Stray field and superconducting surface spin valve effect in La0.7_{0.7}Ca0.3_{0.3}MnO3_3/YBa2_2Cu3_3O7−δ_{7-\delta} bilayers

Electronic transport and magnetization measurements were performed on La$_{0.7}$Ca$_{0.3}$MnO$_3$/YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ (LCMO/YBCO) bilayers below the superconducting transition temperature in order to study the interaction between magnetism and superconductivity. This study shows that a substantial number of weakly pinned vortices are induced in the YBCO layer by the large out-of-plane stray field in the domain walls. Their motion gives rise to large dissipation peaks at the coercive field. The angular dependent magnetoresistance (MR) data reveal the interaction between the stripe domain structure present in the LCMO layer and the vortices and anti-vortices induced in the YBCO layer by the out-of-plane stray field. In addition, this study shows that a superconducting surface spin valve effect is present in these bilayers as a result of the relative orientation between the magnetization at the LCMO/YBCO interface and the magnetization in the interior of the LCMO layer that can be tuned by the rotation of a small $H$. This latter finding will facilitate the development of superconductive magnetoresistive memory devices. These low-magnetic field MR data, furthermore, suggest that triplet superconductivity is induced in the LCMO layer, which is consistent with recent reports of triplet superconductivity in LCMO/YBCO/LCMO trilayers and LCMO/YBCO bilayers.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figure

Anomalous Paramagnetic Magnetization in Mixed State of CeCoIn5_5 single crystals

Magnetization and torque measurements were performed on CeCoIn$_5$ single crystals to study the mixed-state thermodynamics. These measurements allow the determination of both paramagnetic and vortex responses in the mixed-state magnetization. The paramagnetic magnetization is suppressed in the mixed state with the spin susceptibility increasing with increasing magnetic field. The dependence of spin susceptibility on magnetic field is due to the fact that heavy electrons contribute both to superconductivity and paramagnetism and a large Zeeman effect exists in this system. No anomaly in the vortex response was found within the investigated temperature and field range

Pairing Symmetry of CeCoIn5_5 Detected by In-plane Torque Measurements

In-plane torque measurements were performed on heavy fermion CeCoIn$_5$ single crystals in the temperature $T$ range 1.8 K $\leq T \leq 10$ K and applied magnetic field $H$ up to 14 T. The normal-state torque is given by $\tau_n \propto H^4(1+T/T_K)^{-1}\sin 4\phi$. The reversible part of the mixed-state torque, obtained after subtracting the corresponding normal state torque, shows also a four-fold symmetry. In addition, sharp peaks are present in the irreversible torque at angles of $\pi/$4, 3$\pi$/4, 5$\pi$/4, 7$\pi$/4, etc. Both the four-fold symmetry in the reversible torque and the sharp peaks in the irreversible torque of the mixed state imply $d_{xy}$ symmetry of the superconducting order parameter. The field and temperature dependences of the reversible mixed-state torque provide further evidence for $d_{xy}$ wave symmetry. The four-fold symmetry in the normal state has a different origin since it has different field and temperature dependences than the one in the mixed state. The possible reasons of the normal state four-fold symmetry are discussed

Orbital and Pauli limiting effects in heavily doped Ba1−x_{1-x}Kx_xFe2_2As2_2

We investigated the thermodynamic properties of the Fe-based lightly disordered superconductor Ba$_{0.05}$K$_{0.95}$Fe$_2$As$_2$ in external magnetic field H applied along the FeAs layers (H//ab planes). The superconducting (SC) transition temperature for this doping level is T$_c$ = 6.6 K. Our analysis of the specific heat C(T,H) measured for T < T$_c$ implies a sign change of the superconducting order parameter across different Fermi pockets. We provide experimental evidence for the three components superconducting order parameter. We find that all three components have values which are comparable with the previously reported ones for the stochiometric compound KFe$_2$As$_2$. Our data for C(T,H) and resistivity rho(T,H) can be interpreted in favor of the dominant orbital contribution to the pair-breaking mechanism at low fields, while Pauli limiting effect dominates at high fields, giving rise to a gapless superconducting state with only the leading non-zero gap.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Strong magnetic fluctuations in superconducting state of CeCoIn5_5

We show results on the vortex core dissipation through current-voltage measurements under applied pressure and magnetic field in the superconducting phase of CeCoIn$_5$. We find that as soon as the system becomes superconducting, the vortex core resistivity increases sharply as the temperature and magnetic field decrease. The sharp increase in flux flow resistivity is due to quasiparticle scattering on critical antiferromagnetic fluctuations. The strength of magnetic fluctuations below the superconducting transition suggests that magnetism is complimentary to superconductivity and therefore must be considered in order to fully account for the low-temperature properties of CeCoIn$_5$.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure