Anisotropic magnetoresistive properties of La_{1-x}Ca_{x}MnO_{3} (x \approx 1/3) film at temperatures far below the Curie temperature

A sharp distinction between magnetoresistance (MR) behavior for the magnetic fields applied perpendicular (H_{perp}) and parallel (H_{par}) to the film plane is found in colossal-magnetoresistance film La_{1-x}Ca_{x}MnO_{3} (x \approx 3). At increasing of H_{perp} the MR is first negative (at H_{perp} < 4 kOe), then positive (4 kOe < H_{perp} < 12 kOe), and then negative again (H_{perp} > 12 kOe). At increasing of H_{par} the MR is positive below H_{par} \simeq 6 kOe and negative above it. In both cases the magnetic field was perpendicular to the current. The anisotropic behavior of this kind occurs only at low temperatures (T < 18 K) and is quite different from the results of previous studies.Comment: 2 pages,2 EPS figures, LT22 Proceedings, to appear in Physica

Observation of anisotropic effect of antiferromagnetic ordering on the superconducting gap in ErNi₂B₂C

The point-contact spectra of the Andreev reflection dV / dI curves of the superconducting rare-earth nickel borocarbide ErNi₂B₂C (Tc≈11K) have been analyzed in the «one-gap» and «two-gap» approximations using the generalized Blonder–Tinkham–Klapwijk model and the Beloborod'ko model allowing for the pair-breaking effect of magnetic impurities. Experimental and calculated curves have been compared not only in shape, but in magnitude as well, which provide more reliable data for determining the temperature dependence of the energy gap (or superconducting order parameter) Δ(T). The anisotropic effect of antiferromagnetic ordering at TN≈6K on the superconducting gap/order parameter has been determined: as the temperature is lowered, Δ decreases by∼25% in the c-direction and only by∼4% in the ab-plane. It is found that the pair-breaking parameter increases in the vicinity of the magnetic transitions, the increase being more pronounced in the c-direction. The efficiency of the models was tested for providing Δ(T) data for ErNi₂B₂C from Andreev reflection spectra

Investigation of the superconducting energy gap in the compound LuNi₂B₂C by the method of point contact spectroscopy: two-gap approximation

It is shown that the two-gap approximation is applicable for describing the dV/dI(V) spectra of LuNi₂B₂C–Ag point contacts in a wide interval of temperatures. The values and the temperature dependences of the large and the small gaps in the ab plane and in the c direction were estimated using the generalized BTK model [A. Plecenik, M. Grajacar, S. Benacka P. Seidel, A. Pfuch, Phys. Rev. B49, 10016 (1994)]] and the equations of [S.I. Beloborodko, Fiz. Nizk. Temp. 29, 868 (2003) [Low Temp. Phys. 29, 650 (2003)]. In the BCS extrapolation the critical temperature of the small gap is 10 K in the ab plane and 14.5 K in the c direction. The absolute values of the gaps are ∆₀ab = 2.16 meV and ∆₀с = 1.94 meV. For the large gaps the critical temperature Tc coincides with the bulk, Tc = 16.8 K, and their absolute values are very close, being about 3 meV in both orientations. In the c direction the contributions to the conductivity from the small and the large gaps remain practically identical up to 10–11 K. In the ab plane the contribution from the small gap is much smaller and decreases rapidly as a temperature rises

Hysteresis and stepwise structure in MR curves of granular superconducting ruthenocuprates RuSr2_2(Gd1.5_{1.5}Ce0.5)_{0.5})Cu2_2O10−δ_{10-\delta}}

Granular superconductivity effects in a polycrystalline sample of ruthenocuprate RuSr$_2$(Gd$_{1.5}$Ce$_{0.5})$Cu$_2$O$_{10-\delta}$ are studied. The main attention has been devoted to manifestation of these effects in current and magnetic-field dependences of resistive transition to superconducting state. It is found that current dependences of differential resistance taken at different temperatures intersect strictly at two definite values of current demonstrating crossing point effect. This phenomenon has been explained taking into account inhomogeneous state of intergrain medium which can be considered as a two-component system. The particular attention has been given to magnetoresistance (MR) hysteresis in mixed state of this inhomogeneous system and to influence of applied current and temperature on this phenomenon. Two types of hysteresis (clockwise and anticlockwise) have been found with transition from clockwise to anticlockwise hysteresis with increasing temperature. Stepwise structure in MR hysteretic curves has been observed in low-field range. Possible reasons of the change in hysteresis behavior with increasing temperature and appearance of the stepwise structure in MR curves are discussed taking into consideration inhomogeneous state of the granular superconductor studied.Comment: 31 pages, 13 figure

Extrinsic inhomogeneity effects in magnetic, transport and magnetoresistive properties of La_{1-x}Ca_{x}MnO_{3} (x\approx 0.33) crystal prepared by the floating zone method

The paper describes a study of the magnetic, transport and magnetoresistive properties of La_{1-x}Ca_{x}MnO_{3} (x\approx 0.33) crystals prepared by the floating-zone method. We found that these properties testify to rather good crystal perfection of the sample studied. In particular, a huge magnetoresistance ([R(0)-R(H)]/R(H) in the field H = 5 T is about 2680 %) is found near the Curie temperature (216 K). At the same time, some distinct features of measured properties indicate the influence of extrinsic inhomogeneities arising due to technological factors in the sample preparation. Analysis of the data obtained shows that these are rare grain boundaries and twins. Specific influence of the grain-boundary-like inhomogeneities on the transport and magnetoresistive properties are considered.Comment: Submitted to Physica

HALL EFFECT IN AMORPHOUS La0.8Ga0.2

On a mesuré le coefficient de Hall de l'alliage amorphe La 0,8Ga0,2, aux températures de l'hélium liquide, de l'azote liquide, et à température ambiante. RH vaire entre + 8,9 à température ambiante et + 11 à 4,2 K en unités 10-11 m3/As. Ces valeurs de RH sont en accord avec la valeur publiée de + 6,15 pour le métal liquide pur au contraire de la valeur publiée de -8,0 pour le La. (dhcp) cristallin.The Hall coefficient for the amorphous transition metal alloy La 8Ga2 has been measured at LHe, LN2 and room temperatures. RH varies from + 8.9 at room temperature to + 11 at 4.2 K in units of 10-11 m3/As. The values of RH are consistent with the literature value for the pure liquid metal in contrast to the literature value of -8.0 for crystalline dhcp La

Exchange interaction and magnetoresistance in La₂/₃Ca₁/₃MnO₃ : experiment and models

The magnetization M(T) and electrical resistivity ρ(T) of a La₂/₃Ca₁/₃MnO₃ film have been studied in the temperature range 5 K⩽T⩽320 K in the magnetic field intervals 10 Oe⩽H⩽400 Oe and 0⩽H⩽50 kOe, respectively. It is found that the M(T)/M(0) value is larger than that predicted by the conventional molecular field model below the Curie point T=267 K, and that the ln ρ(T) dependence is close to linear in the temperature range 80 K<T<200 K (accordingly, ∂ ln ρ/∂T is constant in this region). A model of the electrical conductivity and magnetoresistivity of the system describing qualitatively the experimental results is proposed (the Δmτ model). The model includes a thermally activated (with characteristic energy Δ) mechanism of conductivity, dependence of the concentration and the effective mass (m) of the itinerant charge carriers on the magnetization, as well as scattering (with characteristic time τ) of the charge carriers by static breakings of the translational symmetry, thermal fluctuations of the magnetic order, and phonons