Pressure-induced lattice instabilities and superconductivity in YBa2Cu4O8 and optimally doped YBa2Cu3O7-{\delta}

Combined synchrotron angle-dispersive powder diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy are used to investigate the pressure-induced lattice instabilities that are accompanied by T$_{\rm c}$ anomalies in YBa$_{\rm 2}$Cu$_{\rm 4}$O$_{\rm 8}$, in comparison with the optimally doped YBa$_{\rm 2}$Cu$_{\rm 3}$O$_{\rm 7-\delta}$ and the non-superconducting PrBa$_{\rm 2}$Cu$_{\rm 3}$O$_{\rm 6.92}$. In the first two superconducting systems there is a clear anomaly in the evolution of the lattice parameters and an increase of lattice disorder with pressure, that starts at $\approx3.7 GPa$ as well as irreversibility that induces a hysteresis. On the contrary, in the Pr-compound the lattice parameters follow very well the expected equation of state (EOS) up to 7 GPa. In complete agreement with the structural data, the micro-Raman data of the superconducting compounds show that the energy and width of the A$_{\rm g}$ phonons show anomalies at the same pressure range where the lattice parameters deviate from the EOS and the average Cu2-O$_{pl}$ bond length exhibits a strong contraction and correlate with the non-linear pressure dependence of T$_{\rm c}$. This is not the case for the non superconducting Pr sample, clearly indicating a connection with the charge carriers. It appears that the cuprates close to optimal doping are at the edge of lattice instability.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Lattice effects in the La2−x_{\rm 2-x}Srx_{\rm x}CuO4_{\rm 4} compounds

Systematic Raman studies on several cuprates (YBa$_{\rm 2}$Cu$_{\rm 3}$O$_{\rm x}$, YBa$_{\rm 2}$Cu$_{\rm 4}$O$_{\rm 8}$ or Bi$_{\rm 2}$Sr$_{\rm 2}$CaCu$_{\rm 2}$O$_{\rm 8}$) have shown that at optimal doping the compounds are at the edge of lattice instability; once this level is exceeded, by means of doping or applying external hydrostatic pressure, the changes in the transition temperature are accompanied by spectral modifications. There are strong indications that the reduction in T$_{\rm c}$ is correlated with a separation into nanoscale phases, which involve the oxygen atoms of the CuO$_{\rm 2}$ planes. In this work, modifications with doping in the Raman spectra of the La$_{\rm 2-x}$Sr$_{\rm x}$CuO$_{\rm 4}$ compound are presented, which show that spin or charge ordering is coupled with lattice distortions in the whole doping region.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

Lattice anomalies in the FeAs4_{\rm 4} tetrahedra of the NdFeAsO0.85_{\rm 0.85} superconductor that disappear at Tc_{\rm c}

High resolution synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction (SXRPD) was used to study the temperature dependence of the oxygen deficient NdFeAsO$_{0.85}$ superconducting compound. By employing a dense temperature sampling we have managed to reveal unnoticed structural modifications that start around $\sim$180K, and disappear at the transition temperature. The data show minor changes of the structural characteristics in the Nd-O charge reservoir layer while in the superconducting Fe-As layer the FeAs$_{4}$ tetrahedron shows gradual modifications below $\sim$180K, which suddenly disappear at T$_{\rm c}$ strongly indicating a connection with superconductivity.Comment: 4 pages, 1 table, 5 figure

Pressure induced lattice instability and phase separation in the cuprates

High pressure structural studies using a synchrotron source and Raman measurements on various cuprates reveal several structural modifications. The data have shown strong deviations from the normal equation of state at characteristic pressures, hysteresis, and the appearance of additional peaks that can be attributed to a new phase. The combined data of synchrotron angle-dispersive experiments with the optical measurements indicate that at some critical pressures, at least for certain compounds, non-linear effects are observed together with phase separation that affect the distribution of the carriers and the transition temperature. The comparison of the data with those induced by an internal pressure by an atomic substitution indicates that the effect is related to the existence of carriers within the CuO2 superconducting planes. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd

Pressure induced lattice instability and phase separation in the cuprates

International audienceHigh pressure structural studies using a synchrotron source and Raman measurements on various cuprates reveal several structural modifications. The data have shown strong deviations from the normal equation of state at characteristic pressures, hysteresis, and the appearance of additional peaks that can be attributed to a new phase. The combined data of synchrotron angle-dispersive experiments with the optical measurements indicate that at some critical pressures, at least for certain compounds, non-linear effects are observed together with phase separation that affect the distribution of the carriers and the transition temperature. The comparison of the data with those induced by an internal pressure by an atomic substitution indicates that the effect is related to the existence of carriers within the CuO superconducting planes