128 research outputs found
Ferromagnetic-superconducting hybrid films and their possible applications: A direct study in a model combinatorial film
Model combinatorial films (CFs) which host a pure superconductor adjacent to
a ferromagneticsuperconducting hybrid film (HF) are manufactured for the study
of the influence of ferromagnetic nanoparticles (FNs) on the nucleation of
superconductivity. Careful resistance measurements were performed
simultaneously on two different sites of the CFs. Enhancement of
superconductivity and magnetic memory effects were observed only on the hybrid
site of the CFs but were absent on their purely superconducting part. Our
results give direct proof that the FNs modulate the superconducting order
parameter in an efficient and controlled way giving us the possibility of
miscellaneous practical applications.Comment: To appear in Physical Review
Manipulating superconductivity through the domain structure of a ferromagnet: experimental aspects and theoretical implications
In the present work we study experimentally the influence that the domain
structure of a fer- romagnet (FM) has on the properties of a superconductor
(SC) in bilayers and multilayers of La0.60Ca0.40MnO3/Nb and FePt/Nb proximity
hybrids. Specific experimental protocols that were employed in the performed
magnetization measurements enabled us to directly uncover a generic property of
FM/SC hybrids: in the absence of an external magnetic field, the multidomain
struc- ture of the FM promotes the nucleation of superconductivity, while its
monodomain state strongly suppresses it. Our experimental findings support
recent theoretical studies proposing that when an inhomogeneous exchange field
is offered by the FM to the SC the superconducting pairs are not susceptible to
pair-breaking.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Stray-fields-based magnetoresistance mechanism in Ni80Fe20-Nb-Ni80Fe20 trilayers
We report on the transport and magnetic properties of hybrid trilayers and
bilayers that consist of low spin-polarized Ni80Fe20 exhibiting in-plane but no
uniaxial anisotropy and low-Tc Nb. We reveal a magnetoresistance effect that is
pronounced. In our trilayers the magnetoresistance exhibits an increase of two
orders of magnitude when the superconducting state is reached: from the
conventional normal-state values 0.6 % it goes up to 1000 % for temperatures
below Tc. In contrast, in the bilayers the effect is only minor since from 3%
in the normal state increases only to 70 % for temperatures below Tc.
Magnetization data of both the longitudinal and transverse magnetic components
are presented. Most importantly, we present data not only for the normal state
of Nb but also in its superconducting state. Strikingly, these data show that
below its Tc SC the Nb interlayer under the influence of the outer Ni80Fe20
layers attains a magnetization component transverse to the external field. By
comparing the transport and magnetization data we propose a candidate mechanism
that could motivate the pronounced magnetoresistance effect observed in the
trilayers. Adequate magnetostatic coupling of the outer Ni80Fe20 layers is
motivated by stray fields that emerge naturally in their whole surface due to
the multidomain magnetic structure that they attain near coercivity. Atomic
force microscopy is employed in order to examine the possibility that such
magnetostatic coupling could be promoted by interface roughness. Referring to
the bilayers, although out-of-plane rotation of the magnetization of the single
Ni80Fe20 layer is still observed, in these structures magnetostatic coupling
does not occur due to the absence of a second Ni80Fe20 one so that the observed
magnetoresistance peaks are only modest.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure
Peak effect in single crystal MgB superconductor for -axis
We have studied the phase diagram of MgB superconductor using a single
crystal for -axis. For the first time we report the
existence of peak effect in the screening current in MgB single crystal
for -axis. In the magnetic field regime kOe the
local fundamental diamagnetic moment displays a very narrow diamagnetic step,
with a temperature width of the same size as the zero dc-magnetic field
transition. For higher field this step is transformed to a peak which is
related with the peak effect in the screening current. Finally, for kOe
the diamagnetic step is transformed to a gradual transition. Our findings for
the vortex matter phase diagram for the MgB are closely related with
theoretical predictions concerning the vortex matter phase diagram of a type II
superconductor in the presence of weak point disorder.Comment: Has been submitted for publication in PRL since 21 February 200
139La NMR evidence for phase solitons in the ground state of overdoped manganites
Hole doped transition metal oxides are famous due to their extraordinary
charge transport properties, such as high temperature superconductivity
(cuprates) and colossal magnetoresistance (manganites). Astonishing, the mother
system of these compounds is a Mott insulator, whereas important role in the
establishment of the metallic or superconducting state is played by the way
that holes are self-organized with doping. Experiments have shown that by
adding holes the insulating phase breaks into antiferromagnetic (AFM) regions,
which are separated by hole rich clumps (stripes) with a rapid change of the
phase of the background spins and orbitals. However, recent experiments in
overdoped manganites of the La(1-x)Ca(x)MnO(3) (LCMO) family have shown that
instead of charge stripes, charge in these systems is organized in a uniform
charge density wave (CDW). Besides, recent theoretical works predicted that the
ground state is inhomogeneously modulated by orbital and charge solitons, i.e.
narrow regions carrying charge (+/-)e/2, where the orbital arrangement varies
very rapidly. So far, this has been only a theoretical prediction. Here, by
using 139La Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) we provide direct evidence that
the ground state of overdoped LCMO is indeed solitonic. By lowering temperature
the narrow NMR spectra observed in the AFM phase are shown to wipe out, while
for T<30K a very broad spectrum reappears, characteristic of an incommensurate
(IC) charge and spin modulation. Remarkably, by further decreasing temperature,
a relatively narrow feature emerges from the broad IC NMR signal, manifesting
the formation of a solitonic modulation as T->0.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
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