521 research outputs found
Universal linear relations between susceptibility and Tc in cuprates
We developed an experimental method for measuring the intrinsic
susceptibility \chi of powder of cuprate superconductors in the zero field
limit using a DC-magnetometer. The method is tested with lead spheres. Using
this method we determine \chi for a number of cuprate families as a function of
doping. A universal linear (and not proportionality) relation between Tc and
\chi is found. We suggest possible explanations for this phenomenon.Comment: Accepted for publication in PR
Suppression of matching field effects by splay and pinning energy dispersion in YBa_2Cu_3O_7 with columnar defects
We report measurements of the irreversible magnetization M_i of a large
number of YBa_2Cu_3O_7 single crystals with columnar defects (CD). Some of them
exhibit a maximum in M_i when the density of vortices equals the density of
tracks, at temperatures above 40K. We show that the observation of these
matching field effects is constrained to those crystals where the orientational
and pinning energy dispersion of the CD system lies below a certain threshold.
The amount of such dispersion is determined by the mass and energy of the
irradiation ions, and by the crystal thickness. Time relaxation measurements
show that the matching effects are associated with a reduction of the creep
rate, and occur deep into the collective pinning regime.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
The Effect of Splayed Pins on Vortex Creep and Critical Currents
We study the effects of splayed columnar pins on the vortex motion using
realistic London Langevin simulations. At low currents vortex creep is strongly
suppressed, whereas the critical current j_c is enhanced only moderately.
Splaying the pins generates an increasing energy barrier against vortex
hopping, and leads to the forced entanglement of vortices, both of which
suppress creep efficiently. On the other hand splaying enhances kink nucleation
and introduces intersecting pins, which cut off the energy barriers. Thus the
j_c enhancement is strongly parameter sensitive. We also characterize the angle
dependence of j_c, and the effect of different splaying geometries.Comment: 4 figure
Stable ultrahigh-density magneto-optical recordings using introduced linear defects
The stability of data bits in magnetic recording media at ultrahigh densities
is compromised by thermal `flips' -- magnetic spin reversals -- of nano-sized
spin domains, which erase the stored information. Media that are magnetized
perpendicular to the plane of the film, such as ultrathin cobalt films or
multilayered structures, are more stable against thermal self-erasure than
conventional memory devices. In this context, magneto-optical memories seem
particularly promising for ultrahigh-density recording on portable disks, and
bit densities of 100 Gbit inch have been demonstrated using recent
advances in the bit writing and reading techniques. But the roughness and
mobility of the magnetic domain walls prevents closer packing of the magnetic
bits, and therefore presents a challenge to reaching even higher bit densities.
Here we report that the strain imposed by a linear defect in a magnetic thin
film can smooth rough domain walls over regions hundreds of micrometers in
size, and halt their motion. A scaling analysis of this process, based on the
generic physics of disorder-controlled elastic lines, points to a simple way by
which magnetic media might be prepared that can store data at densities in
excess of 1 Tbit inch.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, see also an article in TRN News at
http://www.trnmag.com/Stories/041801/Defects_boost_disc_capacity_041801.htm
Magnetocaloric Studies of the Peak Effect in Nb
We report a magnetocaloric study of the peak effect and Bragg glass
transition in a Nb single crystal. The thermomagnetic effects due to vortex
flow into and out of the sample are measured. The magnetocaloric signature of
the peak effect anomaly is identified. It is found that the peak effect
disappears in magnetocaloric measurements at fields significantly higher than
those reported in previous ac-susceptometry measurements. Investigation of the
superconducting to normal transition reveals that the disappearance of the bulk
peak effect is related to inhomogeneity broadening of the superconducting
transition. The emerging picture also explains the concurrent disappearance of
the peak effect and surface superconductivity, which was reported previously in
the sample under investigation. Based on our findings we discuss the
possibilities of multicriticality associated with the disappearance of the peak
effect.Comment: 30 pages, 10 figure
Quasiparticle spectroscopy and high-field phase diagrams of cuprate superconductors -- An investigation of competing orders and quantum criticality
We present scanning tunneling spectroscopic and high-field thermodynamic
studies of hole- and electron-doped (p- and n-type) cuprate superconductors.
Our experimental results are consistent with the notion that the ground state
of cuprates is in proximity to a quantum critical point (QCP) that separates a
pure superconducting (SC) phase from a phase comprised of coexisting SC and a
competing order, and the competing order is likely a spin-density wave (SDW).
The effect of applied magnetic field, tunneling current, and disorder on the
revelation of competing orders and on the low-energy excitations of the
cuprates is discussed.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in the International
Journal of Modern Physics B. (Correspondence author: Nai-Chang Yeh, e-mail:
[email protected]
Resistive state of superconducting structures with fractal clusters of a normal phase
The effect of morphologic factors on magnetic flux dynamics and critical
currents in percolative superconducting structures is considered. The
superconductor contains the fractal clusters of a normal phase, which act as
pinning centers. The properties of these clusters are analyzed in the general
case of gamma-distribution of their areas. The statistical characteristics of
the normal phase clusters are studied, the critical current distribution is
derived, and the dependencies of the main statistical parameters on the fractal
dimension are found. The effect of fractal clusters of a normal phase on the
electric field induced by the motion of the magnetic flux after the vortices
have been broken away from pinning centers is considered. The voltage-current
characteristics of fractal superconducting structures in a resistive state for
an arbitrary fractal dimension are obtained. It is found that the fractality of
the boundaries of normal phase clusters intensifies magnetic flux trapping and
thereby increases the current-carrying capability of the superconductor.Comment: 15 pages with 8 figures, revtex3, alternative e-mail of author is
[email protected]
Shape Changes of Self-Assembled Actin Bilayer Composite Membranes
We report the self-assembly of thin actin shells beneath the membranes of
giant vesicles. Ion-carrier mediated influx of Mg2+ induces actin
polymerization in the initially spherical vesicles. Buckling of the vesicles
and the formation of blisters after thermally induced bilayer expansion is
demonstrated. Bilayer flickering is dominated by tension generated by its
coupling to the actin cortex. Quantitative flicker analysis suggests the
bilayer and the actin cortex are separated by 0.4 \mum to 0.5 \mum due to
undulation forces.Comment: pdf-file, has been accepted by PR
Phase Diagram for Splay Glass Superconductivity
Localization of flux lines to splayed columnar pins is studied. A sine-Gordon
type renormalization group study reveals the existence of a Splay glass phase
and yields an analytic form for the transition temperature into the glass
phase. As an independent test, the characteristics are determined via a
Molecular Dynamics code. The glass transition temperature supports the RG
results convincingly. The full phase diagram of the model is constructed.Comment: 14 pages, uuencoded compressed tar file with 3 postscript figure
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