Structural and superconducting properties of MgB2−x_{2-x}Bex_x

We prepared MgB$_{2-x}$Be$_{x}$ ($x=0$, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.6) samples where B is substituted with Be. MgB$_{2}$ structure is maintained up to $x=0.6$. In-plane and inter-plane lattice constants were found to decrease and increase, respectively. Superconducting transition temperature $T_{c}$ decreases with $x$. We found that the $T_{c}$ decrease is correlated with in-plane contraction but is insensitive to carrier doping, which is consistent with other substitution studies such as Mg$_{1-x}$Al$_{x}$B$_{2}$ and MgB$_{2-x}$C$_{x}$. Implication of this work is discussed in terms of the 2D nature of $\sigma$-band.Comment: 3 pages,4 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev.

Small-Noise Analysis and Symmetrization of Implicit Monte Carlo Samplers

Implicit samplers are algorithms for producing independent, weighted samples from multivariate probability distributions. These are often applied in Bayesian data assimilation algorithms. We use Laplace asymptotic expansions to analyze two implicit samplers in the small noise regime. Our analysis suggests a symmetrization of the algorithms that leads to improved implicit sampling schemes at a relatively small additional cost. Computational experiments confirm the theory and show that symmetrization is effective for small noise sampling problems.© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Thermoelectric power of MgB2−x_{2-x}Bex_x

We investigated thermoelectric power $S(T)$ of MgB$_{2-x}$Be$_{x}$ ($x=0$, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.6). $S(T)$ decreases systematically with $x$, suggesting that the hole density increases. Our band calculation shows that the increase occurs in the $\sigma$-band. With the hole-doping, $T_{c}$ decreases. Implication of this phenomenon is discussed within the BCS framework. While the Mott formula explains only the linear part of $S(T)$ at low temperature, incorporation of electron-phonon interaction enables us to explain $S(T)$ over wide temperature range including the anomalous behavior at high temperature.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Effects of Al doping on the structural and electronic properties of Mg(1-x)Al(x)B2

We have studied the structural and electronic properties of Mg(1-x)Al(x)B2 within the Virtual Crystal Approximation (VCA) by means of first-principles total-energy calculations. Results for the lattice parameters, the electronic band structure, and the Fermi surface as a function of Al doping for 0<x<0.6 are presented. The ab initio VCA calculations are in excellent agreement with the experimentally observed change in the lattice parameters of Al doped MgB2. The calculations show that the Fermi surface associated with holes a the boron planes collapses gradually with aluminum doping and vanishes for x=0.56. In addition, an abrupt topological change in the sigma-band Fermi surface was found for x=0.3. The calculated hole density correlates closely with existing experimental data for Tc(x), indicating that the observed loss of superconductivity in Mg(1-x)Al(x)B2 is a result of hole bands filling.Comment: 4 pages (revtex) and 4 figures (postscript

A survey of the parameter space of the compressible liquid drop model as applied to the neutron star inner crust

We present a systematic survey the range of predictions of the neutron star inner crust composition, crust-core transition densities and pressures, and density range of the nuclear `pasta' phases at the bottom of the crust provided by the compressible liquid drop model in the light of current experimental and theoretical constraints on model parameters. Using a Skyrme-like model for nuclear matter, we construct baseline sequences of crust models by consistently varying the density dependence of the bulk symmetry energy at nuclear saturation density, $L$, under two conditions: (i) that the magnitude of the symmetry energy at saturation density $J$ is held constant, and (ii) $J$ correlates with $L$ under the constraint that the pure neutron matter (PNM) EoS satisfies the results of ab-initio calculations at low densities. Such baseline crust models facilitate consistent exploration of the $L$ dependence of crustal properties. The remaining surface energy and symmetric nuclear matter parameters are systematically varied around the baseline, and different functional forms of the PNM EoS at sub-saturation densities implemented, to estimate theoretical `error bars' for the baseline predictions. Inner crust composition and transition densities are shown to be most sensitive to the surface energy at very low proton fractions and to the behavior of the sub-saturation PNM EoS. Recent calculations of the energies of neutron drops suggest that the low-proton-fraction surface energy might be higher than predicted in Skyrme-like models, which our study suggests may result in a greatly reduced volume of pasta in the crust than conventionally predicted.Comment: 37 Pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Supplement Serie

Upper limits on the observational effects of nuclear pasta in neutron stars

The effects of the existence of exotic nuclear shapes at the bottom of the neutron star inner crust - nuclear `pasta' - on observational phenomena are estimated by comparing the limiting cases that those phases have a vanishing shear modulus and that they have the shear modulus of a crystalline solid . We estimate the effect on torsional crustal vibrations and on the maximum quadrupole ellipticity sustainable by the crust. The crust composition and transition densities are calculated consistently with the global properties, using a liquid drop model with a bulk nuclear equation of state (EoS) which allows a systematic variation of the nuclear symmetry energy. The symmetry energy J and its density dependence L at nuclear saturation density are the dominant nuclear inputs which determine the thickness of the crust, the range of densities at which pasta might appear, as well as global properties such as the radius and moment of inertia. We show the importance of calculating the global neutron star properties on the same footing as the crust EoS, and demonstrate that in the range of experimentally acceptable values of L, the pasta phase can alter the crust frequencies by up to a factor of three, exceeding the effects of superfluidity on the crust modes, and decrease the maximum quadrupole ellipticity sustainable by the crust by up to an order of magnitude. The signature of the pasta phases and the density dependence of the symmetry energy on the potential observables highlights the possibility of constraining the EoS of dense, neutron-rich matter and the properties of the pasta phases using astrophysical observations.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Societ

A magnetization and 11^{11}B NMR study of Mg1−x_{1-x}Alx_xB2_2 superconductors

We demonstrate for the first time the magnetic field distribution of the pure vortex state in lightly doped Mg$_{1-x}$Al$_x$B$_2$ ($x\leq 0.025$) powder samples, by using $^{11}$B NMR in magnetic fields of 23.5 and 47 kOe. The magnetic field distribution at T=5 K is Al-doping dependent, revealing a considerable decrease of anisotropy in respect to pure MgB$_2$. This result correlates nicely with magnetization measurements and is consistent with $\sigma$-band hole driven superconductivity for MgB$_2$

Superconductivity in a layered cobalt oxyhydrate Na0.31_{0.31}CoO2⋅_{2}\cdot1.3H2_{2}O

We report the electrical, magnetic and thermal measurements on a layered cobalt oxyhydrate Na$_{0.31}$CoO$_{2}\cdot$1.3H$_{2}$O. Bulk superconductivity at 4.3 K has been confirmed, however, the measured superconducting fraction is relatively low probably due to the sample's intrinsic two-dimensional characteristic. The compound exhibits weak-coupled and extreme type-II superconductivity with the average energy gap $\Delta_{a}(0)$ and the Ginzburg-Landau parameter $\kappa$ of $\sim$ 0.50 meV and $\sim$ 140, respectively. The normalized electronic specific heat data in the superconducting state well fit the $T^{3}$ dependence, suggesting point nodes for the superconducting gap structure.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Electronic structure of MgB2_2: X-ray emission and absorption studies

Measurements of x-ray emission and absorption spectra of the constituents of MgB$_2$ are presented. The results obtained are in good agreement with calculated x-ray spectra, with dipole matrix elements taken into account. The comparison of x-ray emission spectra of graphite, AlB$_2$, and MgB$_2$ in the binding energy scale supports the idea of charge transfer from $\sigma$ to $\pi$ bands, which creates holes at the top of the bonding $\sigma$ bands and drives the high-T$_c$Comment: final version as published in PR