Intrinsic surface depression of the order parameter under mixed (s+id)-wave pair symmetry and its effect on the critical current of high-Tc SIS Josephson junctions

An intrinsic gap depression at the Superconductor-Insulator interface due to the very short value of the coherence length in High-Tc Superconductors [HTSs] is considered, in the framework of a mixed (s+id)-wave pair symmetry for the order parameter ranging from pure s to pure d-wave. This gap depression acts as the main physical agent causing the relevant reduction of IcRn(T) values with respect to BCS expectations in HTS SIS Josephson junctions. Good agreement with various experimental data is obtained with both pure s-wave and pure d-wave symmetries of the order parameter, but with amounts of gap depression depending on the pair symmetry adopted. Regardless of the pair symmetry considered, these results prove the importance of the surface order-parameter depression in the correct interpretation of the Ic(T)Rn(T) data in HTS SIS junctions. In a case of planar YBCO-based junction the use of the de Gennes condition allowed us to tentatively obtain an upper limit for the amount of d-wave present in the order parameter of YBCO.Comment: 11 pages REVTeX file, 6 PostScript figures, to be published in J. Superconductivit

Breakdown of Migdal's theorem and intensity of electron-phonon coupling in high-Tc superconductors

In this article we quantify the possible effects of the breakdown of Migdal's theorem on the electron-phonon (e-p) coupling constant, on the critical temperature and on the superconducting gap by examining different kinds of superconducting materials either with low and high critical temperature. We use the theoretical approach developed by Grimaldi, Pietronero and Strassler [PRB 52, 10516 & 10530 (1995)] on experimental data taken both from literature and from our recent break-junction tunneling experiments in Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_{8+x} (BSCCO) [Physica C 275, 162 (1997) and cond-mat/9612220]. The results show that a large violation of the Migdal's theorem (as in BSCCO) yields to a large increase of the observed e-p coupling constant and, in a first approximation and by direct solution of the Eliashberg equations, to large but different increases of Tc and gap. The same theory gives no modifications when applied to low-Tc conventional superconductors. In BSCCO, the renormalized values of the e-p coupling constant and of the ratio 2Delta/kTc (1.85 and 4.98, respectively) are compatible with a strong-coupling electron-phonon origin of superconductivity.Comment: 11 pages REVTeX file, 3 PostScript figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. B (Rapid Commun.

Possible d+id scenario in La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_4 by point-contact measurements

We analyze the results of point-contact measurements in La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_{4} (LSCO) previously reported as a clear evidence of the separation between gap and pseudogap in this copper oxide. Here we show that, in addition to this, the conductance curves of our point-contact junctions -- showing clear Andreev reflection features -- can be interpreted as supporting a nodeless d_{x^2-y^2}+id_{xy}-wave symmetry of the gap in LSCO. The results of our analysis, in particular the doping dependence of the subdominant d_{xy} gap component, are discussed and compared to the predictions of different theoretical models.Comment: 6 pages, 4 eps figures, presented at SATT11 Conference (Vietri sul Mare, March 2002). To appear in Int. J. Mod. Phy

3D-melting features of the irreversibility line in overdoped Bi2_2Sr2_2CuO6_6 at ultra-low temperature and high magnetic field

We have measured the irreversible magnetization of an overdoped Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CuO$_6$ single crystal up to B=28 T and down to T=60 mK, and extracted the irreversibility line $B_{\rm irr}(T)$: the data can be interpreted in the whole temperature range as a 3D-anisotropic vortex lattice melting line with Lindemann number $c_{\rm L}=0.13$. We also briefly discuss the applicability of alternative models such as 2D- and quantum melting, and the connection with magnetoresistance experiments.Comment: M2S-HTSC-VI Conference paper (2 pages, 1 figure), using Elsevier style espcrc2.st

Temperature and junction-type dependency of Andreev reflection in MgB2

We studied the voltage and temperature dependency of the dynamic conductance of normal metal-MgB2 junctions obtained either with the point-contact technique (with Au and Pt tips) or by making Ag-paint spots on the surface of high-quality single-crystal-like MgB2 samples. The fit of the conductance curves with the generalized BTK model gives evidence of pure s-wave gap symmetry. The temperature dependency of the gap, measured in Ag-paint junctions (dirty limit), follows the standard BCS curve with 2Delta/kTc = 3.3. In out-of-plane, high-pressure point contacts we obtained almost ideal Andreev reflection characteristics showing a single small s-wave gap Delta = 2.6 +/- 0.2 (clean limit). These results support the two-gap model of superconductivity, the presence of a modified layer at the surface of the crystals and an important and non-conventional role of the impurities in MgB2.Comment: 5 pages, 4 eps figures, SNS 2001 conferenc

Josephson effect in MgB_2 break junctions

We present the first observation of the DC and AC Josephson effect in MgB_2 break junctions. The junctions, obtained at 4.2 K in high-quality, high-density polycrystalline metallic MgB_2 samples, show a non-hysteretic DC Josephson effect. By irradiating the junctions with microwaves we observe clear Shapiro steps spaced by the ideal $\Delta V$ value. The temperature dependence of the DC Josephson current and the dependence of the height of the steps on the microwave power are obtained. These results are a direct prove for the existence of pairs with charge 2e in this new metallic superconductor and give evidence of the superconductor-normal metal-superconductor weak link character of these junctions.Comment: 4 RevTEX pages, 4 eps figure

Possible explanation of electric-field-doped C60 phenomenology in the framework of Eliashberg theory

In a recent paper [J. H. Schön, Ch. Kloc, R. C. Haddon, and B. Batlogg, Nature (London) 408, 549 (2000)] a large increase in the superconducting critical temperature was observed in C60 doped with holes by application of a high electric field. We demonstrate that the measured Tc versus doping curves can be explained by solving the (four) s-wave Eliashberg equations in the case of a finite, non-half-filled energy band. In order to reproduce the experimental data, we assume a Coulomb pseudopotential depending on the filling in a very simple and plausible way. Reasonable values of the physical parameters involved are obtained. The application of the same approach to other experimental data [J. H. Schön, Ch. Kloc, and B. Batlogg, Science 293, 2432 (2001)] on electric field-doped, lattice-expanded C60 single crystals (Tc = 117 K in the hole-doped case) gives equally good results and sets a theoretical limit to the linear increase of Tc at the increase of the lattice spacing

Independent determination of the two gaps by directional point-contact spectroscopy in MgB_2 single crystals

Directional point-contact spectroscopy measurements were performed for the first time in state-of-the-art MgB_2 single crystals. The selective suppression of the superconductivity in the "pi" band by means of a suitable magnetic field allowed separating the partial contribution of each band to the total point-contact conductance. By fitting the partial conductance curves sigma_sigma(V) and sigma_pi(V), we got an independent determination of the two gaps, Delta_sigma and Delta_pi, with a strong reduction of the experimental uncertainty. Their temperature dependence was found to agree well with the predictions of the two-band models for MgB_2.Comment: 6 pages, 4 eps figures. References added, abstract rewritten, text slightly changed. Proceedings of the BOROMAG Conference, June 17-19, Genoa, Ital