Phonon lineshapes in the vortex state of the phonon-mediated superconductor YNi2_2B2_2C

We present an inelastic neutron scattering study of phonon lineshapes in the vortex state of the type-II superconductor YNi$_2$B$_2$C. In a previous study [Phys. Rev. Lett. \textbf{101}, 237002 (2008)] it was shown that certain phonons exhibit a clear signature of the superconducting gap $2\Delta$ on entering the superconducting state. Our interest was to find out whether or not the lineshape of such phonons reflects the inhomogeneous nature of the vortex state induced by a magnetic field smaller than the upper critical field $B_{c2}$ .We found that this is indeed the case because the observed phonon lineshapes can be well described by a model considering the phonon as a local probe of the spatial variation of the superconducting gap. We found that even at $B=3\,\rm{T}$, where the inter-vortex distance is less than $300\,$\AA, the phonon lineshape still shows evidence for a variation of the gap

Magnon Bose condensation in symmetry breaking magnetic field

Magnon Bose condensation (BC)in the symmetry breaking magnetic field is a result of unusual form of the Zeeman energy, which has terms linear in the spin-wave operators and terms mixing excitations differ in the Wave-vector of the magnetic structure. The following examples are considered: simple easy-plane tetragonal antiferromagnets (AF), frustrated AF family$R_2Cu O_4$ where $R=Pr,Nd$ etc. and cubic magnets with the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction ($Mn Si$ etc.). In all cases the BC becomes important when the magnetic field becomes comparable with the spin-wave gap. The theory is illustrated by existing experimental results.Comment: Submitted to J. of Phys. Condens. Matter (Proceedings of International Conference "Highly Frustrated Magnets", Osaka (Japan), August 2006). 8 pages, 5 figure

Hysteresis and Anisotropic Magnetoresistance in Antiferromagnetic Nd2−xCexCuO4Nd_{2-x}Ce_xCuO_{4}

The out-of-plane resistivity ($\rho_c$) and magnetoresistivity (MR) are studied in antiferromangetic (AF) $Nd_{2-x}Ce_xCuO_{4}$ single crystals, which have three types of noncollinear antiferromangetic spin structures. The apparent signatures are observed in $\rho_c(T)$ measured at the zero-field and 14 T at the spin structure transitions, giving a definite evidence for the itinerant electrons directly coupled to the localized spins. One of striking feature is an anisotropy of the MR with a fourfold symmetry upon rotating the external field (B) within ab plane in the different phases, while twofold symmetry at spin reorientation transition temperatures. The intriguing thermal hysteresis in $\rho_c(T,B)$ and magnetic hysteresis in MR are observed at spin reorientation transition temperatures.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Silicon resonant microcantilevers for absolute pressure measurement

This work is focused on the developing of silicon resonant microcantilevers for the measurement of the absolute pressure. The microcantilevers have been fabricated with a two-mask bulk micromachining process. The variation in resonance response of microcantilevers was investigated as a function of pressure 10−1-105 Pa, both in terms of resonance frequency and quality factor. A theoretical description of the resonating microstructure is given according to different molecular and viscous regimes. Also a brief discussion on the different quality factors contributions is presented. Theoretical and experimental data show a very satisfying agreement. The microstructure behavior demonstrates a certain sensitivity over a six decade range and the potential evolution of an absolute pressure sensor working in the same rang

Superexchange coupling and spin susceptibility spectral weight in undoped monolayer cuprates

A systematic inelastic neutron scattering study of the superexchange interaction in three different undoped monolayer cuprates (La_2CuO_4, Nd_2CuO_4 and Pr_2CuO_4) has been performed using conventional triple axis technique. We deduce the in-plane antiferromagnetic (AF) superexchange coupling $J$ which actually presents no simple relation versus crystallographic parameters. The absolute spectral weight of the spin susceptibility has been obtained and it is found to be smaller than expected even when quantum corrections of the AF ground state are taken into account.Comment: 13 pages, 1 table, 3 figure

Effect of a magnetic field on the long-range magnetic order in insulating Nd2CuO4, nonsuperconducting and superconducting Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4

We have measured the effect of a c-axis aligned magnetic field on the long-range magnetic order of insulating Nd2CuO4, as-grown nonsuperconducting and superconducting Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4. On cooling from room temperature, Nd2CuO4 goes through a series of antiferromagnetic (AF) phase transitions with different noncollinear spin structures. In all phases of Nd2CuO4, we find that the applied c-axis field induces a canting of the AF order but does not alter the basic zero-field noncollinear spin structures. Similar behavior is also found in as-grown nonsuperconducting Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4. These results contrast dramatically with those of superconducting Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4, where a c-axis aligned magnetic field induces a static, anomalously conducting, long-range ordered AF state. We confirm that the annealing process necessary to make superconducting Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4 also induces epitaxial, three-dimensional long-range ordered cubic (Nd,Ce)2O3 as an impurity phase. In addition, the annealing process makes a series of quasi two-dimensional superlattice reflections associated with lattice distortions of Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4 in the CuO2 plane. While the application of a magnetic field will induce a net moment in the impurity phase, we determine its magnitude and eliminate this as a possibility for the observed magnetic field-induced effect in superconducting Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev.

SUM_M(2)×\timesUC_C(1) Gauge Symmetry in High TcT_c Superconductivity

The square lattice structure of $CuO_2$ layers and the strongly correlated property of electrons indicate that the high $T_c$ superconductivity in cuprates can be described by a SO$_M$(5) coherent pairing state in which a SU$_M$(2)$\times$U$_C$(1) gauge symmetry is embedded. The spin and charge fluctuations that characterize the low energy magnetic excitations in cuprates are controlled by this intrinsic SU$_M$(2)$\times$U$_C$(1) gauge symmetry.Comment: 4 pages Revtex fil

SPIN CORRELATIONS IN THE INSULATING SPIN GLASS FexMg1-xCl2

Spin correlations have been studied in the dilute system FexMg1-xCl2 for x = 0.45 and x = 0.55 by neutron scattering. In Fe0.55Mg0.45Cl2, the correlation lengths ξ|| and ξ⊥ are found to decrease abruptly above 30 kG and reach at 50 kG values of 14 Å of the same order of magnitude as those of Fe0.45Mg0.55Cl2