTS) YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) bi-SQUIDs. This

Flux front penetration in disordered superconductors.

PubMed

Zapperi, S; Moreira, A A; Andrade, J S

2001-04-16

We investigate flux front penetration in a disordered type-II superconductor by molecular dynamics simulations of interacting vortices and find scaling laws for the front position and the density profile. The scaling can be understood by performing a coarse graining of the system and writing a disordered nonlinear diffusion equation. Integrating numerically the equation, we observe a crossover from flat to fractal front penetration as the system parameters are varied. The value of the fractal dimension indicates that the invasion process is described by gradient percolation.

Dominant Majorana bound energy and critical current enhancement in ferromagnetic-superconducting topological insulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khezerlou, Maryam; Goudarzi, Hadi; Asgarifar, Samin

2017-03-01

Among the potential applications of topological insulators, we theoretically study the coexistence of proximity-induced ferromagnetic and superconducting orders in the surface states of a 3-dimensional topological insulator. The superconducting electron-hole excitations can be significantly affected by the magnetic order induced by a ferromagnet. In one hand, the surface state of the topological insulator, protected by the time-reversal symmetry, creates a spin-triplet and, on the other hand, magnetic order causes to renormalize the effective superconducting gap. We find Majorana mode energy along the ferromagnet/superconductor interface to sensitively depend on the magnitude of magnetization m zfs from superconductor region, and its slope around perpendicular incidence is steep with very low dependency on m zfs . The superconducting effective gap is renormalized by a factor η( m zfs ), and Andreev bound state in ferromagnet-superconductor/ferromagnet/ferromagnet-superconductor (FS/F/FS) Josephson junction is more sensitive to the magnitude of magnetizations of FS and F regions. In particular, we show that the presence of m zfs has a noticeable impact on the gap opening in Andreev bound state, which occurs in finite angle of incidence. This directly results in zero-energy Andreev state being dominant. By introducing the proper form of corresponding Dirac spinors for FS electron-hole states, we find that via the inclusion of m zfs , the Josephson supercurrent is enhanced and exhibits almost abrupt crossover curve, featuring the dominant zero-energy Majorana bound states.

Electron-phonon interaction in the binary superconductor lutetium carbide LuC2 via first-principles calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dilmi, S.; Saib, S.; Bouarissa, N.

2018-06-01

Structural, electronic, electron-phonon coupling and superconducting properties of the intermetallic compound LuC2 are investigated by means of ab initio pseudopotential plane wave method within the generalized gradient approximation. The calculated equilibrium lattice parameters yielded a very good accord with experiment. There is no imaginary phonon frequency in the whole Brillouin zone supporting thus the dynamical stability in the material of interest. The average electron-phonon coupling parameter is found to be 0.59 indicating thus a weak-coupling BCS superconductor. Using a reasonable value of μ* = 0.12 for the effective Coulomb repulsion parameter, the superconducting critical temperature Tc is found to be 3.324 which is in excellent agreement with the experimental value of 3.33 K. The effect of the spin-orbit coupling on the superconducting properties of the material of interest has been examined and found to be weak.

A route for a strong increase of critical current in nanostrained iron-based superconductors

DOE PAGES

Ozaki, Toshinori; Li, Qiang; Wu, Lijun; ...

2016-10-06

The critical temperature T c and the critical current density J c determine the limits to large-scale superconductor applications. Superconductivity emerges at T c. The practical current-carrying capability, measured by J c, is the ability of defects in superconductors to pin the magnetic vortices, and that may reduce T c. Simultaneous increase of T c and J c in superconductors is desirable but very difficult to realize. Here we demonstrate a route to raise both T c and J c together in iron-based superconductors. By using low-energy proton irradiation, we create cascade defects in FeSe 0.5Te 0.5 films. Tc ismore » enhanced due to the nanoscale compressive strain and proximity effect, whereas J c is doubled under zero field at 4.2 K through strong vortex pinning by the cascade defects and surrounding nanoscale strain. At 12 K and above 15 T, one order of magnitude of J c enhancement is achieved in both parallel and perpendicular magnetic fields to the film surface.« less

Influence of the surface magnetic field of a cylindrical permanent magnet on the maximum levitation force in high-Tc superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Xian-Feng; Liu, Yuan

2006-06-01

In this paper we present the dependence of the maximum levitation force (FzMax) of a high-Tc superconductor on the surface magnetic field (Bs) of a cylindrical permanent magnet, based on the Bean critical state model and Ampère's law. A transition point of Bs is found at which the relation between FzMax and Bs changes: while the surface magnetic field is less than the transition point the dependence is subjected to a nonlinear function, otherwise it is a linear one. The two different relations are estimated to correspond to partial penetration of the shielding currents in the interior of the superconductor below the transition point and complete penetration above it, respectively. Furthermore, the influence of the geometrical properties of superconductors on the transition point of Bs is discussed, which shows a quadratic polynomial function between the transition points and the radii and the thickness of superconductors. Some optimum contours of the transition point of Bs are presented in order to achieve large levitation forces.

Block copolymer self-assembly–directed synthesis of mesoporous gyroidal superconductors

PubMed Central

Robbins, Spencer W.; Beaucage, Peter A.; Sai, Hiroaki; Tan, Kwan Wee; Werner, Jörg G.; Sethna, James P.; DiSalvo, Francis J.; Gruner, Sol M.; Van Dover, Robert B.; Wiesner, Ulrich

2016-01-01

Superconductors with periodically ordered mesoporous structures are expected to have properties very different from those of their bulk counterparts. Systematic studies of such phenomena to date are sparse, however, because of a lack of versatile synthetic approaches to such materials. We demonstrate the formation of three-dimensionally continuous gyroidal mesoporous niobium nitride (NbN) superconductors from chiral ABC triblock terpolymer self-assembly–directed sol-gel–derived niobium oxide with subsequent thermal processing in air and ammonia gas. Superconducting materials exhibit a critical temperature (Tc) of about 7 to 8 K, a flux exclusion of about 5% compared to a dense NbN solid, and an estimated critical current density (Jc) of 440 A cm−2 at 100 Oe and 2.5 K. We expect block copolymer self-assembly–directed mesoporous superconductors to provide interesting subjects for mesostructure-superconductivity correlation studies. PMID:27152327

Block copolymer self-assembly-directed synthesis of mesoporous gyroidal superconductors.

PubMed

Robbins, Spencer W; Beaucage, Peter A; Sai, Hiroaki; Tan, Kwan Wee; Werner, Jörg G; Sethna, James P; DiSalvo, Francis J; Gruner, Sol M; Van Dover, Robert B; Wiesner, Ulrich

2016-01-01

Superconductors with periodically ordered mesoporous structures are expected to have properties very different from those of their bulk counterparts. Systematic studies of such phenomena to date are sparse, however, because of a lack of versatile synthetic approaches to such materials. We demonstrate the formation of three-dimensionally continuous gyroidal mesoporous niobium nitride (NbN) superconductors from chiral ABC triblock terpolymer self-assembly-directed sol-gel-derived niobium oxide with subsequent thermal processing in air and ammonia gas. Superconducting materials exhibit a critical temperature (T c) of about 7 to 8 K, a flux exclusion of about 5% compared to a dense NbN solid, and an estimated critical current density (J c) of 440 A cm(-2) at 100 Oe and 2.5 K. We expect block copolymer self-assembly-directed mesoporous superconductors to provide interesting subjects for mesostructure-superconductivity correlation studies.

Spontaneous Hall effect in a chiral p-wave superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furusaki, Akira; Matsumoto, Masashige; Sigrist, Manfred

2001-08-01

In a chiral superconductor with broken time-reversal symmetry a ``spontaneous Hall effect'' may be observed. We analyze this phenomenon by taking into account the surface properties of a chiral superconductor. We identify two main contributions to the spontaneous Hall effect. One contribution originates from the Bernoulli (or Lorentz) force due to spontaneous currents running along the surfaces of the superconductor. The other contribution has a topological origin and is related to the intrinsic angular momentum of Cooper pairs. The latter can be described in terms of a Chern-Simons-like term in the low-energy field theory of the superconductor and has some similarities with the quantum Hall effect. The spontaneous Hall effect in a chiral superconductor is, however, nonuniversal. Our analysis is based on three approaches to the problem: a self-consistent solution of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equation, a generalized Ginzburg-Landau theory, and a hydrodynamic formulation. All three methods consistently lead to the same conclusion that the spontaneous Hall resistance of a two-dimensional superconducting Hall bar is of order h/(ekFλ)2, where kF is the Fermi wave vector and λ is the London penetration depth; the Hall resistance is substantially suppressed from a quantum unit of resistance. Experimental issues in measuring this effect are briefly discussed.

Chaotic Dynamics of a Josephson Junction with a Ratchet Potential and Current-Modulating Damping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Fei; Li, Wenwu; Xu, Lan

2018-06-01

The chaotic dynamics of a Josephson junction with a ratchet potential and current-modulating damping are studied. Under the first-order approximation, we construct the general solution of the first-order equation whose boundedness condition contains the famous Melnikov chaotic criterion. Based on the general solution, the incomputability and unpredictability of the system's chaotic behavior are discussed. For the case beyond perturbation conditions, the evolution of stroboscopic Poincaré sections shows that the system undergoes a quasi-periodic transition to chaos with an increasing intensity of the rf-current. Through a suitable feedback controlling strategy, the chaos can be effectively suppressed and the intensity of the controller can vary in a large range. It is also found that the current between the two separated superconductors increases monotonously in some specific parameter spaces.

Chaotic Dynamics of a Josephson Junction with a Ratchet Potential and Current-Modulating Damping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Fei; Li, Wenwu; Xu, Lan

2018-04-01

The chaotic dynamics of a Josephson junction with a ratchet potential and current-modulating damping are studied. Under the first-order approximation, we construct the general solution of the first-order equation whose boundedness condition contains the famous Melnikov chaotic criterion. Based on the general solution, the incomputability and unpredictability of the system's chaotic behavior are discussed. For the case beyond perturbation conditions, the evolution of stroboscopic Poincaré sections shows that the system undergoes a quasi-periodic transition to chaos with an increasing intensity of the rf-current. Through a suitable feedback controlling strategy, the chaos can be effectively suppressed and the intensity of the controller can vary in a large range. It is also found that the current between the two separated superconductors increases monotonously in some specific parameter spaces.

Copper-tuned magnetic order and excitations in iron-based superconductors Fe1+yTe1-xSex

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wen, Jinsheng; Xu, Zhijun; Xu, Guangyong; Lumsden, Mark; Matsuda, Masaaki; Valdivia, Patrick; Bourret, Edith; Lee, Dunghai; Gu, Genda; Tranquada, John; Birgeneau, Robert

2012-02-01

We report neutron scattering results on the Cu-substitution effects in the iron-based superconductors, Fe1+yTe1-xSex. In the parent compound, it is found that Cu drives the low-temperature magnetic ground state from long-range commensurate antiferromagnetic order in Fe1.06TeCu0.04 to short-range incommensurate order in FeTeCu0.1. In the former sample, the structural and magnetic ordering temperature is 40 K; in FeTeCu0.1, the structural phase transition is not obvious and a transition to the spin-glass state is found at 22 K. Cu suppresses superconductivity in FeTe0.5Se0.5---Tc is reduced to 7 K with a 2% Cu doping, and no superconductivity is found in the 10% Cu-doped sample. In the meantime, the intensity and energy of the resonance mode are suppressed in the 2% Cu-doped sample, while there is no resonance in the non-superconducting sample. Besides, the low-temperature magnetic excitation spectra are distinct for these two samples, with the superconducting one having an ``hour-glass" shape and the other one having a ``waterfall" shape. Our results provide further insights on the interplay between magnetism and superconductivity in the iron-based superconductors.

Orbital loop currents in iron-based superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klug, Markus; Kang, Jian; Fernandes, Rafael M.; Schmalian, Jörg

2018-04-01

We show that the antiferromagnetic state commonly observed in the phase diagrams of the iron-based superconductors necessarily triggers loop currents characterized by charge transfer between different Fe 3 d orbitals. This effect is rooted on the glide-plane symmetry of these materials and on the existence of an atomic spin-orbit coupling that couples states at the X and Y points of the 1-Fe Brillouin zone. In the particular case in which the magnetic moments are aligned parallel to the magnetic ordering vector direction, which is the moment configuration most commonly found in the iron-based superconductors, these loop currents involve the dx y orbital and either the dy z orbital (if the moments point along the y axis) or the dx z orbitals (if the moments point along the x axis). We show that the two main manifestations of the orbital loop currents are the emergence of magnetic moments in the pnictide/chalcogen site and an orbital-selective band splitting in the magnetically ordered state, both of which could be detected experimentally. Our results highlight the unique intertwining between orbital and spin degrees of freedom in the iron-based superconductors, and reveal the emergence of an unusual correlated phase that may impact the normal state and superconducting properties of these materials.

Theory of intertwined orders in high temperature superconductors

DOE PAGES

Fradkin, Eduardo; Tranquada, John M.; Kivelson, Steven A.

2015-03-26

The electronic phase diagrams of many highly correlated systems, and in particular the cuprate high temperature superconductors, are complex, with many different phases appearing with similar—sometimes identical—ordering temperatures even as material properties, such as a dopant concentration, are varied over wide ranges. This complexity is sometimes referred to as “competing orders.” However, since the relation is intimate, and can even lead to the existence of new phases of matter such as the putative “pair-density-wave,” the general relation is better thought of in terms of “intertwined orders.” We selectively analyze some of the experiments in the cuprates which suggest that essentialmore » aspects of the physics are reflected in the intertwining of multiple orders—not just in the nature of each order by itself. We also summarize and critique several theoretical ideas concerning the origin and implications of this complexity.« less

Superconductivity and Competing Ordered Phase in RuPn (Pn = As, P)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirai, Daigorou; Takayama, Tomohiro; Hashizume, Daisuke; Yamamoto, Ayako; Takagi, Hidenori

2011-03-01

Unconventional superconductivity likely manifests itself when some competing electronic phases are suppressed down to zero temperature such as cuprates and iron-pnictide superconductors. Therefore, the correlated metallic state neighboring a competing electronic ordering can be a promising playground for unconventional superconductivity. Here we report superconductivity emerging adjacent to electronically ordered phases of RuPn (Pn = As, P). We found that RuAs(P) exhibits phase transitions at 240 (265) K, which is discerned as a drop of magnetic susceptibility or a resistivity upturn. Such anomalies can be suppressed by substituting Rh to the Ru site. Accompanied by the disappearance of the electronic order, superconductivity was found to emerge below 1.8 K and 3.8 K for RuAs and RuP, respectively. The superconductivity in Rh substituted RuPn, which neighbors a competing electronic order, might exhibit an exotic pairing state as seen in the unconventional superconductors known to date.

Magnetic Signals of High-Temperature Superconductor Bulk During the Levitation Force Measurement Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Huan; Zheng, Jun; Qian, Nan; Che, Tong; Zheng, Botian; Jin, Liwei; Deng, Zigang

2017-05-01

In order to study the commonly neglected magnetic field information in the course of levitation force measurement process in a superconducting maglev system, a multipoint magnetic field measurement platform was employed to acquire magnetic signals of a bulk high-Tc superconductor on both the top and the bottom surface. Working conditions including field cooling (FC) and zero field cooling were investigated for these vertical down and up motions above a permanent magnet guideway performed on a HTS maglev measurement system. We have discussed the magnetic flux variation process based on the Bean model. A magnetic hysteresis effect similar to the levitation force hysteresis loop of the bulk superconductor was displayed and analyzed in this paper. What is more valuable, there exists some available magnetic flux on the top surface of the bulk superconductor, and the proportion is as high as 62.42% in the FC condition, which provides an experimental hint to design the superconductor bulk and the applied field for practical use in a more efficient way. In particular, this work reveals real-time magnetic flux variation of the bulk superconductor in the levitation application, which is the other important information in contrast to the macroscopic levitation and guidance force investigations in previous studies, and it enriches the existing research methods. The results are significant for understanding the magnetic characteristic of superconductors, and they can contribute to optimize the present HTS maglev system design.

Proposal of a Bulk HTSC Staggered Array Undulator

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kii, Toshiteru; Kinjo, Ryota; Bakr, Mahmoud A.

We proposed a new type of undulator based on bulk high-T{sub c} superconductors (HTSC) which consists of a single solenoid and a stacked array of bulk HTSC. The main advantage of this configuration is that a mechanical structure is not required to produce and control the undulator field. In order to perform a proof of principle experiment, we have developed a prototype of bulk HTSC staggered array undulator using 11 pairs of DyBaCuO bulk superconductors and a normal conducting solenoid. Experimental results obtained by using the prototype undulator and numerical results obtained by a loop current model based on themore » Bean mode for a type-II superconductor were compared.« less

“Nodal Gap” induced by the incommensurate diagonal spin density modulation in underdoped high- T c superconductors

DOE PAGES

Zhou, Tao; Gao, Yi; Zhu, Jian -Xin

2015-03-07

Recenmore » tly it was revealed that the whole Fermi surface is fully gapped for several families of underdoped cuprates. The existence of the finite energy gap along the d -wave nodal lines (nodal gap) contrasts the common understanding of the d -wave pairing symmetry, which challenges the present theories for the high- T c superconductors. Here we propose that the incommensurate diagonal spin-density-wave order can account for the above experimental observation. The Fermi surface and the local density of states are also studied. Our results are in good agreement with many important experiments in high- T c superconductors.« less

Spin waves and magnetic exchange interactions in insulating Rb(0.89)Fe(1.58)Se(2).

PubMed

Wang, Miaoyin; Fang, Chen; Yao, Dao-Xin; Tan, GuoTai; Harriger, Leland W; Song, Yu; Netherton, Tucker; Zhang, Chenglin; Wang, Meng; Stone, Matthew B; Tian, Wei; Hu, Jiangping; Dai, Pengcheng

2011-12-06

The parent compounds of iron pnictide superconductors are bad metals with a collinear antiferromagnetic structure and Néel temperatures below 220 K. Although alkaline iron selenide A(y)Fe(1.6+x)Se(2) (A=K, Rb, Cs) superconductors are isostructural with iron pnictides, in the vicinity of the undoped limit they are insulators, forming a block antiferromagnetic order and having Néel temperatures of roughly 500 K. Here we show that the spin waves of the insulating antiferromagnet Rb(0.89)Fe(1.58)Se(2) can be accurately described by a local moment Heisenberg Hamiltonian. A fitting analysis of the spin wave spectra reveals that the next-nearest neighbour couplings in Rb(0.89)Fe(1.58)Se(2), (Ba,Ca,Sr)Fe(2)As(2), and Fe(1.05)Te are of similar magnitude. Our results suggest a common origin for the magnetism of all the Fe-based superconductors, despite having different ground states and antiferromagnetic orderings.

Phase transition with trivial quantum criticality in an anisotropic Weyl semimetal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xin; Wang, Jing-Rong; Liu, Guo-Zhu

2018-05-01

When a metal undergoes continuous quantum phase transition, the correlation length diverges at the critical point and the quantum fluctuation of order parameter behaves as a gapless bosonic mode. Generically, the coupling of this boson to fermions induces a variety of unusual quantum critical phenomena, such as non-Fermi liquid behavior and various emergent symmetries. Here, we perform a renormalization group analysis of the semimetal-superconductor quantum criticality in a three-dimensional anisotropic Weyl semimetal. Surprisingly, distinct from previously studied quantum critical systems, the anomalous dimension of anisotropic Weyl fermions flows to zero very quickly with decreasing energy, and the quasiparticle residue takes a nonzero value. These results indicate that the quantum fluctuation of superconducting order parameter is irrelevant at low energies, and a simple mean-field calculation suffices to capture the essential physics of the superconducting transition. We thus obtain a phase transition that exhibits trivial quantum criticality, which is unique comparing to other invariably nontrivial quantum critical systems. Our theoretical prediction can be experimentally verified by measuring the fermion spectral function and specific heat.

Piezoelectricity and rotostriction through polar and non-polar coupled instabilities in bismuth-based piezoceramics

PubMed Central

Acosta, Matias; Schmitt, Ljubomira A.; Cazorla, Claudio; Studer, Andrew; Zintler, Alexander; Glaum, Julia; Kleebe, Hans-Joachim; Donner, Wolfgang; Hoffman, Mark; Rödel, Jürgen; Hinterstein, Manuel

2016-01-01

Coupling of order parameters provides a means to tune functionality in advanced materials including multiferroics, superconductors, and ionic conductors. We demonstrate that the response of a frustrated ferroelectric state leads to coupling between order parameters under electric field depending on grain orientation. The strain of grains oriented along a specific crystallographic direction, 〈h00〉, is caused by converse piezoelectricity originating from a ferrodistortive tetragonal phase. For 〈hhh〉 oriented grains, the strain results from converse piezoelectricity and rotostriction, as indicated by an antiferrodistortive instability that promotes octahedral tilting in a rhombohedral phase. Both strain mechanisms combined lead to a colossal local strain of (2.4 ± 0.1) % and indicate coupling between oxygen octahedral tilting and polarization, here termed “rotopolarization”. These findings were confirmed with electromechanical experiments, in situ neutron diffraction, and in situ transmission electron microscopy in 0.75Bi1/2Na1/2TiO3-0.25SrTiO3. This work demonstrates that polar and non-polar instabilities can cooperate to provide colossal functional responses. PMID:27364037

Evidence of nodes in the order parameter of the superconducting doped topological insulator NbxBi2Se3 via penetration depth measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smylie, M. P.; Claus, H.; Welp, U.; Kwok, W.-K.; Qiu, Y.; Hor, Y. S.; Snezhko, A.

The low-temperature variation of the London penetration depth λ(T) in the candidate topological superconductor NbxBi2Se3 (x =0.25) is reported for several crystals. The measurements were carried out by means of a tunnel-diode oscillator technique in both field orientations (Hrf // c and Hrf // ab planes). All samples exhibited quadratic temperature dependence at low temperatures clearly indicating the presence of point nodes in the superconducting order parameter. The results presented here are not consistent with a complete superconducting gap. We interpret our data on NbxBi2Se3 in terms of a nematic odd-parity spin-triplet pairing state with Eu symmetry. This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division, Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. MPS thanks ND Energy for supporting his research and professional development through the ND Energy Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. YSH acknowledges support from National Science Foundation Grant Number DMR-1255607.

Universal lower limit on vortex creep in superconductors

DOE PAGES

Eley, Serena Merteen; Miura, Masashi; Maiorov, Boris Alfredo; ...

2017-02-13

Superconductors are excellent testbeds for studying vortices, topological excitations that also appear in superfluids, liquid crystals and Bose–Einstein condensates. Vortex motion can be disruptive; it can cause phase transitions, glitches in pulsars, and losses in superconducting microwave circuits, and it limits the current-carrying capacity of superconductors4. Understanding vortex dynamics is fundamentally and technologically important, and the competition between thermal energy and energy barriers defined by material disorder is not completely understood. Specifically, early measurements of thermally activated vortex motion (creep) in iron-based superconductors unveiled fast rates (S) comparable to measurements of YBa 2Cu 3O 7–δ. This was puzzling because Smore » is thought to somehow correlate with the Ginzburg number (Gi), and Gi is significantly lower in most iron-based superconductors than in YBa 2Cu 3O 7–δ. Here, we report very slow creep in BaFe 2(As 0.67P 0.33) 2 films, and propose the existence of a universal minimum realizable S ~ Gi 1/2(T/T c) (T c is the superconducting transition temperature) that has been achieved in our films and few other materials, and is violated by none. Furthermore, this limitation provides new clues about designing materials with slow creep and the interplay between material parameters and vortex dynamics.« less

Universal lower limit on vortex creep in superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eley, S.; Miura, M.; Maiorov, B.; Civale, L.

2017-04-01

Superconductors are excellent testbeds for studying vortices, topological excitations that also appear in superfluids, liquid crystals and Bose-Einstein condensates. Vortex motion can be disruptive; it can cause phase transitions, glitches in pulsars, and losses in superconducting microwave circuits, and it limits the current-carrying capacity of superconductors. Understanding vortex dynamics is fundamentally and technologically important, and the competition between thermal energy and energy barriers defined by material disorder is not completely understood. Specifically, early measurements of thermally activated vortex motion (creep) in iron-based superconductors unveiled fast rates (S) comparable to measurements of YBa 2Cu3O7-δ (refs ,,,,,). This was puzzling because S is thought to somehow correlate with the Ginzburg number (Gi), and Gi is significantly lower in most iron-based superconductors than in YBa 2Cu3O7-δ. Here, we report very slow creep in BaFe 2(As0.67P0.33)2 films, and propose the existence of a universal minimum realizable S ~ Gi1/2(T/Tc) (Tc is the superconducting transition temperature) that has been achieved in our films and few other materials, and is violated by none. This limitation provides new clues about designing materials with slow creep and the interplay between material parameters and vortex dynamics.

A Bragg glass phase in the vortex lattice of a type II superconductor.

PubMed

Klein, T; Joumard, I; Blanchard, S; Marcus, J; Cubitt, R; Giamarchi, T; Le Doussal, P

2001-09-27

Although crystals are usually quite stable, they are sensitive to a disordered environment: even an infinitesimal amount of impurities can lead to the destruction of crystalline order. The resulting state of matter has been a long-standing puzzle. Until recently it was believed to be an amorphous state in which the crystal would break into 'crystallites'. But a different theory predicts the existence of a novel phase of matter: the so-called Bragg glass, which is a glass and yet nearly as ordered as a perfect crystal. The 'lattice' of vortices that contain magnetic flux in type II superconductors provide a good system to investigate these ideas. Here we show that neutron-diffraction data of the vortex lattice provides unambiguous evidence for a weak, power-law decay of the crystalline order characteristic of a Bragg glass. The theory also predicts accurately the electrical transport properties of superconductors; it naturally explains the observed phase transitions and the dramatic jumps in the critical current associated with the melting of the Bragg glass. Moreover, the model explains experiments as diverse as X-ray scattering in disordered liquid crystals and the conductivity of electronic crystals.

Performance of ceramic superconductors in magnetic bearings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kirtley, James L., Jr.; Downer, James R.

1993-01-01

Magnetic bearings are large-scale applications of magnet technology, quite similar in certain ways to synchronous machinery. They require substantial flux density over relatively large volumes of space. Large flux density is required to have satisfactory force density. Satisfactory dynamic response requires that magnetic circuit permeances not be too large, implying large air gaps. Superconductors, which offer large magnetomotive forces and high flux density in low permeance circuits, appear to be desirable in these situations. Flux densities substantially in excess of those possible with iron can be produced, and no ferromagnetic material is required. Thus the inductance of active coils can be made low, indicating good dynamic response of the bearing system. The principal difficulty in using superconductors is, of course, the deep cryogenic temperatures at which they must operate. Because of the difficulties in working with liquid helium, the possibility of superconductors which can be operated in liquid nitrogen is thought to extend the number and range of applications of superconductivity. Critical temperatures of about 98 degrees Kelvin were demonstrated in a class of materials which are, in fact, ceramics. Quite a bit of public attention was attracted to these new materials. There is a difficulty with the ceramic superconducting materials which were developed to date. Current densities sufficient for use in large-scale applications have not been demonstrated. In order to be useful, superconductors must be capable of carrying substantial currents in the presence of large magnetic fields. The possible use of ceramic superconductors in magnetic bearings is investigated and discussed and requirements that must be achieved by superconductors operating at liquid nitrogen temperatures to make their use comparable with niobium-titanium superconductors operating at liquid helium temperatures are identified.

Type-I superconductivity in YbSb2 single crystals

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhao, Liang L.; Lausberg, Stefan; Kim, Hyunsoo

2012-06-25

We present evidence of type-I superconductivity in YbSb2 single crystals from dc and ac magnetization, heat capacity, and resistivity measurements. The critical temperature and critical field are determined to be Tc≈ 1.3 K and Hc≈ 55 Oe. A small Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ= 0.05, together with typical magnetization isotherms of type-I superconductors, small critical field values, a strong differential paramagnetic effect signal, and a field-induced change from second- to first-order phase transition, confirms the type-I nature of the superconductivity in YbSb2. A possible second superconducting state is observed in the radio-frequency susceptibility measurements, with Tc(2)≈ 0.41 K and Hc(2)≈ 430 Oe.

Analytical assessment of some characteristic ratios for s-wave superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gonczarek, Ryszard; Krzyzosiak, Mateusz; Gonczarek, Adam; Jacak, Lucjan

2018-04-01

We evaluate some thermodynamic quantities and characteristic ratios that describe low- and high-temperature s-wave superconducting systems. Based on a set of fundamental equations derived within the conformal transformation method, a simple model is proposed and studied analytically. After including a one-parameter class of fluctuations in the density of states, the mathematical structure of the s-wave superconducting gap, the free energy difference, and the specific heat difference is found and discussed in an analytic manner. Both the zero-temperature limit T = 0 and the subcritical temperature range T ≲ T c are discussed using the method of successive approximations. The equation for the ratio R 1, relating the zero-temperature energy gap and the critical temperature, is formulated and solved numerically for various values of the model parameter. Other thermodynamic quantities are analyzed, including a characteristic ratio R 2, quantifying the dynamics of the specific heat jump at the critical temperature. It is shown that the obtained model results coincide with experimental data for low- T c superconductors. The prospect of application of the presented model in studies of high- T c superconductors and other superconducting systems of the new generation is also discussed.

Positron annihilation study of the high- Tc (Bi,Pb) 2Sr 2Ca 2Cu 3O x superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, H. J.; Byrne, J. G.

1997-03-01

Positron lifetime spectroscopy (PLS) and positron Doppler-broadening spectroscopy (PDBS) were applied to the high- Tc lead-doped Bi 2Sr 2Ca 2Cu 3O x (BPSCCO 2223) superconductor as a function of temperature. Neither positron lifetimes nor Doppler parameters ( S, W, and{S}/{W}) showed significant change through Tc. This may result from having the highest positron density in the open BiO 2 double layers and no significant positron density in the superconducting CuO 2 layers where positrons, if mainly present, are known to be sensitive to the transition in other high- Tc superconductors. Doppler parameters showed that the probability of positron annihilations with core electrons in the lattice slightly increased and that the probability of positron annihilations with conduction electrons slightly decreased as temperature decreased from ambient temperature to 20 K. The lifetime associated with positron annihilations in the perfect lattice of the sample ( τ1) was 209 ps and, due to the annihilations at internal surfaces or voids in the sample ( τ2) was about 540 ps, independent of temperature. Finally, the mean lifetime for BSCCO 2223 was about 307 ps.

Orbital occupancy and charge doping in iron-based superconductors.

PubMed

Cantoni, Claudia; Mitchell, Jonathan E; May, Andrew F; McGuire, Michael A; Idrobo, Juan-Carlos; Berlijn, Tom; Dagotto, Elbio; Chisholm, Matthew F; Zhou, Wu; Pennycook, Stephen J; Sefat, Athena S; Sales, Brian C

2014-09-17

The intrinsic Fe local magnetic moment and Fe orbital occupations of iron-based superconductors are unveiled through the local, real-space capability of aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy/electron energy loss spectroscopy (STEM/EELS). Although the ordering of Fe moments needs to be suppressed for superconductivity to arise, the local, fluctuating Fe magnetic moment is enhanced near optimal superconductivity. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Magnetic excitations in iron chalcogenide superconductors.

PubMed

Kotegawa, Hisashi; Fujita, Masaki

2012-10-01

Nuclear magnetic resonance and neutron scattering experiments in iron chalcogenide superconductors are reviewed to make a survey of the magnetic excitations in FeSe, FeSe 1- x Te x and alkali-metal-doped A x Fe 2- y Se 2 ( A = K, Rb, Cs, etc). In FeSe, the intimate relationship between the spin fluctuations and superconductivity can be seen universally for the variations in the off-stoichiometry, the Co-substitution and applied pressure. The isovalent compound FeTe has a magnetic ordering with different wave vector from that of other Fe-based magnetic materials. The transition temperature T c of FeSe increases with Te substitution in FeSe 1- x Te x with small x , and decreases in the vicinity of the end member FeTe. The spin fluctuations are drastically modified by the Te substitution. In the vicinity of the end member FeTe, the low-energy part of the spin fluctuation is dominated by the wave vector of the ordered phase of FeTe; however, the reduction of T c shows that it does not support superconductivity. The presence of same wave vector as that of other Fe-based superconductors in FeSe 1- x Te x and the observation of the resonance mode demonstrate that FeSe 1- x Te x belongs to the same group as most of other Fe-based superconductors in the entire range of x , where superconductivity is mediated by the spin fluctuations whose wave vector is the same as the nesting vector between the hole pockets and the electron pockets. On the other hand, the spin fluctuations differ for alkali-metal-doped A x Fe 2- y Se 2 and FeSe or other Fe-based superconductors in their wave vector and strength in the low-energy part, most likely because of the different Fermi surfaces. The resonance mode with different wave vector suggests that A x Fe 2- y Se 2 has an exceptional superconducting symmetry among Fe-based superconductors.

Boundaries of the critical state stability in a hard superconductor Nb3Al in the H-T plane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chabanenko, V. V.; Vasiliev, S. V.; Nabiałek, A.; Shishmakov, A. S.; Pérez-Rodríguez, F.; Rusakov, V. F.; Szewczyk, A.; Kodess, B. N.; Gutowska, M.; Wieckowski, J.; Szymczak, H.

2013-04-01

The instability of the critical state in a type-II superconductor Nb3Al is studied for the first time for simultaneous consideration of real dependences of thermal and conductive properties of the material on temperature T and magnetic field He. To do this the dependences of specific heat C(T,Hе), magnetization M(T,He) and magnetostriction ΔL(T,He) of the superconductor were investigated experimentally in a strong magnetic field (up to 12 T). The gap width, the coefficient of the linear term, which determines the electronic contribution to the specific heat, the Debye temperature, and other parameters were found using experimental data on the heat capacity in a wide range of temperatures and magnetic fields Hc1 ≤ He ≤ Hc2. From experimental studies of magnetization the dependences of the critical current of the superconductor, Jc(T,He), were reconstructed. The hysteresis loops of magnetization and magnetostriction were calculated using experimental data for temperature and field dependences of the thermal and conductive properties.

Towards a complete Fermi surface in underdoped high Tc superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harrison, Neil

The discovery of magnetic quantum oscillations in underdoped high Tc superconductors raised many questions, and initiated a quest to understand the origin of the Fermi surface the like of which had not been seen since the very first discovery of quantum oscillations in elemental bismuth. While studies of the Fermi surface of materials are today mostly assisted by computer codes for calculating the electronic band structure, this was not the case in the underdoped high Tc materials. The Fermi surface was shown to reconstructed into small pockets, yet there was no hint of a viable order parameter. Crucial clues to understanding the origin of the Fermi surface were provided by the small value of the observed Fermi surface cross-section, the negative Hall coefficient and the small electronic heat capacity at high magnetic fields. We also know that the magnetic fields were likely to be too weak to destroy the pseudogap and that vortex pinning effects could be seen to persist to high magnetic fields at low temperatures. I will show that the Fermi surface that appears to fit best with the experimental observations is a small electron pocket formed by connecting the nodal `Fermi arcs' seen in photoemission experiments, corresponding to a density-wave state with two different orthogonal ordering vectors. The existence of such order has subsequently been detected by x-ray scattering experiments, thereby strengthening the case for charge ordering being responsible for reconstructing the Fermi surface. I will discuss new efforts to understand the relationship between the charge ordering and the pseudogap state, discussing the fate of the quasiparticles in the antinodal region and the dimensionality of the Fermi surface. The author acknowledges contributions from Suchitra Sebastian, Brad Ramshaw, Mun Chan, Yu-Te Hsu, Mate Hartstein, Gil Lonzarich, Beng Tan, Arkady Shekhter, Fedor Balakirev, Ross McDonald, Jon Betts, Moaz Altarawneh, Zengwei Zhu, Chuck Mielke, James Day, Doug Bonn, Ruixing Liang, Walter Hardy. Supported by BES ``Science of 100 tesla'' program.

Unconventional charge order in a co-doped high-Tc superconductor

PubMed Central

Pelc, D.; Vučković, M.; Grafe, H. -J.; Baek, S. -H.; Požek, M.

2016-01-01

Charge-stripe order has recently been established as an important aspect of cuprate high-Tc superconductors. However, owing to the complex interplay between competing phases and the influence of disorder, it is unclear how it emerges from the parent high-temperature state. Here we report on the discovery of an unconventional ordered phase between charge-stripe order and (pseudogapped) metal in the cuprate La1.8−xEu0.2SrxCuO4. We use three complementary experiments—nuclear quadrupole resonance, nonlinear conductivity and specific heat—to demonstrate that the order appears through a sharp phase transition and exists in a dome-shaped region of the phase diagram. Our results imply that the new phase is a state, which preserves translational symmetry: a charge nematic. We thus resolve the process of charge-stripe development in cuprates, show that this nematic phase is distinct from high-temperature pseudogap and establish a link with other strongly correlated electronic materials with prominent nematic order. PMID:27605152

Topologically protected charge transfer along the edge of a chiral p -wave superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gnezdilov, N. V.; van Heck, B.; Diez, M.; Hutasoit, Jimmy A.; Beenakker, C. W. J.

2015-09-01

The Majorana fermions propagating along the edge of a topological superconductor with px+i py pairing deliver a shot noise power of 1/2 ×e2/h per eV of voltage bias. We calculate the full counting statistics of the transferred charge and find that it becomes trinomial in the low-temperature limit, distinct from the binomial statistics of charge-e transfer in a single-mode nanowire or charge-2 e transfer through a normal-superconductor interface. All even-order correlators of current fluctuations have a universal quantized value, insensitive to disorder and decoherence. These electrical signatures are experimentally accessible, because they persist for temperatures and voltages large compared to the Thouless energy.

Microstructural control and superconducting properties of YBCO melt textured single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jongprateep, Oratai

The high temperature superconductor has great potential for practical applications such as superconducting energy storage systems. Since the levitation force, required specifically for these applications, largely depends on the critical current density and loop size of the superconducting current, large-sized single crystals with high critical current density are desired. To achieve the goal in fabricating YBa2Cu3O 7-delta (Y123) samples suitable for the applications, detailed and systematic studies are required to gain further understanding of the crystal growth and flux pinning mechanisms. This research is aimed at constituting a contribution to the knowledge base for the Y123 high temperature superconductor field by extending the study of processing conditions involved in controlling the microstructure of the Y123 superconductors for the enhancement of crystal growth and superconductor properties. Relations among processing parameters, microstructure, crystal growth, and critical current density of Y123 superconductors have been established. The experimental results reveal that low heating rate and short holding time can lead to refinement of Y2BaCuO5 (Y211) particles, which is strongly favorable to enhancement of the crystal growth and electrical properties of the Y123 superconductors. It was observed that relatively large Y123 crystals (17-22 mm in size) can be obtained with fine needle-shaped Y211 particles, processed with low heating rate and short holding time at the maximum temperatures. Additionally, the research also formulated a technique to fabricate Y123 superconductors with improved electrical properties required for the practical applications. By incorporating additives such as BaCeO3, BaSnO 3, Pt and Nd2O3 into Y123 superconductors, refinement of Y211 particles occurs. In addition, secondary phase particles with sizes in sub-micrometer and nanometer range can be formed in the Y123 superconductors. The interfaces between the Y123 matrix and these Y211 or secondary phase particles are believed to act as flux pinning sites and to enhance the critical current density (Jc) in the superconductor. The results showed that formation of secondary phase inclusions in Y123 by doping with BaCeO3, BaSnO 3, Pt or Nd2O3 result in enhancement of J c due to the effective flux pinning.

Itinerancy enhanced quantum fluctuation of magnetic moments in iron-based superconductors

DOE PAGES

Tam, Yu -T.; Ku, W.; Yao, D. -X.

2015-09-10

We investigate the influence of itinerant carriers on dynamics and fluctuation of local moments in Fe-based superconductors, via linear spin-wave analysis of a spin-fermion model containing both itinerant and local degrees of freedom. Surprisingly against the common lore, instead of enhancing the (π,0) order, itinerant carriers with well nested Fermi surfaces is found to induce significant amount of spatial and temporal quantum fluctuation that leads to the observed small ordered moment. Interestingly, the underlying mechanism is shown to be intra-pocket nesting-associated long-range coupling, rather than the previously believed ferromagnetic double-exchange effect. This challenges the validity of ferromagnetically compensated first-neighbor couplingmore » reported from short-range fitting to the experimental dispersion, which turns out to result instead from the ferro-orbital order that is also found instrumental in stabilizing the magnetic order.« less

Uniaxial strain control of spin-polarization in multicomponent nematic order of BaFe 2As 2

DOE PAGES

Kissikov, T.; Sarkar, R.; Lawson, M.; ...

2018-03-13

The iron-based high temperature superconductors exhibit a rich phase diagram reflecting a complex interplay between spin, lattice, and orbital degrees of freedom. The nematic state observed in these compounds epitomizes this complexity, by entangling a real-space anisotropy in the spin fluctuation spectrum with ferro-orbital order and an orthorhombic lattice distortion. A subtle and less-explored facet of the interplay between these degrees of freedom arises from the sizable spin-orbit coupling present in these systems, which translates anisotropies in real space into anisotropies in spin space. We present nuclear magnetic resonance studies, which reveal that the magnetic fluctuation spectrum in the paramagneticmore » phase of BaFe 2As 2 acquires an anisotropic response in spin-space upon application of a tetragonal symmetry-breaking strain field. Lastly, our results unveil an internal spin structure of the nematic order parameter, indicating that electronic nematic materials may offer a route to magneto-mechanical control.« less

High-temperature superconducting superconductor/normal metal/superconducting devices

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Foote, M. C.; Hunt, B. D.; Bajuk, L. J.

1991-01-01

We describe the fabrication and characterization of superconductor/normal metal/superconductor (SNS) devices made with the high-temperature superconductor (HTS) YBa2Cu3O(7-x). Structures of YBa2Cu3O(7-x)/Au/Nb on c-axis-oriented YBa2Cu3O(7-x) were made in both sandwich and edge geometries in order to sample the HTS material both along and perpendicular to the conducting a-b planes. These devices display fairly ideal Josephson properties at 4.2 K. In addition, devices consisting of YBa2Cu3O(7-x)/YBa2Cu3O(y)/YBa2Cu3O(7-x), with a 'normal metal' layer of reduced transition temperature YBa2Cu3O(7-x) were fabricated and show a great deal of promise for applications near 77 K. Current-voltage characteristics like those of the Resistively-Shunted Junction model are observed, with strong response to 10 GHz radiation above 60 K.

Fabrication of microwave guides using high-Tc superconductors. Final report, 15 July 1989-14 January 1990

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Trivedi, S.B.

1990-01-14

The objective of this study was to produce bulk high Tc superconductor YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-x} with microwave conductivity at least as good or better than that of copper. The subsequent aim was to fabricate cylindrical wave guide using this material. The ultimate goal of this study is to produce YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-x} with microwave conductivity exceedingly higher (at least two orders of magnitude better) than that of copper. In principle, this is possible if the microstructure of the superconductor material is carefully controlled. The above-stated goal could be easily achieved if the large single crystals of YBa{sub 2}Cu{submore » 3}O{sub 7-x} are available or if the inside surface of a suitable substrate material in the form of hollow cylinder, could be coated with the superconductor material of high quality. The former approach, currently, seems to be far from practical realization.« less

Making High-Temperature Superconductors By Melt Sintering

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Golben, John P.

1992-01-01

Melt-sintering technique applied to YBa2Cu3O7-x system and to Bi/Ca/Sr/Cu-oxide system to produce highly oriented bulk high-temperature-superconductor materials extending to macroscopically usable dimensions. Processing requires relatively inexpensive and simple equipment. Because critical current two orders of magnitude greater in crystal ab plane than in crystal c direction, high degree of orientation greatly enhances critical current in these bulk materials, making them more suitable for many proposed applications.

Influence of Strain on Thermal Conductivity of Silicon Nitride Thin Films

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-02

free path of amorphous materials is of the same order as the structural disorder [46], rendering thermal conductivity size independent. Here, the phases...16] Manninen A J, Leivo M M and Pekola J P 1997 Refrigeration of a dielectric membrane by superconductor /insulator/ normal-metal/insulator... superconductor tunneling Appl. Phys. Lett. 70 1885–7 [17] Olson E A et al 2003 The design and operation of a MEMS differential scanning nanocalorimeter for high

Recent Topics of Organic Superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ardavan, Arzhang; Brown, Stuart; Kagoshima, Seiichi; Kanoda, Kazushi; Kuroki, Kazuhiko; Mori, Hatsumi; Ogata, Masao; Uji, Shinya; Wosnitza, Jochen

2012-01-01

Recent developments in research into superconductivity in organic materials are reviewed. In the epoch-defining quasi-one-dimensional TMTSF superconductors with Tc ˜ 1 K, Tc decreases monotonically with increasing pressure, as do signatures of spin fluctuations in the normal state, providing good evidence for magnetically-mediated pairing. Upper critical fields exceed the Zeeman-limiting field by several times, suggesting triplet pairing or a transition to an inhomogeneous superconducting state at high magnetic fields, while triplet pairing is ruled out at low fields by NMR Knight-shift measurements. Evidence for a spatially inhomogeneous superconducting state, Fulde--Ferrel--Larkin--Ovchinnikov state, which has long been sought in various superconducting systems, is now captured by thermodynamic and transport measurements for clean and highly two-dimensional BEDT-TTF and BETS superconductors. Some of the layered superconductors also serve as model systems for Mott physics on anisotropic triangular lattice. For example, the Nernst effect and the pseudo-gap behavior in NMR relaxation are enhanced near to the Mott transition. In the case of increasing spin frustration, the superconducting transition temperature is depressed, and antiferromagnetic ordering is eliminated altogether in the adjacent Mott insulating phase. There is an increasing number of materials exhibiting superconductivity in competition or cooperation with charge order. Theoretical studies shed light on the role of spin and/or charge fluctuations for superconductivity appearing under conditions close to those of correlation-induced insulating phases in the diversity of organic materials.

The effect of charge transfer fluctuation on superconductivity in high temperature superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yihsuan; Wu, Huan-Kuang; Lee, Ting-Kuo

H i g h - Tc Cuprates have been studied quite often as an effective one band t - J model that neglects charge fluctuation between oxygen 2p6 band and copper 3d10 band, and Zhang-Rice singlet is just a hole in the model. However, recent Scanning Tunneling Spectra(STS) measurement on underdoped Cuprate shows that charge transfer gap is only of order 12 eV. This small gap necessitates a re-examination of the charge transfer fluctuation. Here we modify the t-J model by including charge transfer fluctuation allowing the formation of doubly occupied sites. For certain parameters it is similar with the t-J-U model. This model is studied via variational Monte Carlo method(VMC). Our result shows that this model can give a unified behavior of superconducting dome with different long rang hopping parameters. The anti-correlation between charge transfer gap and pairing is also confirmed. More interestingly the charge fluctuation is found to affect pairing order parameter in different ways in underdoped and overdoped regions. This work is partially supported by Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology with Grant. MOST 105-2112-M-001-008 and calculation was supported by a National Center of High Performance Computing in Taiwan.

Room temperature deposition of superconducting NbN for superconductor-insulator-superconductor junctions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thakoor, S.; Leduc, H. G.; Thakoor, A. P.; Lambe, J.; Khanna, S. K.

1986-01-01

The deposition of stoichiometric B1-crystal-structure (111) NbN films on glass or sapphire substrates by reactive dc magnetron sputtering is reported. High-purity Ar-N2 mixtures are used in the apparatus described by Thakoor et al. (1985), and typical deposition parameters are given as background pressure about 10 ntorr, voltage -325 V, current 1 A, deposition rate 1.35 nm/s, film thickness 500 nm, P(Ar) 5-17 mtorr, initial P(N2) 2-6 mtorr, and room temperature. The N2 consumption-injection characteristics are studied and found to control NbN formation using well-conditioned Nb targets. Films with transition temperatures 15-16 K are obtained at P(Ar) = 12.9 + or - 0.2 mtorr and P(N2) = 3.7 + or - 0.1 mtorr. SIS junctions of area about 0.001 sq cm fabricated using the NbN films are shown to have I-V characteristics with nonlinearity parameter about 110 and NbN superconducting-gap parameter Delta = about 2.8 meV.

Correlation of Tc and coefficient of T 2 resistivity term of Fe-based pnictide & chalcogenide superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castro, P. B.; Ferreira, J. L.; Silva Neto, M. B.; ElMassalami, M.

2018-03-01

Normal-state of many Fe-based pnictides and chalcogenides superconductors exhibit a quadratic-in-temperature, ρtot – ρo – ρ ph = AT 2, over wide ranges of temperature and pressure. Moreover, these systems exhibit a correlation between their T c and A, namely ln(Tc /θ)∝ A ‑1/2(θ is an energy scale parameter), even when a control parameter such as pressure is widely varied. This manifestation, as well as that of \\frac{1}{{T}c}{≤ft(-\\frac{d{H}c2}{dT}\\right)}{Tc}\\propto \\frac{A}{n} [Phys. Rev. B 89, 220509 (2014), n is charge density, H c2 is the upper critical field] suggests a common Landau Fermi Liquid scenario for both superconductivity and quadratic-in-T contribution.

Field of first magnetic flux entry and pinning strength of superconductors for rf application measured with muon spin rotation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Junginger, T.; Abidi, S. H.; Maffett, R. D.; Buck, T.; Dehn, M. H.; Gheidi, S.; Kiefl, R.; Kolb, P.; Storey, D.; Thoeng, E.; Wasserman, W.; Laxdal, R. E.

2018-03-01

The performance of superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavities used for particle accelerators depends on two characteristic material parameters: field of first flux entry Hentry and pinning strength. The former sets the limit for the maximum achievable accelerating gradient, while the latter determines how efficiently flux can be expelled related to the maximum achievable quality factor. In this paper, a method based on muon spin rotation (μ SR ) is developed to probe these parameters on samples. It combines measurements from two different spectrometers, one being specifically built for these studies and samples of different geometries. It is found that annealing at 1400 °C virtually eliminates all pinning. Such an annealed substrate is ideally suited to measure Hentry of layered superconductors, which might enable accelerating gradients beyond bulk niobium technology.

Current-carrying element based on second-generation high-temperature superconductor for the magnet system of a fusion neutron source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Novikov, M. S.; Ivanov, D. P.; Novikov, S. I.; Shuvaev, S. A.

2015-12-01

Application of current-carrying elements (CCEs) made of second-generation high-temperature superconductor (2G HTS) in magnet systems of a fusion neutron source (FNS) and other fusion devices will allow their magnetic field and thermodynamic stability to be increased substantially in comparison with those of low-temperature superconductor (LTS) magnets. For a toroidal magnet of the FNS, a design of a helical (partially transposed) CCE made of 2G HTS is under development with forced-flow cooling by helium gas, a current of 20-30 kA, an operating temperature of 10-20 K, and a magnetic field on the winding of 12-15 T (prospectively ~20 T). Short-sized samples of the helical flexible heavy-current CCE are being fabricated and investigated; a pilot-line unit for production of long-sized CCE pieces is under construction. The applied fabrication technique allows the CCE to be produced which combines a high operating current, thermal and mechanical stability, manufacturability, and low losses in the alternating modes. The possibility of fabricating the CCE with the outer dimensions and values of the operating parameter required for the FNS (and with a significant margin) using already available serial 2G HTS tapes is substantiated. The maximum field of toroidal magnets with CCEs made of 2G HTS will be limited only by mechanical properties of the magnet's casing and structure, while the thermal stability will be approximately two orders of magnitude higher than that of toroidal magnets with LTS-based CCEs. The helical CCE made of 2G HTS is very promising for fusion and hybrid electric power plants, and its design and technologies of production, as well as the prototype coils made of it for the FNS and other tokamaks, are worth developing now.

Magnet Design Considerations for Fusion Nuclear Science Facility

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhai, Y.; Kessel, C.; El-Guebaly, L.

2016-06-01

The Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF) is a nuclear confinement facility that provides a fusion environment with components of the reactor integrated together to bridge the technical gaps of burning plasma and nuclear science between the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and the demonstration power plant (DEMO). Compared with ITER, the FNSF is smaller in size but generates much higher magnetic field, i.e., 30 times higher neutron fluence with three orders of magnitude longer plasma operation at higher operating temperatures for structures surrounding the plasma. Input parameters to the magnet design from system code analysis include magnetic field of 7.5more » T at the plasma center with a plasma major radius of 4.8 m and a minor radius of 1.2 m and a peak field of 15.5 T on the toroidal field (TF) coils for the FNSF. Both low-temperature superconductors (LTS) and high-temperature superconductors (HTS) are considered for the FNSF magnet design based on the state-of-the-art fusion magnet technology. The higher magnetic field can be achieved by using the high-performance ternary restacked-rod process Nb3Sn strands for TF magnets. The circular cable-in-conduit conductor (CICC) design similar to ITER magnets and a high-aspect-ratio rectangular CICC design are evaluated for FNSF magnets, but low-activation-jacket materials may need to be selected. The conductor design concept and TF coil winding pack composition and dimension based on the horizontal maintenance schemes are discussed. Neutron radiation limits for the LTS and HTS superconductors and electrical insulation materials are also reviewed based on the available materials previously tested. The material radiation limits for FNSF magnets are defined as part of the conceptual design studies for FNSF magnets.« less

The effect of B{sub 2}O{sub 3} flux on growth NLBCO superconductor by solid state reaction and wet-mixing methods

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Suharta, W. G., E-mail: wgsuharta@gmail.com; Wendri, N.; Ratini, N.

The synthesis of B{sub 2}O{sub 3} flux substituted NLBCO superconductor NdBa{sub 1.75}La{sub 0.25}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-∂} has been done using solid state reaction and wet-mixing methods in order to obtain homogeneous crystals and single phase. From DTA/TGA characteritations showed the synthesis process by wet-mixing requires a lower temperature than the solid state reaction in growing the superconductor NdBa{sub 1.75}La{sub 0.25}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-∂}. Therefore, in this research NdBa{sub 1.75}La{sub 0.25}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-∂} sample calcinated at 650°C for wet-mixing method and 820°C for solid state reaction methods. The all samples was sintered at 950°C for ten hours. Crystallinity of the sample was confirmedmore » using X-ray techniques and generally obtained sharp peaks that indicates the sample already well crystallized. Search match analyses for diffraction data gave weight fractions of impurity phase of the solid state reaction method higher than wet-mixing method. In this research showed decreasing the price of the lattice parameter about 1% with the addition of B{sub 2}O{sub 3} flux for the both synthesis process and 2% of wet mixing process for all samples. Characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the distribution of crystal zise for wet-mixing method more homogeneous than solid state reaction method, with he grain size of samples is around 150–250 nm. The results of vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) showed the paramagnetic properties for all samples.« less

Discovery of a Superconducting High-Entropy Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koželj, P.; Vrtnik, S.; Jelen, A.; Jazbec, S.; Jagličić, Z.; Maiti, S.; Feuerbacher, M.; Steurer, W.; Dolinšek, J.

2014-09-01

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are multicomponent mixtures of elements in similar concentrations, where the high entropy of mixing can stabilize disordered solid-solution phases with simple structures like a body-centered cubic or a face-centered cubic, in competition with ordered crystalline intermetallic phases. We have synthesized an HEA with the composition Ta34Nb33Hf8Zr14Ti11 (in at. %), which possesses an average body-centered cubic structure of lattice parameter a =3.36 Å. The measurements of the electrical resistivity, the magnetization and magnetic susceptibility, and the specific heat revealed that the Ta34Nb33Hf8Zr14Ti11 HEA is a type II superconductor with a transition temperature Tc≈7.3 K, an upper critical field μ0Hc2≈8.2 T, a lower critical field μ0Hc1≈32 mT, and an energy gap in the electronic density of states (DOS) at the Fermi level of 2Δ ≈2.2 meV. The investigated HEA is close to a BCS-type phonon-mediated superconductor in the weak electron-phonon coupling limit, classifying it as a "dirty" superconductor. We show that the lattice degrees of freedom obey Vegard's rule of mixtures, indicating completely random mixing of the elements on the HEA lattice, whereas the electronic degrees of freedom do not obey this rule even approximately so that the electronic properties of a HEA are not a "cocktail" of properties of the constituent elements. The formation of a superconducting gap contributes to the electronic stabilization of the HEA state at low temperatures, where the entropic stabilization is ineffective, but the electronic energy gain due to the superconducting transition is too small for the global stabilization of the disordered state, which remains metastable.

Magnet design considerations for Fusion Nuclear Science Facility

DOE PAGES

Zhai, Yuhu; Kessel, Chuck; El-guebaly, Laila; ...

2016-02-25

The Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF) is a nuclear confinement facility to provide a fusion environment with components of the reactor integrated together to bridge the technical gaps of burning plasma and nuclear science between ITER and the demonstration power plant (DEMO). Compared to ITER, the FNSF is smaller in size but generates much higher magnetic field, 30 times higher neutron fluence with 3 orders of magnitude longer plasma operation at higher operating temperatures for structures surrounding the plasma. Input parameters to the magnet design from system code analysis include magnetic field of 7.5 T at the plasma center withmore » plasma major radius of 4.8 m and minor radius of 1.2 m, and a peak field of 15.5 T on the TF coils for FNSF. Both low temperature superconductor (LTS) and high temperature superconductor (HTS) are considered for the FNSF magnet design based on the state-of-the-art fusion magnet technology. The higher magnetic field can be achieved by using the high performance ternary Restack Rod Process (RRP) Nb3Sn strands for toroidal field (TF) magnets. The circular cable-in-conduit conductor (CICC) design similar to ITER magnets and a high aspect ratio rectangular CICC design are evaluated for FNSF magnets but low activation jacket materials may need to be selected. The conductor design concept and TF coil winding pack composition and dimension based on the horizontal maintenance schemes are discussed. Neutron radiation limits for the LTS and HTS superconductors and electrical insulation materials are also reviewed based on the available materials previously tested. As a result, the material radiation limits for FNSF magnets are defined as part of the conceptual design studies for FNSF magnets.« less

Universalities of thermodynamic signatures in topological phases

PubMed Central

Kempkes, S. N.; Quelle, A.; Smith, C. Morais

2016-01-01

Topological insulators (superconductors) are materials that host symmetry-protected metallic edge states in an insulating (superconducting) bulk. Although they are well understood, a thermodynamic description of these materials remained elusive, firstly because the edges yield a non-extensive contribution to the thermodynamic potential, and secondly because topological field theories involve non-local order parameters, and cannot be captured by the Ginzburg-Landau formalism. Recently, this challenge has been overcome: by using Hill thermodynamics to describe the Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang model in two dimensions, it was shown that at the topological phase transition the thermodynamic potential does not scale extensively due to boundary effects. Here, we extend this approach to different topological models in various dimensions (the Kitaev chain and Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model in one dimension, the Kane-Mele model in two dimensions and the Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang model in three dimensions) at zero temperature. Surprisingly, all models exhibit the same universal behavior in the order of the topological-phase transition, depending on the dimension. Moreover, we derive the topological phase diagram at finite temperature using this thermodynamic description, and show that it displays a good agreement with the one calculated from the Uhlmann phase. Our work reveals unexpected universalities and opens the path to a thermodynamic description of systems with a non-local order parameter. PMID:27929041

Universalities of thermodynamic signatures in topological phases.

PubMed

Kempkes, S N; Quelle, A; Smith, C Morais

2016-12-08

Topological insulators (superconductors) are materials that host symmetry-protected metallic edge states in an insulating (superconducting) bulk. Although they are well understood, a thermodynamic description of these materials remained elusive, firstly because the edges yield a non-extensive contribution to the thermodynamic potential, and secondly because topological field theories involve non-local order parameters, and cannot be captured by the Ginzburg-Landau formalism. Recently, this challenge has been overcome: by using Hill thermodynamics to describe the Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang model in two dimensions, it was shown that at the topological phase transition the thermodynamic potential does not scale extensively due to boundary effects. Here, we extend this approach to different topological models in various dimensions (the Kitaev chain and Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model in one dimension, the Kane-Mele model in two dimensions and the Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang model in three dimensions) at zero temperature. Surprisingly, all models exhibit the same universal behavior in the order of the topological-phase transition, depending on the dimension. Moreover, we derive the topological phase diagram at finite temperature using this thermodynamic description, and show that it displays a good agreement with the one calculated from the Uhlmann phase. Our work reveals unexpected universalities and opens the path to a thermodynamic description of systems with a non-local order parameter.

Superconductivity in the vicinity of antiferromagnetic order in CrAs.

PubMed

Wu, Wei; Cheng, Jinguang; Matsubayashi, Kazuyuki; Kong, Panpan; Lin, Fukun; Jin, Changqing; Wang, Nanlin; Uwatoko, Yoshiya; Luo, Jianlin

2014-11-19

One of the common features of unconventional superconducting systems such as the heavy-fermion, high transition-temperature cuprate and iron-pnictide superconductors is that the superconductivity emerges in the vicinity of long-range antiferromagnetically ordered state. In addition to doping charge carriers, the application of external pressure is an effective and clean approach to induce unconventional superconductivity near a magnetic quantum critical point. Here we report on the discovery of superconductivity on the verge of antiferromagnetic order in CrAs via the application of external pressure. Bulk superconductivity with Tc≈2 K emerges at the critical pressure Pc≈8 kbar, where the first-order antiferromagnetic transition at T(N)≈265 K under ambient pressure is completely suppressed. The close proximity of superconductivity to an antiferromagnetic order suggests an unconventional pairing mechanism for CrAs. The present finding opens a new avenue for searching novel superconductors in the Cr and other transition metal-based systems.

Phase diagrams of flux lattices with disorder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giamarchi, T.; Le Doussal, P.

1997-03-01

We review the prediction, made in a previous work [T. Giamarchi and P. Le Doussal, Phys. Rev. B 52, 1242 (1995)], that the phase diagram of type-II superconductors consists of a topologically ordered Bragg glass phase at low fields undergoing a transition at higher fields into a vortex glass or a liquid. We estimate the position of the phase boundary using a Lindemann criterion. We find that the proposed theory is compatible with recent experiments on superconductors. Further experimental consequences are investigated.

Characterization of superconducting radiofrequency breakdown by two-mode excitation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eremeev, Grigory V.; Palczewski, Ari D.

2014-01-14

We show that thermal and magnetic contributions to the breakdown of superconductivity in radiofrequency (RF) fields can be separated by applying two RF modes simultaneously to a superconducting surface. We develop a simple model that illustrates how mode-mixing RF data can be related to properties of the superconductor. Within our model the data can be described by a single parameter, which can be derived either from RF or thermometry data. Our RF and thermometry data are in good agreement with the model. We propose to use mode-mixing technique to decouple thermal and magnetic effects on RF breakdown of superconductors.

Processing of Bulk YBa2Cu3O(7-x) High Temperature Superconductor Materials for Gravity Modification Experiments and Performance Under AC Levitation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koczor, Ronald; Noever, David; Hiser, Robert

1999-01-01

We have previously reported results using a high precision gravimeter to probe local gravity changes in the neighborhood of bulk-processed high temperature superconductor disks. Others have indicated that large annular disks (on the order of 25cm diameter) and AC levitation fields play an essential role in their observed experiments. We report experiments in processing such large bulk superconductors. Successful results depend on material mechanical characteristics, and pressure and heat treat protocols. Annular disks having rough dimensions of 30cm O.D., 7cm I.D. and 1 cm thickness have been routinely fabricated and tested under AC levitation fields ranging from 45 to 300OHz. Implications for space transportation initiatives and power storage flywheel technology will be discussed.

Improved performance characteristics of a high temperature superconductor bolometer using photo-thermoelectrical feedback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaila, M. M.; Russell, G. J.

2000-12-01

We have designed a liquid nitrogen cooled detector where a thermoelectric feedback is combined with electrothermal feedback to produce an improvement of three orders of magnitude in the response time of the detector. We have achieved this by considering a parallel resistance combination of thermoelectric and High Temperature Superconductor (HTSC) material legs of an approximate geometry 1mm /spl times/ 2 mm /spl times/ 1micron operated at 80K. One end of this thermocouple acts as the sensitive area where the radiation is absorbed. The other end remains unexposed and stays basically at substrate temperature. It is found that micron thick films in our bolometer produce characteristics very close to those found for nanometer thick films required in semiconductor detectors and Low Temperature Superconductor (LTSC) bolometers.

Guideway structural design and power/propulsion/braking in relation to guideways. Volume 3: Appendix B: Maglev guideway structural design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Falkowski, K. M.; Key, F. S.; Kuznetsov, S. B.

1993-01-01

This final report summarizes work completed in the investigation of the power, propulsion, and braking systems for five different electrodynamic (EDS) Maglev configurations. System requirements and recommendations, including a cost analysis, are determined for each configuration. The analysis considers variations in vehicle length, acceleration'/deceleration criteria, airgap clearance, and maximum propulsion thrust. Five different guideway configurations have been considered, each of which is based on air-core magnets made from low-temperature superconductors (LTSC) - (NbTi, Nb3Sn) or the newer high-T(sub c) ceramic superconductors (HTSCs). The material requirements and cost of the guideway electrical components were studied as a function of the energy conversion efficiency, the stator block length, armature current density, stator temperature rise, and other parameters. The propulsion design focused on a dual-parallel, linear synchronous motor (LSM) with thrust modulation achieved by applying a variable frequency and voltage along the guideway. Critical design parameters were estimated using a three-dimensional computer model for the inductances, magnetic fields, and electromagnetic forces. The study also addressed the conceptual design of the magnet, cryostat, and refrigeration subsystems. Magnetic fields, forces, AC losses, superconductor stability, heat loading, and refrigeration demands were analyzed; a specific design shows limits of passive shielding.

Unconventional high-Tc superconductivity in fullerides.

PubMed

Takabayashi, Yasuhiro; Prassides, Kosmas

2016-09-13

A3C60 molecular superconductors share a common electronic phase diagram with unconventional high-temperature superconductors such as the cuprates: superconductivity emerges from an antiferromagnetic strongly correlated Mott-insulating state upon tuning a parameter such as pressure (bandwidth control) accompanied by a dome-shaped dependence of the critical temperature, Tc However, unlike atom-based superconductors, the parent state from which superconductivity emerges solely by changing an electronic parameter-the overlap between the outer wave functions of the constituent molecules-is controlled by the C60 (3-) molecular electronic structure via the on-molecule Jahn-Teller effect influence of molecular geometry and spin state. Destruction of the parent Mott-Jahn-Teller state through chemical or physical pressurization yields an unconventional Jahn-Teller metal, where quasi-localized and itinerant electron behaviours coexist. Localized features gradually disappear with lattice contraction and conventional Fermi liquid behaviour is recovered. The nature of the underlying (correlated versus weak-coupling Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory) s-wave superconducting states mirrors the unconventional/conventional metal dichotomy: the highest superconducting critical temperature occurs at the crossover between Jahn-Teller and Fermi liquid metal when the Jahn-Teller distortion melts.This article is part of the themed issue 'Fullerenes: past, present and future, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Buckminster Fullerene'. © 2016 The Author(s).

Disentangling superconducting and magnetic orders in NaFe1 -xNixAs using muon spin rotation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheung, Sky C.; Guguchia, Zurab; Frandsen, Benjamin A.; Gong, Zizhou; Yamakawa, Kohtaro; Almeida, Dalson E.; Onuorah, Ifeanyi J.; Bonfá, Pietro; Miranda, Eduardo; Wang, Weiyi; Tam, David W.; Song, Yu; Cao, Chongde; Cai, Yipeng; Hallas, Alannah M.; Wilson, Murray N.; Munsie, Timothy J. S.; Luke, Graeme; Chen, Bijuan; Dai, Guangyang; Jin, Changqing; Guo, Shengli; Ning, Fanlong; Fernandes, Rafael M.; De Renzi, Roberto; Dai, Pengcheng; Uemura, Yasutomo J.

2018-06-01

Muon spin rotation and relaxation studies have been performed on a "111" family of iron-based superconductors, NaFe1 -xNixAs , using single crystalline samples with Ni concentrations x =0 , 0.4, 0.6, 1.0, 1.3, and 1.5%. Static magnetic order was characterized by obtaining the temperature and doping dependences of the local ordered magnetic moment size and the volume fraction of the magnetically ordered regions. For x =0 and 0.4%, a transition to a nearly-homogeneous long range magnetically ordered state is observed, while for x ≳0.4 % magnetic order becomes more disordered and is completely suppressed for x =1.5 % . The magnetic volume fraction continuously decreases with increasing x . Development of superconductivity in the full volume is inferred from Meissner shielding results for x ≳0.4 % . The combination of magnetic and superconducting volumes implies that a spatially-overlapping coexistence of magnetism and superconductivity spans a large region of the T -x phase diagram for NaFe1 -xNixAs . A strong reduction of both the ordered moment size and the volume fraction is observed below the superconducting TC for x =0.6 , 1.0, and 1.3%, in contrast to other iron pnictides in which one of these two parameters exhibits a reduction below TC, but not both. The suppression of magnetic order is further enhanced with increased Ni doping, leading to a reentrant nonmagnetic state below TC for x =1.3 % . The reentrant behavior indicates an interplay between antiferromagnetism and superconductivity involving competition for the same electrons. These observations are consistent with the sign-changing s± superconducting state, which is expected to appear on the verge of microscopic coexistence and phase separation with magnetism. We also present a universal linear relationship between the local ordered moment size and the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature TN across a variety of iron-based superconductors. We argue that this linear relationship is consistent with an itinerant-electron approach, in which Fermi surface nesting drives antiferromagnetic ordering. In studies of superconducting properties, we find that the T =0 limit of superfluid density follows the linear trend observed in underdoped cuprates when plotted against TC. This paper also includes a detailed theoretical prediction of the muon stopping sites and provides comparisons with experimental results.

Controlled finite momentum pairing and spatially varying order parameter in proximitized HgTe quantum wells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hart, Sean; Ren, Hechen; Kosowsky, Michael; Ben-Shach, Gilad; Leubner, Philipp; Bruene, Christoph; Buhmann, Hartmut; Molenkamp, Laurens; Halperin, Bertrand; Yacoby, Amir

Conventional s-wave superconductivity arises from singlet pairing of electrons with opposite Fermi momenta, forming Cooper pairs with zero net momentum. Recent studies have focused on coupling s-wave superconductors to systems with an unusual configuration of electronic spin and momentum at the Fermi surface, where the nature of the paired state can be modified and the system may even undergo a topological phase transition. Here we present measurements on Josephson junctions based on HgTe quantum wells coupled to aluminum or niobium superconductors, and subject to a magnetic field in the plane of the quantum well. We observe that the in-plane magnetic field modulates the Fraunhofer interference pattern, and that this modulation depends both on electron density and on the direction of the in-plane field with respect to the junction. However, the orientation of the junction with respect to the underlying crystal lattice does not impact the measurements. These findings suggest that spin-orbit coupling plays a role in the observed behavior, and that measurements of Josephson junctions in the presence of an in-plane field can elucidate the Fermi surface properties of the weak link material. NSF DMR-1206016; STC Center for Integrated Quantum Materials under NSF Grant No. DMR-1231319; NSF GRFP under Grant DGE1144152, Microsoft Corporation Project Q.

Quantum-limited detection of millimeter waves using superconducting tunnel junctions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mears, Carl Atherton

1991-09-01

The quasiparticle tunneling current in a superconductor-insulator- superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction is highly nonlinear. Such a nonlinearity can be used to mix two millimeter wave signals to produce a signal at a much lower intermediate frequency. We have constructed several millimeter and sub-millimeter wave SIS mixers in order to study high frequency response of the quasiparticle tunneling current and the physics of high frequency mixing. We have made the first measurement of the out-of-phase tunneling currents in an SIS tunnel junction. We have developed a method that allows us to determine the parameters of the high frequency embedding circuit bymore » studying the details of the pumped I-V curve. We have constructed a 80--110 GHz waveguide-based mixer test apparatus that allows us to accurately measure the gain and added noise of the SIS mixer under test. Using extremely high quality tunnel junctions, we have measured an added mixer noise of 0.61 ± 0.36 quanta, which is within 25 percent of the quantum limit imposed by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. This measured performance is in excellent agreement with that predicted by Tucker`s theory of quantum mixing. We have also studied quasioptically coupled millimeter- and submillimeter-wave mixers using several types of integrated tuning elements. 83 refs.« less

Quantum-limited detection of millimeter waves using superconducting tunnel junctions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mears, C.A.

1991-09-01

The quasiparticle tunneling current in a superconductor-insulator- superconductor (SIS) tunnel junction is highly nonlinear. Such a nonlinearity can be used to mix two millimeter wave signals to produce a signal at a much lower intermediate frequency. We have constructed several millimeter and sub-millimeter wave SIS mixers in order to study high frequency response of the quasiparticle tunneling current and the physics of high frequency mixing. We have made the first measurement of the out-of-phase tunneling currents in an SIS tunnel junction. We have developed a method that allows us to determine the parameters of the high frequency embedding circuit bymore » studying the details of the pumped I-V curve. We have constructed a 80--110 GHz waveguide-based mixer test apparatus that allows us to accurately measure the gain and added noise of the SIS mixer under test. Using extremely high quality tunnel junctions, we have measured an added mixer noise of 0.61 {plus minus} 0.36 quanta, which is within 25 percent of the quantum limit imposed by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. This measured performance is in excellent agreement with that predicted by Tucker's theory of quantum mixing. We have also studied quasioptically coupled millimeter- and submillimeter-wave mixers using several types of integrated tuning elements. 83 refs.« less

Asymmetric Andreev resonant state with a magnetic exchange field in spin-triplet superconducting monolayer MoS2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goudarzi, H.; Khezerlou, M.; Ebadzadeh, S. F.

2018-03-01

We study the influence of magnetic exchange field (MEF) on the chirality of Andreev resonant state (ARS) appearing at the relating monolayer MoS2 ferromagnet/superconductor interface, in which the induced pairing order parameter is chiral p-wave symmetry. Transmission of low-energy Dirac-like electron (hole) quasiparticles through a ferromagnet/superconductor (F/S) interface is considered based on Dirac-Bogoliubov-de Gennes Hamiltonian and, of course, Andreev reflection process. The magnetic exchange field of a ferromagnetic section on top of ML-MDS may affect the electron (hole) excitations for spin-up and spin-down electrons, differently. We find the chirality symmetry of ARS to be conserved in the absence of MEF, whereas it is broken in the presence of MEF. Tuning the MEF enables one to control either electrical properties (such as band gap, SOC and etc.) or spin-polarized transport. The resulting normal conductance is found to be more sensitive to the magnitude of MEF and doping regime of F region. Unconventional spin-triplet p-wave symmetry features the zero-bias conductance, which strongly depends on p-doping level of F region in the relating NFS junction. A sharp conductance switching in zero is achieved in the absence of SOC.

On the Energy of the Minimizers of the Ginzburg-Landau Functional for Exterior Magnetic Fields Between HC2 and HC3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Helffer, Bernard

2011-04-01

Superconductivity for Type II superconductors in external magnetic fields of magnitude between the second and third critical fields is known to be restricted to a narrow boundary region. The profile of the superconducting order parameter in the Ginzburg-Landau model is expected to be governed by an effective one-dimensional model. This is known to be the case for external magnetic fields sufficiently close to the third critical field. In this text we announce such a result on a larger interval of validity. These results have been obtained in collaboration with Soeren Fournais and Mikael Persson and the complete proofs will appear elsewhere.

Fermiology and Superconductivity of Topological Surface States in PdTe2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clark, O. J.; Neat, M. J.; Okawa, K.; Bawden, L.; Marković, I.; Mazzola, F.; Feng, J.; Sunko, V.; Riley, J. M.; Meevasana, W.; Fujii, J.; Vobornik, I.; Kim, T. K.; Hoesch, M.; Sasagawa, T.; Wahl, P.; Bahramy, M. S.; King, P. D. C.

2018-04-01

We study the low-energy surface electronic structure of the transition-metal dichalcogenide superconductor PdTe2 by spin- and angle-resolved photoemission, scanning tunneling microscopy, and density-functional theory-based supercell calculations. Comparing PdTe2 with its sister compound PtSe2 , we demonstrate how enhanced interlayer hopping in the Te-based material drives a band inversion within the antibonding p -orbital manifold well above the Fermi level. We show how this mediates spin-polarized topological surface states which form rich multivalley Fermi surfaces with complex spin textures. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy reveals type-II superconductivity at the surface, and moreover shows no evidence for an unconventional component of its superconducting order parameter, despite the presence of topological surface states.

Exotic superconducting states in the extended attractive Hubbard model.

PubMed

Nayak, Swagatam; Kumar, Sanjeev

2018-04-04

We show that the extended attractive Hubbard model on a square lattice allows for a variety of superconducting phases, including exotic mixed-symmetry phases with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] symmetries, and a novel [Formula: see text] state. The calculations are performed within the Hartree-Fock Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer framework. The ground states of the mean-field Hamiltonian are obtained via a minimization scheme that relaxes the symmetry constraints on the superconducting solutions, hence allowing for a mixing of s-, p- and d-wave order parameters. The results are obtained within the assumption of uniform-density states. Our results show that extended attractive Hubbard model can serve as an effective model for investigating properties of exotic superconductors.

Exotic superconducting states in the extended attractive Hubbard model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nayak, Swagatam; Kumar, Sanjeev

2018-04-01

We show that the extended attractive Hubbard model on a square lattice allows for a variety of superconducting phases, including exotic mixed-symmetry phases with dx^2-y^2 + i [s + s^*] and dx^2-y^2 + px symmetries, and a novel px + i py state. The calculations are performed within the Hartree-Fock Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer framework. The ground states of the mean-field Hamiltonian are obtained via a minimization scheme that relaxes the symmetry constraints on the superconducting solutions, hence allowing for a mixing of s-, p- and d-wave order parameters. The results are obtained within the assumption of uniform-density states. Our results show that extended attractive Hubbard model can serve as an effective model for investigating properties of exotic superconductors.

Temperature Evolution of Energy Gap and Band Structure in the Superconducting and Pseudogap States of Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O 8+δ Superconductor Revealed by Laser-Based Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sun, Xuan; Zhang, Wen-Tao; Zhao, Lin

For this study, we carry out detailed momentum-dependent and temperature-dependent measurements on Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O 8+δ (Bi2212) superconductor in the superconducting and pseudogap states by super-high resolution laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. The precise determination of the superconducting gap for the nearly optimally doped Bi2212 (T c=91 K) at low temperature indicates that the momentum-dependence of the superconducting gap deviates from the standard d-wave form (cos(2Φ)). It can be alternatively fitted by including a high-order term (cos(6Φ)) in which the next nearest-neighbor interaction is considered. We find that the band structure near the antinodal region smoothly evolves across the pseudogapmore » temperature without a signature of band reorganization which is distinct from that found in Bi 2Sr 2CuO 6+δ superconductors. This indicates that the band reorganization across the pseudogap temperature is not a universal behavior in cuprate superconductors. These results provide new insights in understanding the nature of the superconducting gap and pseudogap in high-temperature cuprate superconductors.« less

Temperature Evolution of Energy Gap and Band Structure in the Superconducting and Pseudogap States of Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O 8+δ Superconductor Revealed by Laser-Based Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy

DOE PAGES

Sun, Xuan; Zhang, Wen-Tao; Zhao, Lin; ...

2017-12-17

For this study, we carry out detailed momentum-dependent and temperature-dependent measurements on Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O 8+δ (Bi2212) superconductor in the superconducting and pseudogap states by super-high resolution laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. The precise determination of the superconducting gap for the nearly optimally doped Bi2212 (T c=91 K) at low temperature indicates that the momentum-dependence of the superconducting gap deviates from the standard d-wave form (cos(2Φ)). It can be alternatively fitted by including a high-order term (cos(6Φ)) in which the next nearest-neighbor interaction is considered. We find that the band structure near the antinodal region smoothly evolves across the pseudogapmore » temperature without a signature of band reorganization which is distinct from that found in Bi 2Sr 2CuO 6+δ superconductors. This indicates that the band reorganization across the pseudogap temperature is not a universal behavior in cuprate superconductors. These results provide new insights in understanding the nature of the superconducting gap and pseudogap in high-temperature cuprate superconductors.« less

Study of Proximity Effect at D-Wave Superconductors in Quasiclassical Methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanuma, Y.; Tanaka, Y.; Kashiwaya, S.

2005-08-01

Tunneling spectra via Andreev bound states between a normal metal (N) / dx2-y2-wave superconductor (S) (in the presence of a subdominant s-wave pair potential) junction are investigated. In the present work, in order to study the role of proximity effect, we employ quasiclassical Green's function methods. This merit is that we can determine the spatial variation of the pair potentials self-consistently, where the leaking of pair potentials into the N side is involved. In the N/S junction with orientational angle θ = π/4, we can regard as the isolated d-wave superconductor, where attractive interaction in the N side is negligible. On the other hand, in the case of a high transparent contact to the d-wave superconductor (θ = 0), the pair potential penetrates into the inside of the N due to the proximity effect, where the is-wave is not indued at all. Then, the tunneling spectra has a very sharp zero-energy peak (ZEP). This ZEP originates from the fact that quasiparticles feel different sign of the pair potentials between normal metals and d-wave superconductors through Andreev reflections. We show that the spatial dependence of pair potentials is significantly sensitive to the transparency of the junction.

Cesium vacancy ordering in phase-separated C s x F e 2 - y S e 2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Taddei, K. M.; Sturza, M.; Chung, D. Y.

2015-09-01

By simultaneously displaying magnetism and superconductivity in a single phase, the iron based superconductors provide a model system for the study of magnetism’s role in superconductivity. The class of intercalated iron selenide superconductors is unique amongst these in having the additional property of phase separation and coexistence of two distinct phases - one majority phase with iron vacancy ordering and strong antiferromagnetism and the other a poorly understood minority microscopic phase with a contested structure. Adding to the intrigue, the majority phase has never been found to show superconductivity on its own while the minority phase has never been successfullymore » synthesized separate from the majority phase. In order to better understand this minority phase, a series of high quality CsxFe2-ySe2 single crystals with (0.8 ≤ x ≤ 1; 0 ≤ y ≤ 0.3) were grown and studied. Neutron and x-ray powder diffraction performed on ground crystals show the average structure of the minority phase to be I4/mmm, however, the temperature evolution of its lattice parameters shows it to be distinct from the high temperature I4/mmm parent structure. Neutron and x-ray diffraction experiments performed on single crystal samples reveal the presence of previously unobserved discrete superlattice reflections that remove the degeneracy of the Cs sites in both the majority and minority phases and reduce their structural symmetries from body-centered to primitive. Group theoretical analysis in conjunction with structural modeling shows that the observed superlattice reflections originate from a three-dimensional Cs vacancy ordering in the minority phase. This model predicts a 25% vacancy of the Cs site which is consistent with the site’s refined occupancy. Magnetization measurements performed in tandem with neutron single crystal diffraction provide evidence that the minority phase is the host of superconductivity. Our results also reveal a superconducting dome in which the superconducting transition temperature varies as a function of the valence of iron.« less

Fermi-surface reconstruction by stripe order in cuprate superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laliberté, Francis

2012-02-01

The origin of pairing in a superconductor resides in the underlying normal state. In the cuprate high-temperature superconductor YBCO, application of a magnetic field to suppress superconductivity reveals a ground state that appears to break the translational symmetry of the lattice, pointing to some density-wave order [1,2,3]. In another cuprate, Eu-LSCO, the onset of stripe order - a modulation of spin and charge densities - at low temperature is well established [4]. By a comparative study of thermoelectric transport in the cuprates YBCO and Eu-LSCO, we show that the two materials exhibit a very similar process of Fermi-surface reconstruction as a function of temperature and doping [5,6]. This strongly suggests that Fermi-surface reconstruction is caused by stripe order in both cases, compelling evidence that stripe order is a generic tendency of hole-doped cuprates.[4pt] Work done in collaboration with J. Chang, N. Doiron-Leyraud, E. Hassinger, R. Daou, D. LeBoeuf, M. Rondeau, B. J. Ramshaw, R. Liang, D. A. Bonn, W. N. Hardy, S. Pyon, T. Takayama, H. Takagi, I. Sheikin, L. Malone, C. Proust, K. Behnia and L. Taillefer.[4pt] [1] N. Doiron-Leyraud et al., Nature 447, 565 (2007).[0pt] [2] D. LeBoeuf et al., Nature 450, 533 (2007).[0pt] [3] D. LeBoeuf et al., Phys. Rev. B 83, 054506 (2011).[0pt] [4] J. Fink et al., Phys. Rev. B 83, 092503 (2011).[0pt] [5] J. Chang et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 057005 (2010).[0pt] [6] F. Lalibert'e et al., Nat. Commun. 2, 432 (2011).

Angle-resolved photoemission with circularly polarized light in the nodal mirror plane of underdoped Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O 8+ δ superconductor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

He, Junfeng; Mion, Thomas R.; Gao, Shang

2016-10-31

Unraveling the nature of pseudogap phase in high-temperature superconductors holds the key to understanding their superconducting mechanisms and potentially broadening their applications via enhancement of their superconducting transition temperatures. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) experiments using circularly polarized light have been proposed to detect possible symmetry breaking state in the pseudogap phase of cuprates. Here, the presence (absence) of an electronic order which breaks mirror symmetry of the crystal would in principle induce a finite (zero) circular dichroism in photoemission. Different orders breaking reflection symmetries about different mirror planes can also be distinguished by the momentum dependence of the measured circularmore » dichroism.« less

Generation and control of noncollinear magnetism by supercurrent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takashima, Rina; Kato, Yasuyuki; Yanase, Youichi; Motome, Yukitoshi

2018-02-01

When superconductivity couples with noncollinear spin textures, rich physics arises, for instance, singlet Cooper pairs can be converted to triplet pairs, and topological superconductors can be realized. For their applications, the controllability of noncollinear magnetism is a crucial issue. Here, we propose that a supercurrent can induce and control noncollinear magnetic orders in a correlated metal on top of a singlet superconductor. We show that the magnetic instability in the correlated metal is enhanced by the proximity effect of supercurrents, which leads to phase transitions from a paramagnetic state to noncollinear magnetic phases with helical or vortexlike spin textures. Furthermore, these magnetic orders can be switched by the direction of the supercurrent. We also discuss the effect of the Rashba spin-orbit coupling and the experimental realization.

Proximity effects across oxide-interfaces of superconductor-insulator-ferromagnet hybrid heterostructure.

PubMed

Prajapat, C L; Singh, Surendra; Bhattacharya, D; Ravikumar, G; Basu, S; Mattauch, S; Zheng, Jian-Guo; Aoki, T; Paul, Amitesh

2018-02-27

A case study of electron tunneling or charge-transfer-driven orbital ordering in superconductor (SC)-ferromagnet (FM) interfaces has been conducted in heteroepitaxial YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 (YBCO)/La 0.67 Sr 0.33 MnO 3 (LSMO) multilayers interleaved with and without an insulating SrTiO 3 (STO) layer between YBCO and LSMO. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism experiments revealed anti-parallel alignment of Mn magnetic moments and induced Cu magnetic moments in a YBCO/LSMO multilayer. As compared to an isolated LSMO layer, the YBCO/LSMO multilayer displayed a (50%) weaker Mn magnetic signal, which is related to the usual proximity effect. It was a surprise that a similar proximity effect was also observed in a YBCO/STO/LSMO multilayer, however, the Mn signal was reduced by 20%. This reduced magnetic moment of Mn was further verified by depth sensitive polarized neutron reflectivity. Electron energy loss spectroscopy experiment showed the evidence of Ti magnetic polarization at the interfaces of the YBCO/STO/LSMO multilayer. This crossover magnetization is due to a transfer of interface electrons that migrate from Ti (4+)-δ to Mn at the STO/LSMO interface and to Cu 2+ at the STO/YBCO interface, with hybridization via O 2p orbitals. So charge-transfer driven orbital ordering is the mechanism responsible for the observed proximity effect and Mn-Cu anti-parallel coupling in YBCO/STO/LSMO. This work provides an effective pathway in understanding the aspect of long range proximity effect and consequent orbital degeneracy parameter in magnetic coupling.

57Fe Mössbauer study of stoichiometric iron-based superconductor CaKFe 4As 4: a comparison to KFe 2As 2 and CaFe 2As 2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bud’ko, Sergey L.; Kong, Tai; Meier, William R.

57Fe Mössbauer spectra at different temperatures between ~5 and ~300 K were measured on an oriented mosaic of single crystals of CaKFe 4 As 4. The data indicate that is a well formed compound with narrow spectral lines, no traces of other, Fe – containing, secondary phases in the spectra and no static magnetic order. There is no discernible feature at the superconducting transition temperature in any of the hyperfine parameters. The temperature dependence of the quadrupole splitting approximately follows the empirical ‘ T 3/2 law’. Furthermore, the hyperfine parameters of CaKFe 4 As 4 are compared with those formore » measured in this work, and the literature data for CaFe 2 As 2, and were found to be in between those for these two, ordered, 122 compounds, in agreement with the gross view of CaKFe 4 As 4 as a structural analog of KFe 2 As 2 and CaFe 2 As 2 that has alternating Ca- and K-layers in the structure.« less

57Fe Mössbauer study of stoichiometric iron-based superconductor CaKFe 4As 4: a comparison to KFe 2As 2 and CaFe 2As 2

DOE PAGES

Bud’ko, Sergey L.; Kong, Tai; Meier, William R.; ...

2017-07-06

57Fe Mössbauer spectra at different temperatures between ~5 and ~300 K were measured on an oriented mosaic of single crystals of CaKFe 4 As 4. The data indicate that is a well formed compound with narrow spectral lines, no traces of other, Fe – containing, secondary phases in the spectra and no static magnetic order. There is no discernible feature at the superconducting transition temperature in any of the hyperfine parameters. The temperature dependence of the quadrupole splitting approximately follows the empirical ‘ T 3/2 law’. Furthermore, the hyperfine parameters of CaKFe 4 As 4 are compared with those formore » measured in this work, and the literature data for CaFe 2 As 2, and were found to be in between those for these two, ordered, 122 compounds, in agreement with the gross view of CaKFe 4 As 4 as a structural analog of KFe 2 As 2 and CaFe 2 As 2 that has alternating Ca- and K-layers in the structure.« less

Field of first magnetic flux entry and pinning strength of superconductors for rf application measured with muon spin rotation

DOE PAGES

Junginger, Tobias; Abidi, S. H.; Maffett, R. D.; ...

2018-03-16

Here, the performance of superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) cavities used for particle accelerators depends on two characteristic material parameters: field of first flux entry H entry and pinning strength. The former sets the limit for the maximum achievable accelerating gradient, while the latter determines how efficiently flux can be expelled related to the maximum achievable quality factor. In this paper, a method based on muon spin rotation (μSR) is developed to probe these parameters on samples. It combines measurements from two different spectrometers, one being specifically built for these studies and samples of different geometries. It is found that annealing atmore » 1400°C virtually eliminates all pinning. Such an annealed substrate is ideally suited to measure H entry of layered superconductors, which might enable accelerating gradients beyond bulk niobium technology.« less

Holographic superconductivity from higher derivative theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Jian-Pin; Liu, Peng

2017-11-01

We construct a 6 derivative holographic superconductor model in the 4-dimensional bulk spacetimes, in which the normal state describes a quantum critical (QC) phase. The phase diagram (γ1 ,Tˆc) and the condensation as the function of temperature are worked out numerically. We observe that with the decrease of the coupling parameter γ1, the critical temperature Tˆc decreases and the formation of charged scalar hair becomes harder. We also calculate the optical conductivity. An appealing characteristic is a wider extension of the superconducting energy gap, comparing with that of 4 derivative theory. It is expected that this phenomena can be observed in the real materials of high temperature superconductor. Also the Homes' law in our present models with 4 and 6 derivative corrections is explored. We find that in certain range of parameters γ and γ1, the experimentally measured value of the universal constant C in Homes' law can be obtained.

Antiferroic electronic structure in the nonmagnetic superconducting state of the iron-based superconductors

PubMed Central

Shimojima, Takahiro; Malaeb, Walid; Nakamura, Asuka; Kondo, Takeshi; Kihou, Kunihiro; Lee, Chul-Ho; Iyo, Akira; Eisaki, Hiroshi; Ishida, Shigeyuki; Nakajima, Masamichi; Uchida, Shin-ichi; Ohgushi, Kenya; Ishizaka, Kyoko; Shin, Shik

2017-01-01

A major problem in the field of high-transition temperature (Tc) superconductivity is the identification of the electronic instabilities near superconductivity. It is known that the iron-based superconductors exhibit antiferromagnetic order, which competes with the superconductivity. However, in the nonmagnetic state, there are many aspects of the electronic instabilities that remain unclarified, as represented by the orbital instability and several in-plane anisotropic physical properties. We report a new aspect of the electronic state of the optimally doped iron-based superconductors by using high–energy resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We find spectral evidence for the folded electronic structure suggestive of an antiferroic electronic instability, coexisting with the superconductivity in the nonmagnetic state of Ba1−xKxFe2As2. We further establish a phase diagram showing that the antiferroic electronic structure persists in a large portion of the nonmagnetic phase covering the superconducting dome. These results motivate consideration of a key unknown electronic instability, which is necessary for the achievement of high-Tc superconductivity in the iron-based superconductors. PMID:28875162

Antiferroic electronic structure in the nonmagnetic superconducting state of the iron-based superconductors.

PubMed

Shimojima, Takahiro; Malaeb, Walid; Nakamura, Asuka; Kondo, Takeshi; Kihou, Kunihiro; Lee, Chul-Ho; Iyo, Akira; Eisaki, Hiroshi; Ishida, Shigeyuki; Nakajima, Masamichi; Uchida, Shin-Ichi; Ohgushi, Kenya; Ishizaka, Kyoko; Shin, Shik

2017-08-01

A major problem in the field of high-transition temperature ( T c ) superconductivity is the identification of the electronic instabilities near superconductivity. It is known that the iron-based superconductors exhibit antiferromagnetic order, which competes with the superconductivity. However, in the nonmagnetic state, there are many aspects of the electronic instabilities that remain unclarified, as represented by the orbital instability and several in-plane anisotropic physical properties. We report a new aspect of the electronic state of the optimally doped iron-based superconductors by using high-energy resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We find spectral evidence for the folded electronic structure suggestive of an antiferroic electronic instability, coexisting with the superconductivity in the nonmagnetic state of Ba 1- x K x Fe 2 As 2 . We further establish a phase diagram showing that the antiferroic electronic structure persists in a large portion of the nonmagnetic phase covering the superconducting dome. These results motivate consideration of a key unknown electronic instability, which is necessary for the achievement of high- T c superconductivity in the iron-based superconductors.

Optimization of a superconducting linear levitation system using a soft ferromagnet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agramunt-Puig, Sebastia; Del-Valle, Nuria; Navau, Carles; Sanchez, Alvaro

2013-04-01

The use of guideways that combine permanent magnets and soft ferromagnetic materials is a common practice in magnetic levitation transport systems (maglevs) with bulk high-temperature superconductors. Theoretical tools to simulate in a realistic way both the behavior of all elements (permanent magnets, soft ferromagnet and superconductor) and their mutual effects are helpful to optimize the designs of real systems. Here we present a systematic study of the levitation of a maglev with translational symmetry consisting of a superconducting bar and a guideway with two identic permanent magnets and a soft ferromagnetic material between them. The system is simulated with a numerical model based on the energy minimization method that allows to analyze the mutual interaction of the superconductor, assumed to be in the critical state, and a soft ferromagnet with infinite susceptibility. Results indicate that introducing a soft ferromagnet within the permanent magnets not only increases the levitation force but also improves the stability. Besides, an estimation of the relative sizes and shapes of the soft ferromagnet, permanent magnets and the superconductor in order to obtain large levitation force with full stability is provided.

The Maximum Levitation Force of High- T c Superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Xian-Feng; Liu, Yuan

2007-11-01

In this paper we present the dependence of the maximum levitation force ( F {/z max }) of a high- T c superconductor (HTS) on the structural factors of high- T c superconducting systems based on the Bean critical state model and Ampère’s law. A transition point of the surface magnetic field ( B s ) of a permanent magnet (PM) is found at which the relation between F {/z max } and B s changes: while the surface magnetic field is less than the transition value the dependence is subject to a nonlinear function, otherwise it is a linear one. The two different relations are estimated to correspond to partial penetration of the shielding currents inside the superconductor below the transition point and complete penetration above it respectively. The influence of geometric properties of superconductors on the dependence is also investigated. In addition, the relation between F {/z max } and the critical current density ( J c ) of the HTS is discussed. The maximum levitation force saturates at high J c . An optimum function of the J c and the B s is presented in order to achieve large F {/z max }.

Fluctuation-induced conductivity in melt-textured Pr-doped YBa2Cu3O7-δ composite superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Opata, Yuri Aparecido; Monteiro, João Frederico Haas Leandro; Siqueira, Ezequiel Costa; Rodrigues, Pedro Júnior; Jurelo, Alcione Roberto

2018-04-01

In this study, the effects of thermal fluctuations on the electrical conductivity in melt-textured YBa2Cu3O7-δ, Y0.95Pr0.05Ba2Cu3O7-δ and (YBa2Cu3O7-δ)0.95-(PrBa2Cu3O7-δ)0.05 composite superconductor were considered. The composite superconductor samples were prepared through the top seeding method using melt-textured NdBa2Cu3O7-d seeds. The resistivity measurements were performed with a low-frequency, low-current AC technique in order to extract the temperature derivative and analyze the influence of the praseodymium ion on the normal superconductor transition and consequently on the fluctuation regimes. The results show that the resistive transition is a two-step process. In the normal phase, above the critical temperature, Gaussian and critical fluctuation regimes were identified, while below the critical temperature, in the regime near the approach to the zero-resistance state, the fluctuation conductivity diverges as expected in a paracoherent-coherent transition.

Role of the orbital degree of freedom in iron-based superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yi, Ming; Zhang, Yan; Shen, Zhi-Xun; Lu, Donghui

2017-10-01

Almost a decade has passed since the serendipitous discovery of the iron-based high temperature superconductors (FeSCs) in 2008. The fact that, as in the copper oxide high temperature superconductors, long-range antiferromagnetism in the FeSCs arises in proximity to superconductivity immediately raised the question of the degree of similarity between the two. Despite the great resemblance in their phase diagrams, there exist important differences between the FeSCs and the cuprates that need to be considered in order to paint a full picture of these two families of high temperature superconductors. One of the key differences is the multi-orbital multi-band nature of the FeSCs, which contrasts with the effective single-band nature of the cuprates. Systematic studies of orbital related phenomena in FeSCs have been largely lacking. In this review, we summarize angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements across various FeSC families that have been reported in literature, focusing on the systematic trends of orbital dependent electron correlations and the role of different Fe 3d orbitals in driving the nematic transition, the spin-density-wave transition, and superconductivity.

Superconductivity-induced magnetization depletion in a ferromagnet through an insulator in a ferromagnet-insulator-superconductor hybrid oxide heterostructure.

PubMed

Prajapat, C L; Singh, Surendra; Paul, Amitesh; Bhattacharya, D; Singh, M R; Mattauch, S; Ravikumar, G; Basu, S

2016-05-21

Coupling between superconducting and ferromagnetic states in hybrid oxide heterostructures is presently a topic of intense research. Such a coupling is due to the leakage of the Cooper pairs into the ferromagnet. However, tunneling of the Cooper pairs though an insulator was never considered plausible. Using depth sensitive polarized neutron reflectivity we demonstrate the coupling between superconductor and magnetic layers in epitaxial La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 (LCMO)/SrTiO3/YBa2Cu3O7-δ (YBCO) hybrid heterostructures, with SrTiO3 as an intervening oxide insulator layer between the ferromagnet and the superconductor. Measurements above and below the superconducting transition temperature (TSC) of YBCO demonstrate a large modulation of magnetization in the ferromagnetic layer below the TSC of YBCO in these heterostructures. This work highlights a unique tunneling phenomenon between the epitaxial layers of an oxide superconductor (YBCO) and a magnetic layer (LCMO) through an insulating layer. Our work would inspire further investigations on the fundamental aspect of a long range order of the triplet spin-pairing in hybrid structures.

Surface nematic order in iron pnictides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Kok Wee; Koshelev, Alexei E.

2016-09-01

Electronic nematicity plays an important role in iron-based superconductors. These materials have a layered structure and the theoretical description of their magnetic and nematic transitions has been well established in the two-dimensional approximation, i.e., when the layers can be treated independently. However, the interaction between iron layers mediated by electron tunneling may cause nontrivial three-dimensional behavior. Starting from the simplest model for orbital nematic in a single layer, we investigate the influence of interlayer tunneling on the bulk nematic order and a possible preemptive state where this order is only formed near the surface. We found that the interlayer tunneling suppresses the bulk nematicity, which makes favorable the formation of a surface nematic order above the bulk transition temperature. The purely electronic tunneling Hamiltonian, however, favors a nematic order parameter that alternates from layer to layer. The uniform bulk state typically observed experimentally may be stabilized by the coupling with the elastic lattice deformation. Depending on the strength of this coupling, we found three regimes: (i) surface nematic and alternating bulk order, (ii) surface nematic and uniform bulk order, and (iii) uniform bulk order without the intermediate surface phase. The intermediate surface-nematic state may resolve the current controversy about the existence of a weak nematic transition in the compound BaFe2As2 -xPx .

Coexistence of ΘI I-loop-current order with checkerboard d -wave CDW/PDW order in a hot-spot model for cuprate superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Carvalho, Vanuildo S.; Pépin, Catherine; Freire, Hermann

2016-03-01

We investigate the strong influence of the ΘI I-loop-current order on both unidirectional and bidirectional d -wave charge-density-wave/pair-density-wave (CDW/PDW) composite orders along axial momenta (±Q0,0 ) and (0 ,±Q0) that emerge in an effective hot-spot model departing from the three-band Emery model relevant to the phenomenology of the cuprate superconductors. This study is motivated by the compelling evidence that the ΘI I-loop-current order described by this model may explain groundbreaking experiments such as spin-polarized neutron scattering performed in these materials. Here, we demonstrate, within a saddle-point approximation, that the ΘI I-loop-current order clearly coexists with bidirectional (i.e., checkerboard) d -wave CDW and PDW orders along axial momenta, but is visibly detrimental to the unidirectional (i.e., stripe) case. This result has potentially far-reaching implications for the physics of the cuprates and agrees well with very recent x-ray experiments on YBCO that indicate that at higher dopings the CDW order has indeed a tendency to be bidirectional.

Temperature dependence of positron annihilation parameters in Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sundar, C. S.; Bharathi, A.; Ching, W. Y.; Jean, Y. C.; Hor, P. H.; Meng, R. L.; Huang, Z. J.; Chu, C. W.

1990-08-01

The results of positron lifetime and Doppler broadened line-shape parameter measurements as a function of temperature, across Tc, in the Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O superconductors are presented. The bulk lifetime in the normal state is found to decrease with the increase in the number of CuO2 layers. Different temperature dependencies of the annihilation parameters are observed in the various Tl systems containing different numbers of CuO2 layers. In the Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3O10 system, an increase in lifetime is observed below Tc, whereas in Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8, a decrease in lifetime is seen below Tc. In the Tl2Ba2CuO6 system, the lifetime is observed to be temperature independent. The different temperature variations of positron annihilation parameters are discussed in the light of the positron density distribution, obtained with use of the results of the self-consistent orthogonalized linear combination of atomic orbitals band-structure calculations. It is argued that the different temperature dependencies of the annihilation parameters is related to the positron density distribution within the unit cell and arise due to local charge transfer in the vicinity of the CuO2 layer in the superconducting state.

A study of enhancing critical current densities (J(sub c)) and critical temperature (T(sub c)) of high-temperature superconductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vlasse, Marcus

1992-01-01

The development of pure phase 123 and Bi-based 2223 superconductors has been optimized. The pre-heat processing appears to be a very important parameter in achieving optimal physical properties. The synthesis of pure phases in the Bi-based system involves effects due to oxygen partial pressure, time, and temperature. Orientation/melt-sintering effects include the extreme c-axis orientation of Yttrium 123 and Bismuth 2223, 2212, and 2201 phases. This orientation is conductive to increasing critical currents. A procedure was established to substitute Sr for Ba in Y-123 single crystals.

Development of a superconductor magnetic suspension and balance prototype facility for studying the feasibility of applying this technique to large scale aerodynamic testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zapata, R. N.; Humphris, R. R.; Henderson, K. C.

1975-01-01

The basic research and development work towards proving the feasibility of operating an all-superconductor magnetic suspension and balance device for aerodynamic testing is presented. The feasibility of applying a quasi-six-degree-of freedom free support technique to dynamic stability research was studied along with the design concepts and parameters for applying magnetic suspension techniques to large-scale aerodynamic facilities. A prototype aerodynamic test facility was implemented. Relevant aspects of the development of the prototype facility are described in three sections: (1) design characteristics; (2) operational characteristics; and (3) scaling to larger facilities.

ARPES investigations of parent compounds of 122 Fe-based superconductors and their 3d transition metal cousins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richard, Pierre; Zhang, W.-L.; Wu, S.-F.; van Roekeghem, A.; Zhang, P.; Miao, H.; Qian, T.; Nie, S.-M.; Chen, G.-F.; Ding, H.; Xu, N.; Biermann, S.; Capan, C.; Fisk, Z.; Saparov, B. I.; Sefat, A. S.

2015-03-01

It is widely believed that the key ingredients for high-temperature superconductivity are already present in the non-superconducting parent compounds. With its ability to probe the single-particle electronic structure directly in the momentum space, ARPES is a very powerful tool to determine which parameters of the electronic structure are possibly relevant for promoting superconductivity. Here we report ARPES studies on the parent compounds of the 122 family of Fe-based superconductors and their 3 d transition metal pnictide cousins. In particular, we show that the Fe-compound exhibits the largest electronic correlations, possibly a determining factor for unconventional superconductivity.

REVIEW ARTICLE: Unconventional isotope effects in the high-temperature cuprate superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Guo-meng; Keller, H.; Conder, K.

2001-07-01

We review various isotope effects in the high-Tc cuprate superconductors to assess the role of the electron-phonon interaction in the basic physics of these materials. Of particular interest are the unconventional isotope effects on the supercarrier mass, on the charge-stripe formation temperature, on the pseudogap formation temperature, on the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) linewidth, on the spin-glass freezing temperature and on the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature. The observed unconventional isotope effects strongly suggest that lattice vibrations play an important role in the microscopic pairing mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity.

Effect of equatorial line nodes on the upper critical field and London penetration depth

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kogan, V G; Prozorov, R

2014-09-01

The upper critical field Hc2 and its anisotropy are calculated for order parameters with line nodes at the equators, kz=0, of the Fermi surface of uniaxial superconductors. It is shown that characteristic features found in Fe-based materials (a nearly linear Hc2(T) in a broad T domain, a low and increasing on warming anisotropy γH=Hc2,ab/Hc2,c) can be caused by competing effects of the equatorial nodes and of the Fermi surface anisotropy. For certain material parameters, γH(T)-1 may change sign upon warming, in agreement with the recorded behavior of FeTeS systems. It is also shown that the anisotropy of the penetration depthmore » γλ=λc/λab decreases upon warming to reach γH at Tc, in agreement with data available. For some materials γλ(T) may change upon warming, from γλ>1 at low Ts to γλ<1 at high Ts.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Song, Kok Wee; Koshelev, Alexei E.

Electronic nematicity plays an important role in iron-based superconductors. These materials have a layered structure and the theoretical description of their magnetic and nematic transitions has been well established in the two-dimensional approximation, i.e., when the layers can be treated independently. However, the interaction between iron layers mediated by electron tunneling may cause nontrivial three-dimensional behavior. Starting from the simplest model for orbital nematic in a single layer, we investigate the influence of interlayer tunneling on the bulk nematic order and a possible preemptive state where this order is only formed near the surface. In addition, we found that themore » interlayer tunneling suppresses the bulk nematicity, which makes favorable the formation of a surface nematic order above the bulk transition temperature. The purely electronic tunneling Hamiltonian, however, favors a nematic order parameter that alternates from layer to layer. The uniform bulk state typically observed experimentally may be stabilized by the coupling with the elastic lattice deformation. Depending on the strength of this coupling, we found three regimes: (i) surface nematic and alternating bulk order, (ii) surface nematic and uniform bulk order, and (iii) uniform bulk order without the intermediate surface phase. Lastly, the intermediate surface-nematic state may resolve the current controversy about the existence of a weak nematic transition in the compound BaFe 2As 2-xP x .« less

Lattice distortion and stripelike antiferromagnetic order in Ca10(Pt3As8)(Fe2As2)5

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sapkota, Aashish; Tucker, Gregory S; Ramazanoglu, Mehmet

2014-09-01

Ca10(Pt3As8)(Fe2As2)5 is the parent compound for a class of Fe-based high-temperature superconductors where superconductivity with transition temperatures up to 30 K can be introduced by partial element substitution. We present a combined high-resolution high-energy x-ray diffraction and elastic neutron scattering study on a Ca10(Pt3As8)(Fe2As2)5 single crystal. This study reveals the microscopic nature of two distinct and continuous phase transitions to be very similar to other Fe-based high-temperature superconductors: an orthorhombic distortion of the high-temperature tetragonal Fe-As lattice below TS=110(2) K followed by stripelike antiferromagnetic ordering of the Fe moments below TN=96(2) K. These findings demonstrate that major features of themore » Fe-based high-temperature superconductors are very robust against variations in chemical constitution as well as structural imperfection of the layers separating the Fe-As layers from each other and confirms that the Fe-As layers primarily determine the physics in this class of material.« less

Lattice parameters guide superconductivity in iron-arsenides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Konzen, Lance M. N.; Sefat, Athena S.

2017-03-01

The discovery of superconducting materials has led to their use in technological marvels such as magnetic-field sensors in MRI machines, powerful research magnets, short transmission cables, and high-speed trains. Despite such applications, the uses of superconductors are not widespread because they function much below room-temperature, hence the costly cooling. Since the discovery of Cu- and Fe-based high-temperature superconductors (HTS), much intense effort has tried to explain and understand the superconducting phenomenon. While no exact explanations are given, several trends are reported in relation to the materials basis in magnetism and spin excitations. In fact, most HTS have antiferromagnetic undoped ‘parent’ materials that undergo a superconducting transition upon small chemical substitutions in them. As it is currently unclear which ‘dopants’ can favor superconductivity, this manuscript investigates crystal structure changes upon chemical substitutions, to find clues in lattice parameters for the superconducting occurrence. We review the chemical substitution effects on the crystal lattice of iron-arsenide-based crystals (2008 to present). We note that (a) HTS compounds have nearly tetragonal structures with a-lattice parameter close to 4 Å, and (b) superconductivity can depend strongly on the c-lattice parameter changes with chemical substitution. For example, a decrease in c-lattice parameter is required to induce ‘in-plane’ superconductivity. The review of lattice parameter trends in iron-arsenides presented here should guide synthesis of new materials and provoke theoretical input, giving clues for HTS.

Lattice parameters guide superconductivity in iron-arsenides.

PubMed

Konzen, Lance M N; Sefat, Athena S

2017-03-01

The discovery of superconducting materials has led to their use in technological marvels such as magnetic-field sensors in MRI machines, powerful research magnets, short transmission cables, and high-speed trains. Despite such applications, the uses of superconductors are not widespread because they function much below room-temperature, hence the costly cooling. Since the discovery of Cu- and Fe-based high-temperature superconductors (HTS), much intense effort has tried to explain and understand the superconducting phenomenon. While no exact explanations are given, several trends are reported in relation to the materials basis in magnetism and spin excitations. In fact, most HTS have antiferromagnetic undoped 'parent' materials that undergo a superconducting transition upon small chemical substitutions in them. As it is currently unclear which 'dopants' can favor superconductivity, this manuscript investigates crystal structure changes upon chemical substitutions, to find clues in lattice parameters for the superconducting occurrence. We review the chemical substitution effects on the crystal lattice of iron-arsenide-based crystals (2008 to present). We note that (a) HTS compounds have nearly tetragonal structures with a-lattice parameter close to 4 Å, and (b) superconductivity can depend strongly on the c-lattice parameter changes with chemical substitution. For example, a decrease in c-lattice parameter is required to induce 'in-plane' superconductivity. The review of lattice parameter trends in iron-arsenides presented here should guide synthesis of new materials and provoke theoretical input, giving clues for HTS.

Elliptical vortex and oblique vortex lattice in the FeSe superconductor based on the nematicity and mixed superconducting orders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Da-Chuan; Lv, Yang-Yang; Li, Jun; Zhu, Bei-Yi; Wang, Qiang-Hua; Wang, Hua-Bing; Wu, Pei-Heng

2018-03-01

The electronic nematic phase is characterized as an ordered state of matter with rotational symmetry breaking, and has been well studied in the quantum Hall system and the high-Tc superconductors, regardless of cuprate or pnictide family. The nematic state in high-Tc systems often relates to the structural transition or electronic instability in the normal phase. Nevertheless, the electronic states below the superconducting transition temperature is still an open question. With high-resolution scanning tunneling microscope measurements, direct observation of vortex core in FeSe thin films revealed the nematic superconducting state by Song et al. Here, motivated by the experiment, we construct the extended Ginzburg-Landau free energy to describe the elliptical vortex, where a mixed s-wave and d-wave superconducting order is coupled to the nematic order. The nematic order induces the mixture of two superconducting orders and enhances the anisotropic interaction between the two superconducting orders, resulting in a symmetry breaking from C4 to C2. Consequently, the vortex cores are stretched into an elliptical shape. In the equilibrium state, the elliptical vortices assemble a lozenge-like vortex lattice, being well consistent with experimental results.

Correlations Between Magnetic Flux and Levitation Force of HTS Bulk Above a Permanent Magnet Guideway

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Huan; Zheng, Jun; Zheng, Botian; Qian, Nan; Li, Haitao; Li, Jipeng; Deng, Zigang

2017-10-01

In order to clarify the correlations between magnetic flux and levitation force of the high-temperature superconducting (HTS) bulk, we measured the magnetic flux density on bottom and top surfaces of a bulk superconductor while vertically moving above a permanent magnet guideway (PMG). The levitation force of the bulk superconductor was measured simultaneously. In this study, the HTS bulk was moved down and up for three times between field-cooling position and working position above the PMG, followed by a relaxation measurement of 300 s at the minimum height position. During the whole processes, the magnetic flux density and levitation force of the bulk superconductor were recorded and collected by a multipoint magnetic field measurement platform and a self-developed maglev measurement system, respectively. The magnetic flux density on the bottom surface reflected the induced field in the superconductor bulk, while on the top, it reveals the penetrated magnetic flux. The results show that the magnetic flux density and levitation force of the bulk superconductor are in direct correlation from the viewpoint of inner supercurrent. In general, this work is instructive for understanding the connection of the magnetic flux density, the inner current density and the levitation behavior of HTS bulk employed in a maglev system. Meanwhile, this magnetic flux density measurement method has enriched present experimental evaluation methods of maglev system.

High current densities above 100 K in the high-temperature superconductor HgBa2CaCu2O6+δ

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krusin-Elbaum, L.; Tsuei, C. C.; Gupta, A.

1995-02-01

THE recent discovery1,2 of a family of mercury-based copper oxide superconductors having transition temperatures1-3 above 130 K is of considerable technological interest. But the viability of high-temperature superconductors for many applications will ultimately depend on the size of the current density, Jc, that they are able to support, not only at high temperatures, but also in high magnetic fields. For the cuprate superconductors, and in particular for Hg-based materials, the combination of high transition temperature1-3 and large mass anisotropy implies that the transport properties will be intrinsically limited by large thermal fluctuations and short superconducting coherence lengths4. Here we report that high-quality c-axis-oriented epitaxial films of the compound HgBa2CaCu6O6+δ (Hg-1212; ref. 5) can support large in-plane current densities at temperatures higher than has been achieved for other superconductors. In low magnetic fields oriented normal to the film surface, we find Jc>~107 A cm-2 at 5 K and Jc~ 105 A cm-2 at 110 K, at least an order of magnitude larger than for Bi- or Tl-based films6-11. For in-plane magnetic fields, the critical current (~108 A cm-2) is close to the theoretical limit even at high fields, indicative of strong intrinsic pinning in this compound.

The Fabrication of (bismuth, LEAD)(2) STRONTIUM(2) CALCIUM(2) COPPER(3) Oxygen(x) Superconductor in Bulk and Tape Forms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Hanjin

High-T_{rm c}<=ad doped rm Bi_2Sr_2Ca_2Cu _2Cu_3O_{x} (BSCCO 2223) superconductor bulk materials were prepared using conventional powder metallurgy techniques, which were made from precursors having different histories. The ease of formation of superconducting phases was highly dependent on the processing of primitive powder. With the three -powder process that combines three kinds of calcined precursor powders, the formation of the BSCCO superconductor was accelerated and the amount of the secondary phase (e.g., Ca_2CuO_3) was reduced. The critical transition temperature (T _{rm c}) of the superconductor from the three-powder process is higher than that from the one-powder process. In lead-doped BSCCO 2223, positron trapping and annihilation evidently occur in the open BiO double layers rather than in the superconducting CuO_2 layers of the structure. Both positron annihilation parameters (tau_1, tau _2, overlinetau) and Doppler parameters (P, W, P/W) were insensitive to the superconducting transition in this material. This is quite opposite to the case of YBCO and Dy doped YBCO where positron annihilation is sensitive to the superconducting transition. High-T_{rm c} BSCCO superconducting tapes were fabricated using the powder -in-tube (PIT) method that includes heat treatments as well as mechanical processing such as drawing, rolling, and pressing. The highest critical current densities (J _{rm c}) at 5 and 77 K were 5.12 times 10^5 A/cm^2 and 1.77 times 10^4 A/cm^2 , respectively, for the tape sample which was solid state processed at 840^circC with three short sintering steps. J_{ rm c} values at 5 and 77 K of tape samples were 1 and 2 orders of magnitude higher than those of bulk samples, respectively. The preferred orientations of the BSCCO 2212 phase in the tape samples were basal and (1 1 13) textures; for the BSCCO 2223 phase preferred orientations were also basal and (1 1 19) textures. By taking the ratios of the texture coefficients (TCs) for (0 0 1) and (1 1 0) reflections, one can describe the strength of the basal texture for each superconducting phase in both bulk and tape. From these ratios one can say that the best basal texture for the tape BSCCO 2212 was produced by the procedure which included partial melting at 850^circ C for 0.3 h. The best treatment for BSCCO 2223 was the tape sample with solid state processing at 840 ^circC in 10% oxygen.

Upper critical field reaches 90 tesla near the Mott transition in fulleride superconductors

DOE PAGES

Kasahara, Y.; Takeuchi, Y.; Zadik, R. H.; ...

2017-02-17

Controlled access to the border of the Mott insulating state by variation of control parameters offers exotic electronic states such as anomalous and possibly high-transition-temperature (T c) superconductivity. The alkali-doped fullerides show a transition from a Mott insulator to a superconductor for the first time in three-dimensional materials, but the impact of dimensionality and electron correlation on superconducting properties has remained unclear. Here we show that, near the Mott insulating phase, the upper critical field H c2 of the fulleride superconductors reaches values as high as ~90 T—the highest among cubic crystals. This is accompanied by a crossover from weak-more » to strong-coupling superconductivity and appears upon entering the metallic state with the dynamical Jahn–Teller effect as the Mott transition is approached. Lastly, these results suggest that the cooperative interplay between molecular electronic structure and strong electron correlations plays a key role in realizing robust superconductivity with high-T c and high-H c2.« less

Upper critical field reaches 90 tesla near the Mott transition in fulleride superconductors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kasahara, Y.; Takeuchi, Y.; Zadik, R. H.

Controlled access to the border of the Mott insulating state by variation of control parameters offers exotic electronic states such as anomalous and possibly high-transition-temperature (T c) superconductivity. The alkali-doped fullerides show a transition from a Mott insulator to a superconductor for the first time in three-dimensional materials, but the impact of dimensionality and electron correlation on superconducting properties has remained unclear. Here we show that, near the Mott insulating phase, the upper critical field H c2 of the fulleride superconductors reaches values as high as ~90 T—the highest among cubic crystals. This is accompanied by a crossover from weak-more » to strong-coupling superconductivity and appears upon entering the metallic state with the dynamical Jahn–Teller effect as the Mott transition is approached. Lastly, these results suggest that the cooperative interplay between molecular electronic structure and strong electron correlations plays a key role in realizing robust superconductivity with high-T c and high-H c2.« less

In-plane chemical pressure essential for superconductivity in BiCh2-based (Ch: S, Se) layered structure

PubMed Central

Mizuguchi, Yoshikazu; Miura, Akira; Kajitani, Joe; Hiroi, Takafumi; Miura, Osuke; Tadanaga, Kiyoharu; Kumada, Nobuhiro; Magome, Eisuke; Moriyoshi, Chikako; Kuroiwa, Yoshihiro

2015-01-01

BiCh2-based compounds (Ch: S, Se) are a new series of layered superconductors, and the mechanisms for the emergence of superconductivity in these materials have not yet been elucidated. In this study, we investigate the relationship between crystal structure and superconducting properties of the BiCh2-based superconductor family, specifically, optimally doped Ce1−xNdxO0.5F0.5BiS2 and LaO0.5F0.5Bi(S1−ySey)2. We use powder synchrotron X-ray diffraction to determine the crystal structures. We show that the structure parameter essential for the emergence of bulk superconductivity in both systems is the in-plane chemical pressure, rather than Bi-Ch bond lengths or in-plane Ch-Bi-Ch bond angle. Furthermore, we show that the superconducting transition temperature for all REO0.5F0.5BiCh2 superconductors can be determined from the in-plane chemical pressure. PMID:26447333

Crystal structure of the pyrochlore oxide superconductor KOs{sub 2}O{sub 6}

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yamaura, Jun-Ichi; Yonezawa, Shigeki; Muraoka, Yuji

2006-01-15

We report the single-crystal X-ray analysis of the structure of the pyrochlore oxide superconductor KOs{sub 2}O{sub 6}. The structure was identified as the {beta}-pyrochlore structure with space group Fd3-bar m and lattice constant a=10.089(2)A at 300K: the K atom is located at the 8b site, not at the 16d site as in conventional pyrochlore oxides. We found an anomalously large atomic displacement parameter U{sub iso}=0.0735(8)A{sup 2} at 300K for the K cation, which suggests that the K cation weakly bound to an oversized Os{sub 12}O{sub 18} cage exhibits intensive rattling, as recently observed for clathrate compounds. The rattling of Amore » cations is a common feature in the series of {beta}-pyrochlore oxide superconductors AOs{sub 2}O{sub 6} (A=Cs, Rb and K), and is greatest for the smallest K cation.« less

57Fe Mössbauer study of Lu 2Fe 3Si 5 iron silicide superconductor

DOE PAGES

Ma, Xiaoming; Ran, Sheng; Pang, Hua; ...

2015-03-28

With the advent of Fe–As based superconductivity it has become important to study how superconductivity manifests itself in details of 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy of conventional, Fe-bearing superconductors. The iron-based superconductor Lu 2Fe 3Si 5 has been studied by 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy over the temperature range from 4.4 K to room temperature with particular attention to the region close to the superconducting transition temperature (T c=6.1 K). Consistent with the two crystallographic sites for Fe in this structure, the observed spectra appear to have a pattern consisting of two doublets over the whole temperature range. Furthermore, the value of Debye temperaturemore » was estimated from temperature dependence of the isomer shift and the total spectral area and compared with the specific heat capacity data. Neither abnormal behavior of the hyperfine parameters at or near T c, nor phonon softening were observed.« less

First-order chiral to non-chiral transition in the angular dependence of the upper critical induction of the Scharnberg-Klemm p-wave pair state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klemm, Richard; Zhang, Jingchuan; Lorscher, Christopher; Gu, Qiang

2014-03-01

We calculate the temperature T and angular (θ , ϕ) dependence of the upper critical induction Bc 2(θ , ϕ , T) for parallel-spin superconductors with an axially symmetric p-wave pairing interaction pinned to the lattice and a dominant ellipsoidal Fermi surface (FS). When both parallel-spin states are allowed, the chiral Scharnberg-Klemm state Bc 2(θ , ϕ , T) exceeds that of the chiral Anderson-Brinkman-Morel state for all FS anisotropies, and exhibits a kink at θ =θ*(T , ϕ) , indicative of a first-order transition from its chiral, nodal-direction behavior to its non-chiral, antinodal-direction behavior. Potential applicability to Sr2RuO4, UCoGe, and topological superconductors is discussed.

Vertical and lateral forces when a permanent magnet above a superconductor traverses in arbitrary directions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yong

2008-12-01

In an actual levitation system composed of high temperature superconductors (HTSs) and permanent magnets (PMs), the levitating bodies may traverse in arbitrary directions. Many previous researchers assumed that the levitating bodies moved in a vertical direction or a lateral direction in order to simplify the problem. In this paper, the vertical and lateral forces acting on the PM are calculated by the modified frozen-image method when a PM above an HTS traverses in arbitrary directions. In order to study the effects of the movement directions on the vertical and lateral forces, comparisons of the forces that act on a PM traversing in a tilted direction with those that act on a PM traversing in a vertical direction or a lateral direction have been presented.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eley, Serena Merteen; Miura, Masashi; Maiorov, Boris Alfredo

Superconductors are excellent testbeds for studying vortices, topological excitations that also appear in superfluids, liquid crystals and Bose–Einstein condensates. Vortex motion can be disruptive; it can cause phase transitions, glitches in pulsars, and losses in superconducting microwave circuits, and it limits the current-carrying capacity of superconductors4. Understanding vortex dynamics is fundamentally and technologically important, and the competition between thermal energy and energy barriers defined by material disorder is not completely understood. Specifically, early measurements of thermally activated vortex motion (creep) in iron-based superconductors unveiled fast rates (S) comparable to measurements of YBa 2Cu 3O 7–δ. This was puzzling because Smore » is thought to somehow correlate with the Ginzburg number (Gi), and Gi is significantly lower in most iron-based superconductors than in YBa 2Cu 3O 7–δ. Here, we report very slow creep in BaFe 2(As 0.67P 0.33) 2 films, and propose the existence of a universal minimum realizable S ~ Gi 1/2(T/T c) (T c is the superconducting transition temperature) that has been achieved in our films and few other materials, and is violated by none. Furthermore, this limitation provides new clues about designing materials with slow creep and the interplay between material parameters and vortex dynamics.« less

Wide-band operation of quasi-optical distributed superconductor/insulator/superconductor mixers with epitaxial NbN/AlN/NbN junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kohjiro, S.; Shitov, S. V.; Wang, Z.; Uzawa, Y.; Miki, S.; Kawakami, A.; Shoji, A.

2004-05-01

For the optimum design of integrated receivers operating above the gap frequency of Nb, we have designed, fabricated and tested NbN-based quasi-optical superconductor/insulator/superconductor (SIS) mixers. The mixer chip incorporates a resonant half-wavelength epitaxial NbN/AlN/NbN junction, a twin-slot antenna and their coupling circuits. We adopted two kinds of coupling circuit between the antenna and the SIS junction: one is an in-phase feed with a length of 95 µm and the other is an anti-phase feed of 30 µm length. It was found that the anti-phase mixer reveals a 3 dB bandwidth of 43% of the centre frequency; the uncorrected double-sideband receiver noise temperature TRX = 691 K at 0.91 THz and TRX = 844 K at 0.80 THz, while 17% and TRX = 1250 K at 0.79 THz for the in-phase version. Possible reasons for this difference are discussed, which could be transmission loss and its robustness with respect to the variation of junction parameters. These experimental results suggest the NbN-based distributed mixer with the anti-phase feed is a better candidate for wide-band integrated receivers operating above 0.7 THz.

Switching of the Spin-Density-Wave in CeCoIn5 probed by Thermal Conductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Duk Y.; Lin, Shi-Zeng; Weickert, Franziska; Bauer, Eric D.; Ronning, Filip; Thompson, Joe D.; Movshovich, Roman

Unconventional superconductor CeCoIn5 orders magnetically in a spin-density-wave (SDW) in the low-temperature and high-field corner of the superconducting phase. Recent neutron scattering experiment revealed that the single-domain SDW's ordering vector Q depends strongly on the direction of the magnetic field, switching sharply as the field is rotated through the anti-nodal direction. This switching may be manifestation of a pair-density-wave (PDW) p-wave order parameter, which develops in addition to the well-established d-wave order parameter due to the SDW formation. We have investigated the hypersensitivity of the magnetic domain with a thermal conductivity measurement. The heat current (J) was applied along the [110] direction such that the Q vector is either perpendicular or parallel to J, depending on the magnetic field direction. A discontinuous change of the thermal conductivity was observed when the magnetic field is rotated around the [100] direction within 0 . 2° . The thermal conductivity with the Q parallel to the heat current (J ∥Q) is approximately 15% lager than that with the Q perpendicular to the heat current (J ⊥Q). This result is consistent with additional gapping of the nodal quasiparticle by the p-wave PDW coupled to SDW. Work at Los Alamos was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering.

Investigation of Supercurrent in the Quantum Hall Regime in Graphene Josephson Junctions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Draelos, Anne W.; Wei, Ming Tso; Seredinski, Andrew; Ke, Chung Ting; Mehta, Yash; Chamberlain, Russell; Watanabe, Kenji; Taniguchi, Takashi; Yamamoto, Michihisa; Tarucha, Seigo; Borzenets, Ivan V.; Amet, François; Finkelstein, Gleb

2018-06-01

In this study, we examine multiple encapsulated graphene Josephson junctions to determine which mechanisms may be responsible for the supercurrent observed in the quantum Hall (QH) regime. Rectangular junctions with various widths and lengths were studied to identify which parameters affect the occurrence of QH supercurrent. We also studied additional samples where the graphene region is extended beyond the contacts on one side, making that edge of the mesa significantly longer than the opposite edge. This is done in order to distinguish two potential mechanisms: (a) supercurrents independently flowing along both non-contacted edges of graphene mesa, and (b) opposite sides of the mesa being coupled by hybrid electron-hole modes flowing along the superconductor/graphene boundary. The supercurrent appears suppressed in extended junctions, suggesting the latter mechanism.

Unified one-band Hubbard model for magnetic and electronic spectra of the parent compounds of cuprate superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dalla Piazza, B.; Mourigal, M.; Guarise, M.; Berger, H.; Schmitt, T.; Zhou, K. J.; Grioni, M.; Rønnow, H. M.

2012-03-01

Using low-energy projection of the one-band t-t'-t'' Hubbard model we derive an effective spin Hamiltonian and its spin-wave expansion to order 1/S. We fit the spin-wave dispersion of several parent compounds to the high-temperature superconducting cuprates La2CuO4, Sr2CuO2Cl2, and Bi2Sr2YCu2O8. Our accurate quantitative determination of the one-band Hubbard model parameters allows prediction and comparison to experimental results. Among those we discuss the two-magnon Raman peak line shape, the K-edge resonant inelastic x-ray scattering 500-meV peak, and the high-energy kink in the angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy quasiparticle dispersion, also known as the waterfall feature.

Observation of unusual topological surface states in half-Heusler compounds LnPtBi (Ln=Lu, Y)

DOE PAGES

Liu, Z. K.; Yang, L. X.; Wu, S. -C.; ...

2016-09-27

Topological quantum materials represent a new class of matter with both exotic physical phenomena and novel application potentials. Many Heusler compounds, which exhibit rich emergent properties such as unusual magnetism, superconductivity and heavy fermion behaviour, have been predicted to host non-trivial topological electronic structures. The coexistence of topological order and other unusual properties makes Heusler materials ideal platform to search for new topological quantum phases (such as quantum anomalous Hall insulator and topological superconductor). By carrying out angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and ab initio calculations on rare-earth half-Heusler compounds LnPtBi (Ln=Lu, Y), we directly observe the unusual topological surface states onmore » these materials, establishing them as first members with non-trivial topological electronic structure in this class of materials. Moreover, as LnPtBi compounds are non-centrosymmetric superconductors, our discovery further highlights them as promising candidates of topological superconductors.« less

Observation of unusual topological surface states in half-Heusler compounds LnPtBi (Ln=Lu, Y)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Z. K.; Yang, L. X.; Wu, S. -C.

Topological quantum materials represent a new class of matter with both exotic physical phenomena and novel application potentials. Many Heusler compounds, which exhibit rich emergent properties such as unusual magnetism, superconductivity and heavy fermion behaviour, have been predicted to host non-trivial topological electronic structures. The coexistence of topological order and other unusual properties makes Heusler materials ideal platform to search for new topological quantum phases (such as quantum anomalous Hall insulator and topological superconductor). By carrying out angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and ab initio calculations on rare-earth half-Heusler compounds LnPtBi (Ln=Lu, Y), we directly observe the unusual topological surface states onmore » these materials, establishing them as first members with non-trivial topological electronic structure in this class of materials. Moreover, as LnPtBi compounds are non-centrosymmetric superconductors, our discovery further highlights them as promising candidates of topological superconductors.« less

Ultrafast studies of coexisting electronic order in cuprate superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hinton, James; Thewalt, Eric; Alpichshev, Zhanybek; Sternbach, Aaron; McLeod, Alex; Ji, L.; Veit, Mike; Dorrow, Chelsey; Koralek, Jake; Xhao, Xudong; Barisic, Neven; Kemper, Alexander; Gedik, Nuh; Greven, Martin; Basov, Dimitri; Orenstein, Joe

The cuprate family of high temperature superconductors displays a variety of electronic phases which emerge when charge carriers are added to the antiferromagnetic parent compound. These electronic phases are characterized by subtle differences in the low energy electronic excitations. Ultrafast time-resolved reflectivity (TRR) provides an ideal tool for investigating the cuprate phase diagram, as small changes in the electronic structure can produce significant contrast in the non-equilibrium reflectivity. Here we present TRR measurements of cuprate superconductors, focusing on the model single-layer cuprate HgBa2CuO4+δ. We observe a cusp-like feature in the quasiparticle lifetime near the superconducting transition temperature Tc. This feature can be understood using a model of coherently-mixed charge-density wave and superconducting pairing. We propose extending this technique to the nanoscale using ultrafast scattering scanning near-field microscopy (u-SNOM). This will allow us to explore how these electronic phases coexist and compete in real-space.

Hour-glass magnetic excitations induced by nanoscopic phase separation in cobalt oxides.

PubMed

Drees, Y; Li, Z W; Ricci, A; Rotter, M; Schmidt, W; Lamago, D; Sobolev, O; Rütt, U; Gutowski, O; Sprung, M; Piovano, A; Castellan, J P; Komarek, A C

2014-12-23

The magnetic excitations in the cuprate superconductors might be essential for an understanding of high-temperature superconductivity. In these cuprate superconductors the magnetic excitation spectrum resembles an hour-glass and certain resonant magnetic excitations within are believed to be connected to the pairing mechanism, which is corroborated by the observation of a universal linear scaling of superconducting gap and magnetic resonance energy. So far, charge stripes are widely believed to be involved in the physics of hour-glass spectra. Here we study an isostructural cobaltate that also exhibits an hour-glass magnetic spectrum. Instead of the expected charge stripe order we observe nano phase separation and unravel a microscopically split origin of hour-glass spectra on the nano scale pointing to a connection between the magnetic resonance peak and the spin gap originating in islands of the antiferromagnetic parent insulator. Our findings open new ways to theories of magnetic excitations and superconductivity in cuprate superconductors.

Characterizing the three-orbital Hubbard model with determinant quantum Monte Carlo

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kung, Y. F.; Chen, C. -C.; Wang, Yao

Here, we characterize the three-orbital Hubbard model using state-of-the-art determinant quantum Monte Carlo (DQMC) simulations with parameters relevant to the cuprate high-temperature superconductors. The simulations find that doped holes preferentially reside on oxygen orbitals and that the (π,π) antiferromagnetic ordering vector dominates in the vicinity of the undoped system, as known from experiments. The orbitally-resolved spectral functions agree well with photoemission spectroscopy studies and enable identification of orbital content in the bands. A comparison of DQMC results with exact diagonalization and cluster perturbation theory studies elucidates how these different numerical techniques complement one another to produce a more complete understandingmore » of the model and the cuprates. Interestingly, our DQMC simulations predict a charge-transfer gap that is significantly smaller than the direct (optical) gap measured in experiment. Most likely, it corresponds to the indirect gap that has recently been suggested to be on the order of 0.8 eV, and demonstrates the subtlety in identifying charge gaps.« less

Characterizing the three-orbital Hubbard model with determinant quantum Monte Carlo

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kung, Y. F.; Chen, C. -C.; Wang, Yao

We characterize the three-orbital Hubbard model using state-of-the-art determinant quantum Monte Carlo (DQMC) simulations with parameters relevant to the cuprate high-temperature superconductors. The simulations find that doped holes preferentially reside on oxygen orbitals and that the (π,π) antiferromagnetic ordering vector dominates in the vicinity of the undoped system, as known from experiments. The orbitally-resolved spectral functions agree well with photoemission spectroscopy studies and enable identification of orbital content in the bands. A comparison of DQMC results with exact diagonalization and cluster perturbation theory studies elucidates how these different numerical techniques complement one another to produce a more complete understanding ofmore » the model and the cuprates. Interestingly, our DQMC simulations predict a charge-transfer gap that is significantly smaller than the direct (optical) gap measured in experiment. Most likely, it corresponds to the indirect gap that has recently been suggested to be on the order of 0.8 eV, and demonstrates the subtlety in identifying charge gaps.« less

Characterizing the three-orbital Hubbard model with determinant quantum Monte Carlo

DOE PAGES

Kung, Y. F.; Chen, C. -C.; Wang, Yao; ...

2016-04-29

Here, we characterize the three-orbital Hubbard model using state-of-the-art determinant quantum Monte Carlo (DQMC) simulations with parameters relevant to the cuprate high-temperature superconductors. The simulations find that doped holes preferentially reside on oxygen orbitals and that the (π,π) antiferromagnetic ordering vector dominates in the vicinity of the undoped system, as known from experiments. The orbitally-resolved spectral functions agree well with photoemission spectroscopy studies and enable identification of orbital content in the bands. A comparison of DQMC results with exact diagonalization and cluster perturbation theory studies elucidates how these different numerical techniques complement one another to produce a more complete understandingmore » of the model and the cuprates. Interestingly, our DQMC simulations predict a charge-transfer gap that is significantly smaller than the direct (optical) gap measured in experiment. Most likely, it corresponds to the indirect gap that has recently been suggested to be on the order of 0.8 eV, and demonstrates the subtlety in identifying charge gaps.« less

Aperiodic topological order in the domain configurations of functional materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Fei-Ting; Cheong, Sang-Wook

2017-03-01

In numerous functional materials, such as steels, ferroelectrics and magnets, new functionalities can be achieved through the engineering of the domain structures, which are associated with the ordering of certain parameters within the material. The recent progress in technologies that enable imaging at atomic-scale spatial resolution has transformed our understanding of domain topology, revealing that, along with simple stripe-like or irregularly shaped domains, intriguing vortex-type topological domain configurations also exist. In this Review, we present a new classification scheme of 'Zm Zn domains with Zl vortices' for 2D macroscopic domain structures with m directional variants and n translational antiphases. This classification, together with the concepts of topological protection and topological charge conservation, can be applied to a wide range of materials, such as multiferroics, improper ferroelectrics, layered transition metal dichalcogenides and magnetic superconductors, as we discuss using selected examples. The resulting topological considerations provide a new basis for the understanding of the formation, kinetics, manipulation and property optimization of domains and domain boundaries in functional materials.

Skyrme insulators: insulators at the brink of superconductivity

DOE PAGES

Ertem, Onur; Chang, Po -Yao; Coleman, Piers; ...

2017-08-04

Current theories of superfluidity are based on the idea of a coherent quantum state with topologically protected, quantized circulation. When this topological protection is absent, as in the case of 3He-A, the coherent quantum state no longer supports persistent superflow. In this paper, we argue that the loss of topological protection in a superconductor gives rise to an insulating ground state. Specifically, we introduce the concept of a Skyrme insulator to describe the coherent dielectric state that results from the topological failure of superflow carried by a complex vector order parameter. Here, we apply this idea to the case ofmore » SmB6, arguing that the observation of a diamagnetic Fermi surface within an insulating bulk can be understood as a realization of this state. Our theory enables us to understand the linear specific heat of SmB6 in terms of a neutral Majorana Fermi sea and leads us to predict that in low fields of order a Gauss, SmB6 will develop a Meissner effect.« less

Dielectric Anistropy and Elastic Constants Near the Nematic-Smectic A Transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Visco, Angelo; Mahmood, Rizwan; Zapien, Donald

The present work examines the behavior of dielectric anisotropy and the elastic constants associated with the deformation of liquid crystal molecules under the influence of an AC electric field and measured by an Automatic Liquid Crystal Tester (ALCT). The systems investigated are of various concentrations of 5CB (4-Cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl) and 8CB (4-octyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl) liquid crystal as a function of temperature. These studies are important due to the complexity of the coupling between the orientational (nematic) and positional (smectic A) order parameters that can drive this transition to be either continuous or discontinuous. Theoretically, NA transition is weakly first order due to nematic director fluctuations in semctic A phase. This is similar to the transition from normal to superconductor. Thus, there exists a triple point similar to He3/He4 mixtures. Moreover, despite more than four decades of intense work, our understanding of this complex and interesting problem remains unclear. The funding for the project was provided by Slippery Rock University (2015-2016).

Characterizing the three-orbital Hubbard model with determinant quantum Monte Carlo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kung, Y. F.; Chen, C.-C.; Wang, Yao; Huang, E. W.; Nowadnick, E. A.; Moritz, B.; Scalettar, R. T.; Johnston, S.; Devereaux, T. P.

2016-04-01

We characterize the three-orbital Hubbard model using state-of-the-art determinant quantum Monte Carlo (DQMC) simulations with parameters relevant to the cuprate high-temperature superconductors. The simulations find that doped holes preferentially reside on oxygen orbitals and that the (π ,π ) antiferromagnetic ordering vector dominates in the vicinity of the undoped system, as known from experiments. The orbitally-resolved spectral functions agree well with photoemission spectroscopy studies and enable identification of orbital content in the bands. A comparison of DQMC results with exact diagonalization and cluster perturbation theory studies elucidates how these different numerical techniques complement one another to produce a more complete understanding of the model and the cuprates. Interestingly, our DQMC simulations predict a charge-transfer gap that is significantly smaller than the direct (optical) gap measured in experiment. Most likely, it corresponds to the indirect gap that has recently been suggested to be on the order of 0.8 eV, and demonstrates the subtlety in identifying charge gaps.

Skyrme Insulators: Insulators at the Brink of Superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erten, Onur; Chang, Po-Yao; Coleman, Piers; Tsvelik, Alexei M.

2017-08-01

Current theories of superfluidity are based on the idea of a coherent quantum state with topologically protected quantized circulation. When this topological protection is absent, as in the case of 3He -A , the coherent quantum state no longer supports persistent superflow. Here, we argue that the loss of topological protection in a superconductor gives rise to an insulating ground state. We specifically introduce the concept of a Skyrme insulator to describe the coherent dielectric state that results from the topological failure of superflow carried by a complex-vector order parameter. We apply this idea to the case of SmB6 , arguing that the observation of a diamagnetic Fermi surface within an insulating bulk can be understood as a realization of this state. Our theory enables us to understand the linear specific heat of SmB6 in terms of a neutral Majorana Fermi sea and leads us to predict that in low fields of order a Gauss, SmB6 will develop a Meissner effect.

Unconventional Superconductivity in Luttinger Semimetals: Theory of Complex Tensor Order and the Emergence of the Uniaxial Nematic State

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boettcher, Igor; Herbut, Igor F.

2018-02-01

We investigate unconventional superconductivity in three-dimensional electronic systems with the chemical potential close to a quadratic band touching point in the band dispersion. Short-range interactions can lead to d -wave superconductivity, described by a complex tensor order parameter. We elucidate the general structure of the corresponding Ginzburg-Landau free energy and apply these concepts to the case of an isotropic band touching point. For a vanishing chemical potential, the ground state of the system is given by the superconductor analogue of the uniaxial nematic state, which features line nodes in the excitation spectrum of quasiparticles. In contrast to the theory of real tensor order in liquid crystals, however, the ground state is selected here by the sextic terms in the free energy. At a finite chemical potential, the nematic state has an additional instability at weak coupling and low temperatures. In particular, the one-loop coefficients in the free energy indicate that at weak coupling genuinely complex orders, which break time-reversal symmetry, are energetically favored. We relate our analysis to recent measurements in the half-Heusler compound YPtBi and discuss the role of cubic crystal symmetry.

Entropy generation and momentum transfer in the superconductor-normal and normal-superconductor phase transformations and the consistency of the conventional theory of superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirsch, J. E.

2018-05-01

Since the discovery of the Meissner effect, the superconductor to normal (S-N) phase transition in the presence of a magnetic field is understood to be a first-order phase transformation that is reversible under ideal conditions and obeys the laws of thermodynamics. The reverse (N-S) transition is the Meissner effect. This implies in particular that the kinetic energy of the supercurrent is not dissipated as Joule heat in the process where the superconductor becomes normal and the supercurrent stops. In this paper, we analyze the entropy generation and the momentum transfer between the supercurrent and the body in the S-N transition and the N-S transition as described by the conventional theory of superconductivity. We find that it is not possible to explain the transition in a way that is consistent with the laws of thermodynamics unless the momentum transfer between the supercurrent and the body occurs with zero entropy generation, for which the conventional theory of superconductivity provides no mechanism. Instead, we point out that the alternative theory of hole superconductivity does not encounter such difficulties.

Majorana-assisted nonlocal electron transport through a floating topological superconductor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ulrich, Jascha; Hassler, Fabian

2015-08-01

The nonlocal nature of the fermionic mode spanned by a pair of Majorana bound states in a one-dimensional topological superconductor has inspired many proposals aiming at demonstrating this property in transport. In particular, transport through the mode from a lead attached to the left bound state to a lead attached to the right will result in current cross correlations. For ideal zero modes on a grounded superconductor, the cross correlations are however completely suppressed in favor of purely local Andreev reflection. In order to obtain a nonvanishing cross correlation, previous studies have required the presence of an additional global charging energy. Adding nonlocal terms in the form of a global charging energy to the Hamiltonian when testing the intrinsic nonlocality of the Majorana modes seems to be conceptually troublesome. Here, we show that a floating superconductor allows observing nonlocal current correlations in the absence of charging energy. We show that the noninteracting and the Coulomb-blockade regime have the same peak conductance e2/h but different shot-noise power; whereas the shot noise is sub-Poissonian in the Coulomb-blockade regime in the large-bias limit, Poissonian shot noise is generically obtained in the noninteracting case.

Quasiclassical Eilenberger theory of the topological proximity effect in a superconducting nanowire

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stanev, Valentin; Galitski, Victor

2014-05-01

We use the quasiclassical Eilenberger theory to study the topological superconducting proximity effects between a segment of a nanowire with a p-wave order parameter and a metallic segment. This model faithfully represents key qualitative features of an experimental setup, where only a part of a nanowire is in immediate contact with a bulk superconductor, inducing topological superconductivity. It is shown that the Eilenberger equations represent a viable alternative to the Bogoliubov-de Gennes theory of the topological superconducting heterostructures and provide a much simpler quantitative description of some observables. For our setup, we obtain exact analytical solutions for the quasiclassical Green's functions and the density of states as a function of position and energy. The correlations induced by the boundary involve terms associated with both p-wave and odd-frequency pairing, which are intertwined and contribute to observables on an equal footing. We recover the signatures of the standard Majorana mode near the end of the superconducting segment, but find no such localized mode induced in the metallic segment. Instead, the zero-bias feature is spread out across the entire metallic part in accordance with the previous works. In shorter wires, the Majorana mode and delocalized peak split up away from zero energy. For long metallic segments, nontopological Andreev bound states appear and eventually merge together, giving rise to a gapless superconductor.

Non-equilibrium condensation process in holographic superconductor with nonlinear electrodynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yunqi; Gong, Yungui; Wang, Bin

2016-02-01

We study the non-equilibrium condensation process in a holographic superconductor with nonlinear corrections to the U (1) gauge field. We start with an asymptotic Anti-de-Sitter (AdS) black hole against a complex scalar perturbation at the initial time, and solve the dynamics of the gravitational systems in the bulk. When the black hole temperature T is smaller than a critical value T c , the scalar perturbation grows exponentially till saturation, the final state of spacetime approaches to a hairy black hole. In the bulk theory, we find the clue of the influence of nonlinear corrections in the gauge filed on the process of the scalar field condensation. We show that the bulk dynamics in the non-equilibrium process is completely consistent with the observations on the boundary order parameter. Furthermore we examine the time evolution of horizons in the bulk non-equilibrium transformation process from the bald AdS black hole to the AdS hairy hole. Both the evolution of apparent and event horizons show that the original AdS black hole configuration requires more time to finish the transformation to become a hairy black hole if there is nonlinear correction to the electromagnetic field. We generalize our non-equilibrium discussions to the holographic entanglement entropy and find that the holographic entanglement entropy can give us further understanding of the influence of the nonlinearity in the gauge field on the scalar condensation.

Application of ceramic superconductors in high speed turbines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcmichael, C. K.; Lamb, M. A.; Lin, M. W.; Ma, K. B.; Chu, W. K.

1992-01-01

A turbine system was modified to adapt melt textured YBa2Cu3O(7-delta) (YBCO) with high energy permanent magnets to form a hybrid superconducting magnetic bearing (HSMB). The HSMB/turbine prototype has achieved a static axial thrust capacity exceeding 41 N/sq cm (60 psi) and a radial magnetic stiffness of 7 N/mm in a field cooled state at 77 K. A comparison was made between different configurations of magnets and superconductor for radial stability, axial instability, and force hystereses. This systematic study lead to a greater understanding of the interactions between YBCO and high energy permanent magnets to define design parameters for high rotational devices using the HSMB design.

Unconventional superconductivity in CaFe0.85Co0.15AsF evidenced by torque measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Hong; Li, X. J.; Mu, G.; Hu, T.

Out-of-plane angular dependent torque measurements were performed on CaFe0.85Co0.15AsF single crystals. Abnormal superconducting fluctuation, featured by enhanced diamagnetism with magnetic field, is detected up to about 1.5 times superconducting transition temperature Tc. Compared to cuprate superconductors, the fluctuation effect in iron-based superconductor is less pronounced. Anisotropy parameter γ is obtained from the mixed state torque data and it is found that γ shows both magnetic field and temperature depenence, pointing to multiband superconductivity. The temperature dependence of penetration depth λ (T) suggests unconventional superconductivity in CaFe0.85Co0.15AsF.

Ab initio Eliashberg Theory: Making Genuine Predictions of Superconducting Features

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanna, Antonio; Flores-Livas, José A.; Davydov, Arkadiy; Profeta, Gianni; Dewhurst, Kay; Sharma, Sangeeta; Gross, E. K. U.

2018-04-01

We present an application of Eliashberg theory of superconductivity to study a set of novel superconducting systems with a wide range of structural and chemical properties. The set includes three intercalated group-IV honeycomb layered structures, SH3 at 200 GPa (the superconductor with the highest measured critical temperature), the similar system SeH3 at 150 GPa, and a lithium doped mono-layer of black phosphorus. The theoretical approach we adopt is a recently developed, fully ab initio Eliashberg approach that takes into account the Coulomb interaction in a full energy-resolved fashion avoiding any free parameters like μ*. This method provides reasonable estimations of superconducting properties, including TC and the excitation spectra of superconductors.

International Workshop on Ion Beam Modification and Processing of High Tc- Superconductors: Physics and Devices: Program and Abstracts

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-04-12

Karlsruhe, FRG The application of ion beams with energies in the region of about 0.3 to 3 MeV for the analysis and modification of superconductors is...Jolla Ca- lifornia 92093, USA It is now well cstablished that the oxygen content and ordering plays a crucial role ih thie transport and crystallographic...the Belgian F.K.F.O., C.V.l{. is a Reserch Associate of the Belian N.F.W.O. I I I I I IRRADIATION INDUCED DEPAIRING IN YBACUO J. Lesueur, P Nddtlec

Second order phase transition in thermodynamic geometry and holographic superconductivity in low-energy stringy black holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rizwan, C. L. Ahmed; Vaid, Deepak

2018-05-01

We study holographic superconductivity in low-energy stringy Garfinkle-Horowitz-Strominger (GHS) dilaton black hole background. We finds that superconducting properties are much similar to s-wave superconductors. We show that the second-order phase transition indicated from thermodynamic geometry is not different from superconducting phase transition.

Itinerancy-Enhanced Quantum Fluctuation of Magnetic Moments in Iron-Based Superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tam, Yu-Ting; Yao, Dao-Xin; Ku, Wei

We investigate the influence of itinerant carriers on dynamics and fluctuation of local moments in Fe-based superconductors, via linear spin-wave analysis of a spin-fermion model containing both itinerant and local degrees of freedom.Surprisingly against the common lore, instead of enhancing the (π,0) order, itinerant carriers with well nested Fermi surfaces are found to induce a significant amount of spatial and temporal quantum fluctuation that leads to the observed small ordered moment. Interestingly, the underlying mechanism is shown to be intra-pocket nesting-associated long-range coupling rather than the previously believed ferromagnetic double-exchange effect. This challenges the validity of ferromagnetically compensated first-neighbor coupling reported from short-range fitting to the experimental dispersion, which turns out to result instead from the ferro-orbital order that is also found instrumental in stabilizing the magnetic order. *Y.-T. Tam, D.-X. Yao and W. Ku, Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 117001 (2015) Work supported by US DOE No.DE-AC02-98CH10886 and CHN No. NBRPC-2012CB821400, No. NSFC-11275279.

Genesis of charge orders in high temperature superconductors

PubMed Central

Tu, Wei-Lin; Lee, Ting-Kuo

2016-01-01

One of the most puzzling facts about cuprate high-temperature superconductors in the lightly doped regime is the coexistence of uniform superconductivity and/or antiferromagnetism with many low-energy charge-ordered states in a unidirectional charge density wave or a bidirectional checkerboard structure. Recent experiments have discovered that these charge density waves exhibit different symmetries in their intra-unit-cell form factors for different cuprate families. Using a renormalized mean-field theory for a well-known, strongly correlated model of cuprates, we obtain a number of charge-ordered states with nearly degenerate energies without invoking special features of the Fermi surface. All of these self-consistent solutions have a pair density wave intertwined with a charge density wave and sometimes a spin density wave. Most of these states vanish in the underdoped regime, except for one with a large d-form factor that vanishes at approximately 19% doping of the holes, as reported by experiments. Furthermore, these states could be modified to have a global superconducting order, with a nodal-like density of states at low energy. PMID:26732076

No evidence for orbital loop currents in charge-ordered YBa2Cu3O6 +x from polarized neutron diffraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Croft, T. P.; Blackburn, E.; Kulda, J.; Liang, Ruixing; Bonn, D. A.; Hardy, W. N.; Hayden, S. M.

2017-12-01

It has been proposed that the pseudogap state of underdoped cuprate superconductors may be due to a transition to a phase which has circulating currents within each unit cell. Here, we use polarized neutron diffraction to search for the corresponding orbital moments in two samples of underdoped YBa2Cu3O6 +x with doping levels p =0.104 and 0.123. In contrast to some other reports using polarized neutrons, but in agreement with nuclear magnetic resonance and muon spin rotation measurements, we find no evidence for the appearance of magnetic order below 300 K. Thus, our experiment suggests that such order is not an intrinsic property of high-quality cuprate superconductor single crystals. Our results provide an upper bound for a possible orbital loop moment which depends on the pattern of currents within the unit cell. For example, for the CC-θI I pattern proposed by Varma, we find that the ordered moment per current loop is less than 0.013 μB for p =0.104 .

Majorana Kramers pairs in Rashba double nanowires with interactions and disorder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thakurathi, Manisha; Simon, Pascal; Mandal, Ipsita; Klinovaja, Jelena; Loss, Daniel

2018-01-01

We analyze the effects of electron-electron interactions and disorder on a Rashba double-nanowire setup coupled to an s -wave superconductor, which has been recently proposed as a versatile platform to generate Kramers pairs of Majorana bound states in the absence of magnetic fields. We identify the regime of parameters for which these Kramers pairs are stable against interaction and disorder effects. We use bosonization, perturbative renormalization group, and replica techniques to derive the flow equations for various parameters of the model and evaluate the corresponding phase diagram with topological and disorder-dominated phases. We confirm aforementioned results by considering a more microscopic approach, which starts from the tunneling Hamiltonian between the three-dimensional s -wave superconductor and the nanowires. We find again that the interaction drives the system into the topological phase and, as the strength of the source term coming from the tunneling Hamiltonian increases, strong electron-electron interactions are required to reach the topological phase.

Orbital symmetry of charge-density-wave order in La 1.875Ba 0.125CuO 4 and YBa 2Cu 3O 6.67

DOE PAGES

A. J. Achkar; He, F.; Sutarto, R.; ...

2016-02-15

Recent theories of charge density wave (CDW) order in high temperature superconductors have predicted a primarily d CDW orbital symmetry. Here, we report on the orbital symmetry of CDW order in the canonical cuprate superconductors La 1.875Ba 0.125CuO 4 (LBCO) and YBa 2Cu 3O 6.67 (YBCO), using resonant soft x-ray scattering and a model mapped to the CDW orbital symmetry. From measurements sensitive to the O sublattice, we conclude that LBCO has predominantly s0 CDW orbital symmetry, in contrast to the d orbital symmetry recently reported in other cuprates. Additionally, we show for YBCO that the CDW orbital symmetry differsmore » along the a and b crystal axes and that these both differ from LBCO. This work highlights CDW orbital symmetry as an additional key property that distinguishes the di erent cuprate families.« less

Surface nematic order in iron pnictides

DOE PAGES

Song, Kok Wee; Koshelev, Alexei E.

2016-09-09

Electronic nematicity plays an important role in iron-based superconductors. These materials have a layered structure and the theoretical description of their magnetic and nematic transitions has been well established in the two-dimensional approximation, i.e., when the layers can be treated independently. However, the interaction between iron layers mediated by electron tunneling may cause nontrivial three-dimensional behavior. Starting from the simplest model for orbital nematic in a single layer, we investigate the influence of interlayer tunneling on the bulk nematic order and a possible preemptive state where this order is only formed near the surface. In addition, we found that themore » interlayer tunneling suppresses the bulk nematicity, which makes favorable the formation of a surface nematic order above the bulk transition temperature. The purely electronic tunneling Hamiltonian, however, favors a nematic order parameter that alternates from layer to layer. The uniform bulk state typically observed experimentally may be stabilized by the coupling with the elastic lattice deformation. Depending on the strength of this coupling, we found three regimes: (i) surface nematic and alternating bulk order, (ii) surface nematic and uniform bulk order, and (iii) uniform bulk order without the intermediate surface phase. Lastly, the intermediate surface-nematic state may resolve the current controversy about the existence of a weak nematic transition in the compound BaFe 2As 2-xP x .« less

Interband coupling and transport interband scattering in s ± superconductors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kogan, Vladimir; Prozorov, Ruslan

A two-band model with repulsive interband coupling and interband transport (potential) scattering is considered to elucidate their effects on material properties. In agreement with previous work, we find that the bands order parameters Δ 1,2 differ and the large is at the band with a smaller normal density of states (DOS), N n2 < N n1. However, the bands energy gaps, as determined by the energy dependence of the DOS, are equal due to scattering. For each temperature, the gaps turn zero at a certain critical interband scattering rate, i.e. for strong enough scattering the model material becomes gappless. Inmore » the gapless state, the DOS at the band 2 is close to the normal state value, whereas at the band 1 it has a V-shape with non-zero minimum. When the normal bands DOS' are mismatched, N n1 6= N n2, the critical temperature T c is suppressed even in the absence of interband scattering, T c(N n1) has a dome-like shape. With increasing interband scattering, the London penetration depth at low temperatures evolves from being exponentially at to the powerlaw and even to near linear behavior in the gapless state, the latter being easily misinterpreted as caused by order parameter nodes.« less

New color-magnetic defects in dense quark matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haber, Alexander; Schmitt, Andreas

2018-06-01

Color-flavor locked (CFL) quark matter expels color-magnetic fields due to the Meissner effect. One of these fields carries an admixture of the ordinary abelian magnetic field and therefore flux tubes may form if CFL matter is exposed to a magnetic field, possibly in the interior of neutron stars or in quark stars. We employ a Ginzburg–Landau approach for three massless quark flavors, which takes into account the multi-component nature of color superconductivity. Based on the weak-coupling expressions for the Ginzburg–Landau parameters, we identify the regime where CFL is a type-II color superconductor and compute the radial profiles of different color-magnetic flux tubes. Among the configurations without baryon circulation we find a new solution that is energetically preferred over the flux tubes previously discussed in the literature in the parameter regime relevant for compact stars. Within the same setup, we also find a new defect in the 2SC phase, namely magnetic domain walls, which emerge naturally from the previously studied flux tubes if a more general ansatz for the order parameter is used. Color-magnetic defects in the interior of compact stars allow for sustained deformations of the star, potentially strong enough to produce detectable gravitational waves.

Asymmetric d-wave superconducting topological insulator in proximity with a magnetic order

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khezerlou, M.; Goudarzi, H.; Asgarifar, S.

2018-02-01

In the framework of the Dirac-Bogoliubov-de Gennes formalism, we investigate the transport properties in the surface of a 3-dimensional topological insulator-based hybrid structure, where the ferromagnetic and superconducting orders are simultaneously induced to the surface states via the proximity effect. The superconductor gap is taken to be spin-singlet d-wave symmetry. The asymmetric role of this gap respect to the electron-hole exchange, in one hand, affects the topological insulator superconducting binding excitations and, on the other hand, gives rise to forming distinct Majorana bound states at the ferromagnet/superconductor interface. We propose a topological insulator N/F/FS junction and proceed to clarify the role of d-wave asymmetry pairing in the resulting subgap and overgap tunneling conductance. The perpendicular component of magnetizations in F and FS regions can be at the parallel and antiparallel configurations leading to capture the experimentally important magnetoresistance (MR) of junction. It is found that the zero-bias conductance is strongly sensitive to the magnitude of magnetization in FS region mzfs and orbital rotated angle α of superconductor gap. The negative MR only occurs in zero orbital rotated angle. This result can pave the way to distinguish the unconventional superconducting state in the relating topological insulator hybrid structures.

Discovery of a superconducting high-entropy alloy.

PubMed

Koželj, P; Vrtnik, S; Jelen, A; Jazbec, S; Jagličić, Z; Maiti, S; Feuerbacher, M; Steurer, W; Dolinšek, J

2014-09-05

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are multicomponent mixtures of elements in similar concentrations, where the high entropy of mixing can stabilize disordered solid-solution phases with simple structures like a body-centered cubic or a face-centered cubic, in competition with ordered crystalline intermetallic phases. We have synthesized an HEA with the composition Ta34Nb33Hf8Zr14Ti11 (in at. %), which possesses an average body-centered cubic structure of lattice parameter a=3.36  Å. The measurements of the electrical resistivity, the magnetization and magnetic susceptibility, and the specific heat revealed that the Ta34Nb33Hf8Zr14Ti11 HEA is a type II superconductor with a transition temperature Tc≈7.3  K, an upper critical field μ0H_c2≈8.2  T, a lower critical field μ0Hc1≈32  mT, and an energy gap in the electronic density of states (DOS) at the Fermi level of 2Δ≈2.2  meV. The investigated HEA is close to a BCS-type phonon-mediated superconductor in the weak electron-phonon coupling limit, classifying it as a "dirty" superconductor. We show that the lattice degrees of freedom obey Vegard's rule of mixtures, indicating completely random mixing of the elements on the HEA lattice, whereas the electronic degrees of freedom do not obey this rule even approximately so that the electronic properties of a HEA are not a "cocktail" of properties of the constituent elements. The formation of a superconducting gap contributes to the electronic stabilization of the HEA state at low temperatures, where the entropic stabilization is ineffective, but the electronic energy gain due to the superconducting transition is too small for the global stabilization of the disordered state, which remains metastable.

Spin current and spin transfer torque in ferromagnet/superconductor spin valves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moen, Evan; Valls, Oriol T.

2018-05-01

Using fully self-consistent methods, we study spin transport in fabricable spin valve systems consisting of two magnetic layers, a superconducting layer, and a spacer normal layer between the ferromagnets. Our methods ensure that the proper relations between spin current gradients and spin transfer torques are satisfied. We present results as a function of geometrical parameters, interfacial barrier values, misalignment angle between the ferromagnets, and bias voltage. Our main results are for the spin current and spin accumulation as functions of position within the spin valve structure. We see precession of the spin current about the exchange fields within the ferromagnets, and penetration of the spin current into the superconductor for biases greater than the critical bias, defined in the text. The spin accumulation exhibits oscillating behavior in the normal metal, with a strong dependence on the physical parameters both as to the structure and formation of the peaks. We also study the bias dependence of the spatially averaged spin transfer torque and spin accumulation. We examine the critical-bias effect of these quantities, and their dependence on the physical parameters. Our results are predictive of the outcome of future experiments, as they take into account imperfect interfaces and a realistic geometry.

Aerospace Applications Of High Temperature Superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderson, W. W.

1988-05-01

The existence of superconductors with TcOOK (which implies device operating temper-atures the order of Top ≍45K) opens up a variety of potential applications within the aerospace/defense industry. This is partly due to the existence of well developed cooler technologies to reach this temperature regime and partly due to the present operation of some specialized components at cryogenic temperatures. In particular, LWIR focal planes may operate at 10K with some of the signal processing electronics at an intermediate temperature of 40K. Addition of high Tc superconducting components in the latter system may be "free" in the sense of additional system complexity required. The established techniques for cooling in the 20K to 50K temperature regime are either open cycle, expendable material (stored gas with Joule-Thomson expansion, liquid cryogen or solid cryogen) or mechanical refrigerators (Stirling cycle, Brayton cycle or closed cycle Joule-Thomson). The high Tc materials may also contribute to the development of coolers through magnetically levitated bearings or providing the field for a stage of magnetic refrigeration. The discovery of materials with Tc, 90K has generated a veritable shopping list of applications. The superconductor properties which are of interest for applications are (1) zero resistance, (2) Meissner effect, (3) phase coherence and (4) existence of an energy gap. The zero resistance property is significant in the development of high field magnets requiring neglible power to maintain the field. In addition to the publicized applications to rail guns and electromagnetic launcher, we can think of space born magnets for charged particle shielding or whistler mode propagation through a plasma sheath. Conductor losses dominate attenuation and dispersion in microstrip transmission lines. While the surface impedance of a superconductor is non vanishing, significant improvements in signal transmission may be obtained. The Meissner effect may be utilized for some magnetic shielding applications but the penetration depth and high frequency effects will have to be considered. Phase coherence forms the basis for Josephson junction devices which, in turn are used for mixers, detectors and parametric amplifiers in the microwave/millimeter wave regime and for A/D converters, sampling and switching circuits and voltage standards in electronics. The energy gap has been the basis of optical and IR detection through modulation of the order parameter (or gap energy) by generation of quasi particles.

Percolation effect in thick film superconductors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sali, R.; Harsanyi, G.

1994-12-31

A thick film superconductor paste has been developed to study the properties of granulated superconductor materials, to observe the percolation effect and to confirm the theory of the conducting mechanism in the superconducting thick films. This paste was also applied to make a superconducting planar transformer. Due to high T{sub c} and advantageous current density properties the base of the paste was chosen to be of Bi(Pb)SrCaCuO system. For contacts a conventional Ag/Pt paste was used. The critical temperature of the samples were between 110 K and 115 K depending on the printed layer thickness. The critical current density atmore » the boiling temperature of the liquid He- was between 200-300 A/cm{sup 2}. The R(T) and V(I) functions were measured with different parameters. The results of the measurements have confirmed the theory of conducting mechanism in the material. The percolation structure model has been built and described. As an application, a superconducting planar thick film transformer was planned and produced. Ten windings of the transformer were printed on one side of the alumina substrate and one winding was printed on the other side. The coupling between the two sides was possible through the substrate. The samples did not need special drying and firing parameters. After the preparation, the properties of the transformer were measured. The efficiency and the losses were determined. Finally, some fundamental advantages and problems of the process were discussed.« less

Percolation effect in thick film superconductors: Using a Bi(Pb)SrCaCuO based paste to prepare a superconducting planar transformer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sali, Robert; Harsanyi, Gabor

1995-01-01

A thick film superconductor paste has been developed to study the properties of granulated superconductor materials, to observe the percolation effect and to confirm the theory of the conducting mechanism in the superconducting thick films. This paste was also applied to make a superconducting planar transformer. Due to the T(sub c) and advantageous current density properties the base of the past was chosen to be of Bi(Pb)SrCaCu) system. For contacts a conventional Ag/Pt paste was used. The critical temperature of the samples were between 110 K and 115 K depending on the printed layer thickness. The critical current density -at the boiling temperature of the liquid He- was between 200 - 300 A/sq cm. The R(T) and V(I) functions were measured with different parameters. The results of the measurements have confirmed the theory of conducting mechanism in the material. The percolation structure model has been built and described. As an application, a superconducting planar thick film transformer was planned and produced. Ten windings of the transformer were printed on one side of the alumina substrate and one winding was printed on the other side. The coupling between the two sides was possible through the substrate. The samples did not need special drying and firing parameters. After the preparation, the properties of the transformer were measured. The efficiency ans the losses were determined. Finally, some fundamental advantages and problems of the process were discussed.

Direct evidence for a pressure-induced nodal superconducting gap in the Ba0.65Rb0.35Fe2As2 superconductor

PubMed Central

Guguchia, Z.; Amato, A.; Kang, J.; Luetkens, H.; Biswas, P. K.; Prando, G.; von Rohr, F.; Bukowski, Z.; Shengelaya, A.; Keller, H.; Morenzoni, E.; Fernandes, Rafael M.; Khasanov, R.

2015-01-01

The superconducting gap structure in iron-based high-temperature superconductors (Fe-HTSs) is non-universal. In contrast to other unconventional superconductors, in the Fe-HTSs both d-wave and extended s-wave pairing symmetries are close in energy. Probing the proximity between these very different superconducting states and identifying experimental parameters that can tune them is of central interest. Here we report high-pressure muon spin rotation experiments on the temperature-dependent magnetic penetration depth in the optimally doped nodeless s-wave Fe-HTS Ba0.65Rb0.35Fe2As2. Upon pressure, a strong decrease of the penetration depth in the zero-temperature limit is observed, while the superconducting transition temperature remains nearly constant. More importantly, the low-temperature behaviour of the inverse-squared magnetic penetration depth, which is a direct measure of the superfluid density, changes qualitatively from an exponential saturation at zero pressure to a linear-in-temperature behaviour at higher pressures, indicating that hydrostatic pressure promotes the appearance of nodes in the superconducting gap. PMID:26548650

Direct evidence for a pressure-induced nodal superconducting gap in the Ba 0.65Rb 0.35Fe 2As 2 superconductor

DOE PAGES

Guguchia, Z.; Amato, A.; Kang, J.; ...

2015-11-09

The superconducting gap structure in iron-based high-temperature superconductors (Fe-HTSs) is non-universal. Contrasting with other unconventional superconductors, in the Fe-HTSs both d-wave and extended s-wave pairing symmetries are close in energy. Probing the proximity between these very different superconducting states and identifying experimental parameters that can tune them is of central interest. Here we report high-pressure muon spin rotation experiments on the temperature-dependent magnetic penetration depth in the optimally doped nodeless s-wave Fe-HTS Ba 0.65Rb 0.35Fe 2As 2. Upon pressure, a strong decrease of the penetration depth in the zero-temperature limit is observed, while the superconducting transition temperature remains nearly constant.more » More importantly, the low-temperature behaviour of the inverse-squared magnetic penetration depth, which is a direct measure of the superfluid density, changes qualitatively from an exponential saturation at zero pressure to a linear-in-temperature behaviour at higher pressures, indicating that hydrostatic pressure promotes the appearance of nodes in the superconducting gap.« less

Two distinct superconducting phases in LiFeAs

PubMed Central

Nag, P. K.; Schlegel, R.; Baumann, D.; Grafe, H.-J.; Beck, R.; Wurmehl, S.; Büchner, B.; Hess, C.

2016-01-01

A non-trivial temperature evolution of superconductivity including a temperature-induced phase transition between two superconducting phases or even a time-reversal symmetry breaking order parameter is in principle expected in multiband superconductors such as iron-pnictides. Here we present scanning tunnelling spectroscopy data of LiFeAs which reveal two distinct superconducting phases: at = 18 K a partial superconducting gap opens, evidenced by subtle, yet clear features in the tunnelling spectra, i.e. particle-hole symmetric coherence peak and dip-hump structures. At Tc = 16 K, these features substantiate dramatically and become characteristic of full superconductivity. Remarkably, the distance between the dip-hump structures and the coherence peaks remains practically constant in the whole temperature regimeT ≤ . This rules out the connection of the dip-hump structures to an antiferromagnetic spin resonance. PMID:27297474

Comparing the dynamics of skyrmions and superconducting vortices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olson Reichhardt, C. J.; Lin, S. Z.; Ray, D.; Reichhardt, C.

2014-08-01

Vortices in type-II superconductors have attracted enormous attention as ideal systems in which to study nonequilibrium collective phenomena, since the self-ordering of the vortices competes with quenched disorder and thermal effects. Dynamic effects found in vortex systems include depinning, nonequilibrium phase transitions, creep, structural order-disorder transitions, and melting. Understanding vortex dynamics is also important for applications of superconductors which require the vortices either to remain pinned or to move in a controlled fashion. Recently, topological defects called skyrmions have been realized experimentally in chiral magnets. Here we highlight similarities and differences between skyrmion dynamics and vortex dynamics. Many of the previous ideas and experimental setups that have been applied to superconducting vortices can also be used to study skyrmions. We also discuss some of the differences between the two systems, such as the potentially large contribution of the Magnus force in the skyrmion system that can dramatically alter the dynamics and transport properties.

Multipole Superconductivity in Nonsymmorphic Sr_{2}IrO_{4}.

PubMed

Sumita, Shuntaro; Nomoto, Takuya; Yanase, Youichi

2017-07-14

Discoveries of marked similarities to high-T_{c} cuprate superconductors point to the realization of superconductivity in the doped J_{eff}=1/2 Mott insulator Sr_{2}IrO_{4}. Contrary to the mother compound of cuprate superconductors, several stacking patterns of in-plane canted antiferromagnetic moments have been reported, which are distinguished by the ferromagnetic components as -++-, ++++, and -+-+. In this paper, we clarify unconventional features of the superconductivity coexisting with -++- and -+-+ structures. Combining the group theoretical analysis and numerical calculations for an effective J_{eff}=1/2 model, we show unusual superconducting gap structures in the -++- state protected by nonsymmorphic magnetic space group symmetry. Furthermore, our calculation shows that the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov superconductivity is inevitably stabilized in the -+-+ state since the odd-parity magnetic -+-+ order makes the band structure asymmetric by cooperating with spin-orbit coupling. These unusual superconducting properties are signatures of magnetic multipole order in nonsymmorphic crystal.

Multipole Superconductivity in Nonsymmorphic Sr2IrO4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sumita, Shuntaro; Nomoto, Takuya; Yanase, Youichi

2017-07-01

Discoveries of marked similarities to high-Tc cuprate superconductors point to the realization of superconductivity in the doped Jeff=1 /2 Mott insulator Sr2IrO4. Contrary to the mother compound of cuprate superconductors, several stacking patterns of in-plane canted antiferromagnetic moments have been reported, which are distinguished by the ferromagnetic components as -++-, ++++, and -+-+ . In this paper, we clarify unconventional features of the superconductivity coexisting with -++- and -+-+ structures. Combining the group theoretical analysis and numerical calculations for an effective Jeff=1 /2 model, we show unusual superconducting gap structures in the -++- state protected by nonsymmorphic magnetic space group symmetry. Furthermore, our calculation shows that the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov superconductivity is inevitably stabilized in the -+-+ state since the odd-parity magnetic -+-+ order makes the band structure asymmetric by cooperating with spin-orbit coupling. These unusual superconducting properties are signatures of magnetic multipole order in nonsymmorphic crystal.

Transient electronic anisotropy in overdoped NaF e1 -xC oxAs superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Shenghua; Zhang, Chunfeng; Deng, Qiang; Wen, Hai-hu; Li, Jian-xin; Chia, Elbert E. M.; Wang, Xiaoyong; Xiao, Min

2018-01-01

By combining polarized pump-probe spectroscopic and Laue x-ray diffraction measurements, we have observed nonequivalent transient optical responses with the probe beam polarized along the x and y axes in overdoped NaF e1 -xC oxAs superconductors. Such transient anisotropic behavior has been uncovered in the tetragonal phase with the doping level and temperature range far from the borders of static nematic phases. The measured transient anisotropy can be well explained as a result of nematic fluctuation driven by an orbital order with energy splitting of the dx z- and dy z-dominant bands. In addition, the doping level dependence and the pressure effect of the crossover temperature show significant differences between the transient nematic fluctuation and static nematic phase, implying spin and orbital orders may play different roles in static and transient nematic behaviors.

Rotational symmetry breaking in the topological superconductor SrxBi2Se3 probed by upper-critical field experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Y.; Nikitin, A. M.; Araizi, G. K.; Huang, Y. K.; Matsushita, Y.; Naka, T.; de Visser, A.

2016-06-01

Recently it was demonstrated that Sr intercalation provides a new route to induce superconductivity in the topological insulator Bi2Se3. Topological superconductors are predicted to be unconventional with an odd-parity pairing symmetry. An adequate probe to test for unconventional superconductivity is the upper critical field, Bc2. For a standard BCS layered superconductor Bc2 shows an anisotropy when the magnetic field is applied parallel and perpendicular to the layers, but is isotropic when the field is rotated in the plane of the layers. Here we report measurements of the upper critical field of superconducting SrxBi2Se3 crystals (Tc = 3.0 K). Surprisingly, field-angle dependent magnetotransport measurements reveal a large anisotropy of Bc2 when the magnet field is rotated in the basal plane. The large two-fold anisotropy, while six-fold is anticipated, cannot be explained with the Ginzburg-Landau anisotropic effective mass model or flux flow induced by the Lorentz force. The rotational symmetry breaking of Bc2 indicates unconventional superconductivity with odd-parity spin-triplet Cooper pairs (Δ4-pairing) recently proposed for rhombohedral topological superconductors, or might have a structural nature, such as self-organized stripe ordering of Sr atoms.

Array of Josephson junctions with a nonsinusoidal current-phase relation as a model of the resistive transition of unconventional superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carbone, Anna; Gilli, Marco; Mazzetti, Piero; Ponta, Linda

2010-12-01

An array of resistively and capacitively shunted Josephson junctions with nonsinusoidal current-phase relation is considered for modeling the transition in high-Tc superconductors. The emergence of higher harmonics, besides the simple sinusoid Ic sin ϕ, is expected for dominant d-wave symmetry of the Cooper pairs, random distribution of potential drops, dirty grains, or nonstationary conditions. We show that additional cosine and sine terms act, respectively, by modulating the global resistance and by changing the Josephson coupling of the mixed superconductive-normal states. First, the approach is applied to simulate the transition in disordered granular superconductors with the weak-links characterized by nonsinusoidal current-phase relation. In granular superconductors, the emergence of higher-order harmonics affects the slope of the transition. Then, arrays of intrinsic Josephson junctions, naturally formed by the CuO2 planes in cuprates, are considered. The critical temperature suppression, observed at values of hole doping close to p =1/8, is investigated. Such suppression, related to the sign change and modulation of the Josephson coupling across the array, is quantified in terms of the intensities of the first and second sinusoids of the current-phase relation. Applications are envisaged for the design and control of quantum devices based on stacks of intrinsic Josephson junctions.

Interplay between magnetism and superconductivity in iron-chalcogenide superconductors: crystal growth and characterizations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wen, Jinsheng; Xu, Guangyong; Gu, Genda; Tranquada, J. M.; Birgeneau, R. J.

2011-12-01

In this review, we present a summary of results on single crystal growth of two types of iron-chalcogenide superconductors, Fe1+yTe1-xSex (11), and AxFe2-ySe2 (A = K, Rb, Cs, Tl, Tl/K, Tl/Rb), using Bridgman, zone-melting, vapor self-transport and flux techniques. The superconducting and magnetic properties (the latter gained mainly from neutron scattering measurements) of these materials are reviewed to demonstrate the connection between magnetism and superconductivity. It will be shown that for the 11 system, while static magnetic order around the reciprocal lattice position (0.5, 0) competes with superconductivity, spin excitations centered around (0.5, 0.5) are closely coupled to the materials' superconductivity; this is made evident by the strong correlation between the spectral weight around (0.5, 0.5) and the superconducting volume fraction. The observation of a spin resonance below the superconducting temperature, Tc, and the magnetic-field dependence of the resonance emphasize the close interplay between spin excitations and superconductivity, similar to cuprate superconductors. In AxFe2-ySe2, superconductivity with Tc ~ 30 K borders an antiferromagnetic insulating phase; this is closer to the behavior observed in the cuprates but differs from that in other iron-based superconductors.

Rotational symmetry breaking in the topological superconductor SrxBi2Se3 probed by upper-critical field experiments.

PubMed

Pan, Y; Nikitin, A M; Araizi, G K; Huang, Y K; Matsushita, Y; Naka, T; de Visser, A

2016-06-28

Recently it was demonstrated that Sr intercalation provides a new route to induce superconductivity in the topological insulator Bi2Se3. Topological superconductors are predicted to be unconventional with an odd-parity pairing symmetry. An adequate probe to test for unconventional superconductivity is the upper critical field, Bc2. For a standard BCS layered superconductor Bc2 shows an anisotropy when the magnetic field is applied parallel and perpendicular to the layers, but is isotropic when the field is rotated in the plane of the layers. Here we report measurements of the upper critical field of superconducting SrxBi2Se3 crystals (Tc = 3.0 K). Surprisingly, field-angle dependent magnetotransport measurements reveal a large anisotropy of Bc2 when the magnet field is rotated in the basal plane. The large two-fold anisotropy, while six-fold is anticipated, cannot be explained with the Ginzburg-Landau anisotropic effective mass model or flux flow induced by the Lorentz force. The rotational symmetry breaking of Bc2 indicates unconventional superconductivity with odd-parity spin-triplet Cooper pairs (Δ4-pairing) recently proposed for rhombohedral topological superconductors, or might have a structural nature, such as self-organized stripe ordering of Sr atoms.

Rotational symmetry breaking in the topological superconductor SrxBi2Se3 probed by upper-critical field experiments

PubMed Central

Pan, Y.; Nikitin, A. M.; Araizi, G. K.; Huang, Y. K.; Matsushita, Y.; Naka, T.; de Visser, A.

2016-01-01

Recently it was demonstrated that Sr intercalation provides a new route to induce superconductivity in the topological insulator Bi2Se3. Topological superconductors are predicted to be unconventional with an odd-parity pairing symmetry. An adequate probe to test for unconventional superconductivity is the upper critical field, Bc2. For a standard BCS layered superconductor Bc2 shows an anisotropy when the magnetic field is applied parallel and perpendicular to the layers, but is isotropic when the field is rotated in the plane of the layers. Here we report measurements of the upper critical field of superconducting SrxBi2Se3 crystals (Tc = 3.0 K). Surprisingly, field-angle dependent magnetotransport measurements reveal a large anisotropy of Bc2 when the magnet field is rotated in the basal plane. The large two-fold anisotropy, while six-fold is anticipated, cannot be explained with the Ginzburg-Landau anisotropic effective mass model or flux flow induced by the Lorentz force. The rotational symmetry breaking of Bc2 indicates unconventional superconductivity with odd-parity spin-triplet Cooper pairs (Δ4-pairing) recently proposed for rhombohedral topological superconductors, or might have a structural nature, such as self-organized stripe ordering of Sr atoms. PMID:27350295

Excitation of acoustic oscillations in superconducting films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Golub, A.A.

1973-11-01

A study is made of the excitation of sound in a superconducting film by electromagnetic waves incident on the surface of the film. It is assumed that the thickness of the film d is much greater than the penetration depth of the field. If the acoustic wave is damped over a distance of the order of d, traveling acoustic waves can be excited in the superconductor; otherwise, standing waves are excited. The low-temperature contribution of acoustic oseillations to the surface resistence of pure superconductors ia calculated. At very low temperatures, the absorption of electromagnetic waves is mainly governed by themore » loss due to acoustic oscillations. (auth)« less

Revisiting the Langer-Ambegaokar-McCumber-Halperin theory of resistive transitions in one-dimensional superconductors with exact solutions.

PubMed

Joshi, Darshan G; Bhattacharyay, A

2011-08-31

We present an important correction to the Langer-Ambegaokar-McCumber-Halperin theory for the resistive state of a 1D superconductor. We establish that the identification of the saddle on the free energy surface over which Langer and Ambegaokar had claimed the system to move in order to form thermally excited phase slip centres is wrong. With the help of an exact solution we show that the system has to overcome a similar free energy barrier but can actually have vanishing amplitude of the superconducting phase at a point, unlike the Langer-Ambegaokar solution.