2,152 research outputs found
Superconductivity in WO2.6F0.4 synthesized by reaction of WO3 with Teflon
WO3-xFx (x < 0.45) perovskite-like oxyfluorides were prepared by a chemically
reducing fluorination route using the polymer polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon).
The symmetry of the crystal structures of WO3-xFx changes from monoclinic to
tetragonal to cubic as the fluorine content increases. Fluorine doping changes
insulating WO3 to a metallic conductor, and superconductivity (Tc = 0.4 K) was
discovered in the samples with fluorine contents of 0.41 < x < 0.45. This easy
fluorination method may be applicable to other systems and presents an
opportunity for finding new oxyfluoride superconductors.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables. To be published in Phys Rev
Insights on star formation histories and physical properties of Herschel-detected galaxies
We test the impact of using variable star forming histories (SFHs) and the
use of the IR luminosity (LIR) as a constrain on the physical parameters of
high redshift dusty star-forming galaxies. We explore in particular the stellar
properties of galaxies in relation with their location on the SFR-M* diagram.
We perform SED fitting of the UV-NIR and FIR emissions of a large sample of
GOODS-Herschel galaxies, for which rich multi-wavelength observations are
available. We test different SFHs and imposing energy conservation in the SED
fitting process, to face issues like the age-extinction degeneracy and produce
SEDs consistent with observations. Our models work well for the majority of the
sample, with the notable exception of the high LIR end, for which we have
indications that our simple energy conservation approach cannot hold true. We
find trends in the SFHs fitting our sources depending on stellar mass M* and z.
Trends also emerge in the characteristic timescales of the SED models depending
on the location on the SFR-M* diagram. We show that whilst using the same
available observational data, we can produce galaxies less star-forming than
usually inferred, if we allow declining SFHs, while properly reproducing their
observables. These sources can be post-starbursts undergoing quenching, and
their SFRs are potentially overestimated if inferred from their LIR. Fitting
without the IR constrain leads to a strong preference for declining SFHs, while
its inclusion increases the preference of rising SFHs, more so at high z, in
tentative agreement with the cosmic star formation history. Keeping in mind
that the sample is biased towards high LIR, the evolution shaped by our model
appears as both bursty (initially) and steady-lasting (later on). The global
SFH of the sample follows the cosmic SFH with a small scatter, and is
compatible with the "downsizing" scenario of galaxy evolution.Comment: 28 pages, 26 figures, one appendix, Accepted for publication in
Astronomy & Astrophysic
Evolution of magnetic fluctuations through the Fe-induced paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition in CrB
In itinerant ferromagnets, the quenched disorder is predicted to dramatically
affect the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic quantum phase transition driven by
external control parameters at zero temperature. Here we report a study on
Fe-doped CrB, which, starting from the paramagnetic parent, orders
ferromagnetically for Fe-doping concentrations larger than \%. In parent CrB, B nuclear magnetic resonance data reveal
the presence of both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic fluctuations. The
latter are suppressed with Fe-doping, before the ferromagnetic ones finally
prevail for . Indications for non-Fermi liquid behavior, usually
associated with the proximity of a quantum critical point, were found for all
samples, including undoped CrB. The sharpness of the ferromagnetic-like
transition changes on moving away from , indicating significant
changes in the nature of the magnetic transitions in the vicinity of the
quantum critical point. Our data provide constraints for understanding quantum
phase transitions in itinerant ferromagnets in the limit of weak quenched
disorder.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure
Superconductivity and Electronic Structure of Perovskite MgCNi3
The electronic structure, stability, electron phonon coupling and
superconductivity of the non-oxide perovskite MgCNi are studied using
density functional calculations. The band structure is dominated by a Ni
derived density of states peak just below the Fermi energy, which leads to a
moderate Stoner enhancement, placing MgCNi in the range where spin
fluctuations may noticeably affect transport, specific heat and
superconductivity, providing a mechanism for reconciling various measures of
the coupling . Strong electron phonon interactions are found for the
octahedral rotation mode and may exist for other bond angle bending modes. The
Fermi surface contains nearly cancelling hole and electron sheets that give
unusual behavior of transport quantities particularly the thermopower. The
results are discussed in relation to the superconductivity of MgCNi.Comment: 4 pages, RevTex, 5 ps figure
Crystal Structure and Chemistry of Topological Insulators
Topological surface states, a new kind of electronic state of matter, have
recently been observed on the cleaved surfaces of crystals of a handful of
small band gap semiconductors. The underlying chemical factors that enable
these states are crystal symmetry, the presence of strong spin orbit coupling,
and an inversion of the energies of the bulk electronic states that normally
contribute to the valence and conduction bands. The goals of this review are to
briefly introduce the physics of topological insulators to a chemical audience
and to describe the chemistry, defect chemistry, and crystal structures of the
compounds in this emergent field.Comment: Submitted to Journal of Materials Chemistry, 47 double spaced pages,
9 figure
Emergence of Fermi pockets in an excitonic CDW melted novel superconductor
A superconducting (SC) state (Tc ~ 4.2K) has very recently been observed upon
successful doping of the CDW ordered triangular lattice TiSe, with copper.
Using high resolution photoemission spectroscopy we identify, for the first
time, the momentum space locations of the doped electrons that form the Fermi
sea of the parent superconductor. With doping, we find that the kinematic
nesting volume increases whereas the coherence of the CDW order sharply drops.
In the superconducting doping, we observe the emergence of a large density of
states in the form of a narrow electron pocket near the \textit{L}-point of the
Brillouin Zone with \textit{d}-like character. The \textit{k}-space electron
distributions highlight the unconventional interplay of CDW to SC cross-over
achieved through non-magnetic copper doping.Comment: 4+ pages, 5 figures; Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Lett.
(2007
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