1,200 research outputs found

    Directional pinning and anisotropy in YBa2Cu3O7-x with BaZrO3 nanorods: intrinsic and nanorods-induced anisotropy

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    We present a study of the anisotropic vortex parameters as obtained from measurements of the microwave complex resistivity in the vortex state with a tilted applied magnetic field in YBa2Cu3O7-x thin films with BaZrO3 nanorods. We present the angular dependence of the vortex viscosity η\eta, the pinning constant k_p and the upper limit for the creep factor \chi_M. We show that the directional effect of the nanorods is absent in \eta, which is dictated by the mass anisotropy \gamma. By contrast, pinning-mediated properties are strongly affected by the nanorods. It is significant that the pinning and creep affected by the nanorods is detectable also at our very high operating frequency, which implies very short-range displacements of the vortices from their equilibrium position.Comment: Proceedings of VORTEX VIII Conference, to be published in Physica

    Strong reduction of field-dependent microwave surface resistance in YBa2_{2}Cu3_{3}O7δ_{7-\delta} with sub-micrometric BaZrO3_3 inclusions

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    We observe a strong reduction of the field induced thin film surface resistance measured at high microwave frequency (ν=\nu=47.7 GHz) in YBa2_{2}Cu3_{3}O7δ_{7-\delta} thin films grown on SrTiO3_3 substrates, as a consequence of the introduction of sub-micrometric BaZrO3_3 particles. The field increase of the surface resistance is smaller by a factor of \sim3 in the film with BaZrO3_3 inclusions, while the zero-field properties are not much affected. Combining surface resistance and surface reactance data we conclude (a) that BaZrO3_3 inclusions determine very deep and steep pinning wells and (b) that the pinning changes nature with respect to the pure film.Comment: RevTeX; 4 pages, 3 figures; submitted to Applied Physics Letter

    Reduction of the field-dependent microwave surface resistance in YBa_2Cu_3O_7 with sub-micrometric BaZrO_3 inclusions as a function of BaZrO_3 concentration

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    In order to study the vortex pinning determined by artificially introduced pinning centers in the small-vortex displacement regime, we measured the microwave surface impedance at 47.7 GHz in the mixed state of YBa2_{2}Cu3_{3}O7δ_{7-\delta} thin films, where sub-micrometric BaZrO3_3 particles have been incorporated. As a function of the BaZrO3_3 content, we observe that the absolute losses slightly decrease up to a BaZrO3_3 content of 5%, and then increase. We found that the magnetic-field-induced losses behave differently, in that they are not monotonic with increasing BaZrO3_3 concentration: at small concentration (2.5%) the field-induced losses increase, but large reduction of the losses themselves, by factors up to 3, is observed upon further increasing the BaZrO3_3 concentration in the target up to 7%. Using measurements of both surface resistance and surface reactance we estimate vortex pinning-related parameters. We find that BaZrO3_3 inclusions introduce deep and steep pinning wells. In particular, the minimum height of the energy barrier for single vortices is raised. At larger BaZrO3_3 content (5% and 7%) the phenomenon is at its maximum, but it is unclear whether it shows a saturation or not, thus leaving room for further improvements.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

    Anisotropy and directional pinning in YBaCuO with BaZrO3 nanorods

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    Measurements of anisotropic transport properties (dc and high-frequency regime) of driven vortex matter in YBa2_2Cu3_3O7x_{7-x} with elongated strong-pinning sites (c-axis aligned, self-assembled BaZrO3_3 nanorods) are used to demonstrate that the effective-mass angular scaling takes place only in intrinsic physical quantities (flux-flow resistivity), and not in pinning-related Labusch parameter and critical currents. Comparison of the dynamics at different time scales shows evidence for a transition of the vortex matter toward a Mott phase, driven by the presence of nanorods. The strong pinning in dc arises partially from a dynamic effect.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication on Applied Physics Letters. With respect to v1: changed title, slightly shortene

    Strong Reduction of the Field-Dependent Microwave Surface Resistance in YBCO with BaZrO_3 Inclusions

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    We present measurements of the magnetic field dependent microwave surface resistance in laser-ablated YBa2_2Cu3_3O7δ_{7-\delta} films on SrTiO3_3 substrates. BaZrO3_3 crystallites were included in the films using composite targets containing BaZrO3_3 inclusions with mean grain size smaller than 1 μ\mum. X-ray diffraction showed single epitaxial relationship between BaZrO3_3 and YBa2_2Cu3_3O7δ_{7-\delta}. The effective surface resistance was measured at 47.7 GHz for 60<T<< T <90 K and 0<μ0H<< \mu_0H <0.8 T. The magnetic field had a very different effect on pristine YBa2_2Cu3_3O7δ_{7-\delta} and YBa2_2Cu3_3O7δ_{7-\delta}/BaZrO3_3, while for μ0H=\mu_0H=0 only a reduction of TcT_c in the YBa2_2Cu3_3O7δ_{7-\delta}/BaZrO3_3 film was observed, consistent with dc measurements. At low enough TT, in moderate fields YBa2_2Cu3_3O7δ_{7-\delta}/BaZrO3_3 exhibited an intrinsic thin film resistance lower than the pure film. The results clearly indicate that BaZrO3_3 inclusions determine a strong reduction of the field-dependent surface resistance. From the analysis of the data in the framework of simple models for the microwave surface impedance in the mixed state we argue that BaZrO3_3 inclusions determine very steep pinning potentials.Comment: LaTeX, 6 pages, 4 figures, uses jpconf.cls and jpconf11.clo class files, talk given at EUCAS 2007, submitted to J. Phys.: Conf. Serie

    Effect of nanosize BaZrO3 inclusions on vortex parameters in YBaCuO

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    We report on the field dependence of the microwave complex resistivity data in YBa2_2Cu3_3O7x_{7-x}/BaZrO3_3 films grown by PLD at various BaZrO3_3 content. The data, analyzed within a recently developed general framework for the mixed-state microwave response of superconductors, yield the field dependence of the fluxon parameters such as the vortex viscosity and the pinning constant. We find that pinning undergoes a change of regime when the BaZrO3_3 content in the target increases from 2.5 mol.% to 5 mol.%. Simultaneously, the vortex viscosity becomes an increasing function of the applied magnetic field. We propose a scenario in which flux lines are pinned as bundles, and a crossover from dilute point pins to dense c-axis correlated defects takes place between 2.5 and 5 mol.% in the BZO concentration. Our data are inconsistent with vortices occupying mainly the BaZrO3_3 sites at low fields, and suggest instead that vortices occupy both BaZrO3_3 sites and interstitials in the YBa2_2Cu3_3O7x_{7-x} matrix, even at low fields.Comment: Presented at EUCAS 2009, to be published in J. Phys.:Conf. Serie

    Testing macroecological hypotheses in sandy beach populations: the wedge clam Donax hanleyanus in South America

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    Large-scale spatial and temporal variability in environmental conditions may result in differences in life-history traits, population demography, and abundance of sandy-beach species. We analyzed the effects of salinity, chlorophyll a (chl a), and sea surface temperature (SST) on population parameters of the wedge clam Donax hanleyanus from 75 South American sandy beaches covering a 15° latitudinal range. Generalized modeling results showed that betweenbeach differences in abundance, population structure, growth performance, productivity, mortality, and individual shell mass were mainly explained by salinity fluctuations, with chl a and SST as secondary contributors, overriding, in most cases, local habitat features (Dean's parameter, grain size, slope). Our results provide valuable insights into macroscale ecological processes, setting a basis to delineate conservation guidelines at large spatial scales that respond to the potential effects of climate variability and change on sandy beach populations.Fil: Risoli, María Cielo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Piola, Alberto Ricardo. Ministerio de Defensa. Armada Argentina. Servicio de Hidrografía Naval; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Defeo, O.. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias; UruguayFil: Luzzatto, Diego. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales; ArgentinaFil: Celentano, E.. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias; UruguayFil: Lomovasky, Betina Judith. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Subsede Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero; Argentin
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