Magnetization Measurement of a Possible High-Temperature Superconducting State in Amorphous Carbon Doped with Sulfur

Magnetization M(T,H) measurements performed on thoroughly characterized commercial amorphous carbon powder doped with sulfur (AC-S), revealed the occurrence of an inhomogeneous superconductivity (SC) below T_c = 38 K. The constructed magnetic field-temperature (H-T) phase diagram resembles that of type-II superconductors. However, AC-S demonstrates a number of anomalies. In particular, we observed (1) a non-monotonic behavior of the lower critical field H_c1(T); (2) a pronounced positive curvature of the "upper critical field boundary" that we associated with the flux lattice melting line Hm(T); (3) a spontaneous ferromagnetic-like magnetization M0 coexisting with SC. Based on the analysis of experimental results we propose a nonstandard SC state in AC-S.Comment: 18 pages including 5 figure

The internal magnetic field in superconducting ferromagnets

We have measured the nonlinear response to the ac magnetic field in the superconducting weak ferromagnet Ru-1222, at different regimes of sample cooling which provides unambiguous evidence of the interplay of the domain structure and the vorticity in the superconducting state. This is {\em direct} proof of coexistence of ferromagnetic and superconductive order parameters in high-$T_c$ ruthenocuprates.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

Scanning tunneling spectroscopy of SmFeAsO0.85: Possible evidence for d-wave order parameter symmetry

We report a scanning tunneling spectroscopy investigation of polycrystalline SmFeAsO0.85 having a superconducting transition at 52 K. On large regions of the sample surface the tunneling spectra exhibited V-shaped gap structures with no coherence peaks, indicating degraded surface properties. In some regions, however, the coherence peaks were clearly observed, and the V-shaped gaps could be fit to the theory of tunneling into a d-wave superconductor, yielding gap values between 8 to 8.5 meV, corresponding to the ratio 2D/KTc ~ 3.55 - 3.8, which is slightly above the BCS weak-coupling prediction. In other regions the spectra exhibited zero-bias conductance peaks, consistent with a d-wave order parameter symmetry

The low-frequency response in the surface superconducting state of ZrB12_{12} single crystal}

The large nonlinear response of a single crystal ZrB$_{12}$ to an ac field (frequency 40 - 2500 Hz) for $H_0>H_{c2}$ has been observed. Direct measurements of the ac wave form and the exact numerical solution of the Ginzburg-Landau equations, as well as phenomenological relaxation equation, permit the study of the surface superconducting states dynamics. It is shown, that the low frequency response is defined by transitions between the metastable superconducting states under the action of an ac field. The relaxation rate which determines such transitions dynamics, is found.Comment: 7 pages, 11 figure

Annama H chondrite-Mineralogy, physical properties, cosmic ray exposure, and parent body history

The fall of the Annama meteorite occurred early morning (local time) on April 19, 2014 on the Kola Peninsula (Russia). Based on mineralogy and physical properties, Annama is a typical H chondrite. It has a high Ar-Ar age of 4.4 Ga. Its cosmic ray exposure history is atypical as it is not part of the large group of H chondrites with a prominent 7-8 Ma peak in the exposure age histograms. Instead, its exposure age is within uncertainty of a smaller peak at 30 +/- 4 Ma. The results from short-lived radionuclides are compatible with an atmospheric pre-entry radius of 30-40 cm. However, based on noble gas and cosmogenic radionuclide data, Annama must have been part of a larger body (radius >65 cm) for a large part of its cosmic ray exposure history. The Be-10 concentration indicates a recent (3-5 Ma) breakup which may be responsible for the Annama parent body size reduction to 30-35 cm pre-entry radius.Peer reviewe

Tunneling spectroscopy measurement of the superconductor gap parameter of MgB_2

Cryogenic scanning tunneling microscopy and magnetization measurements were used to study the superconducting properties of MgB_2. The magnetization measurements show a sharp superconductor transition onset at T_c = 38.5 K, in agreement with previous works. The tunneling spectra exhibit BCS gap structures, with gap parameters in the range of 5 to 7 meV, yielding a ratio of 2delat/KT_c ~ 3-4. This suggests that MgB_2 is a conventional BCS (s-wave) superconductor, either in the weak-coupling or in the `intermediate-coupling` regimeComment: accepted to PRB, revised versio