Effect of proton irradiation on the normal state low-energy excitations of Ba(Fe1−x_{1-x}Rhx_x)2_2As2_2 superconductors

We present a \asnmr Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and resistivity study of the effect of 5.5 MeV proton irradiation on the optimal electron doped ($x=$ 0.068) and overdoped ($x=$ 0.107) Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Rh$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ iron based superconductors. While the proton induced defects only mildly suppress the critical temperature and increase residual resistivity in both compositions, sizable broadening of the NMR spectra was observed in all the irradiated samples at low temperature. The effect is significantly stronger in the optimally doped sample where the Curie Weiss temperature dependence of the line width suggests the onset of ferromagnetic correlations coexisting with superconductivity at the nanoscale. 1/T$_2$ measurements revealed that the energy barrier characterizing the low energy spin fluctuations of these compounds is enhanced upon proton irradiation, suggesting that the defects are likely slowing down the fluctuations between ($0,\pi)$ and ($\pi$,0) nematic ground states.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figure

Nanosized patterns as reference structures for macroscopic transport properties and vortex phases in YBCO films

This paper studies the striking correlation between nanosized structural patterns in YBCO films and macroscopic transport current. A nanosized network of parallel Josephson junctions laced by insulating dislocations is almost mimicking the grain boundary structural network. It contributes to the macroscopic properties and accounts for the strong intergranular pinning across the film in the intermediate temperature range. The correlation between the two networks enables to find out an outstanding scaling law in the (Jc,B) plane and to determine meaningful parameters concerning the matching between the vortex lattice and the intergranular defect lattice. Two asymptotic behaviors of the pinning force below the flux flow regime are checked: the corresponding vortex phases are clearly individuated.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Screening magnetic fields by a superconducting disk: a simple model

We introduce a simple approach to evaluate the magnetic field distribution around superconducting samples, based on the London equations; the elementary variable is the vector potential. This procedure has no adjustable parameters, only the sample geometry and the London length, $\lambda$, determine the solution. The calculated field reproduces quantitatively the measured induction field above MgB$_2$ disks of different diameters, at 20K and for applied fields lower than 0.4T. The model can be applied if the flux line penetration inside the sample can be neglected when calculating the induction field distribution outside the superconductor. Finally we show on a cup-shape geometry how one can design a magnetic shield satisfying a specific constraint

Heterogeneous nucleation and heat flux avalanches in La(Fe, Si)13 magnetocaloric compounds near the critical point

The phase transformation kinetics of LaFe11.41Mn0.30Si1.29-H1.65 magnetocaloric compound is addressed by low rate calorimetry experiments. Scans at 1 mK/s show that its first order phase transitions are made by multiple heat flux avalanches. Getting very close to the critical point, when the transition becomes of the second order type, the step-like discontinuous behaviour associated with avalanches is smoothed out and the thermal hysteresis disappears. This result is confirmed by magneto-resistivity measurements and allows to obtain accurate values of the temperature hysteresis (DThyst = 0.37 K) at zero external magnetic field and of the critical field (Hc = 1.19 T). The number and magnitude of heat flux avalanches change as the magnetic field strength is increased, showing the interplay between the intrinsic energy barrier between phases and the microstructural disorder of the sample

Scaling laws for ion irradiation effects in iron-based superconductors

We report on ion irradiation experiments performed on compounds belonging to the BaFe 2As 2 family, each one involving the partial substitution of an atom of the parent compound (K for Ba, Co for Fe, and P for As), with an optimal composition to maximize the superconducting critical temperature Tc. Employed ion beams were 3.5-MeV protons, 250-MeV Au ions, and 1.2-GeV Pb ions, but additional data from literature are also considered, thus covering a wide range of ions and energies. Microwave characterization based on the use of a coplanar waveguide resonator allowed us to investigate the irradiation-induced Tc degradation, as well as the increase of normal state resistivity and London penetration depth. The damage was quantified in terms of displacements per atom (dpa). From this broad and comprehensive set of experimental data, clear scaling laws emerge, valid in the range of moderate irradiation-induced disorder (dpa up to 5 × 10 - 3 were investigated). In these conditions, linear trends with dpa were found for all the modification rates, while a power law dependence on the ion energy was found for heavy-ion irradiation. All these scaling laws are reported and discussed throughout the paper

Confinement of fluxons by surface columnar defects in Bi1.8Pb0.33Sr1.87Ca2Cu3Oy tapes

We study the effects of surface columnar defects created along about 5% of the sample thickness by means of 0.25 GeV Au ions at different doses on Bi1.8Pb0.33Sr1.87Ca2Cu3Oy high-quality tapes on the vortex dynamics in the sample bulk. Strong phenomena of vortex localization inside the bulk are revealed by shifts of the irreversibility lines (IL's) as well as by their after-irradiation shape. The enhanced IL's exhibit specific characteristics, such as a Bose-glass-like behavior up to quite high fields, with a dose-dependent onset point. Moreover, the irreversible regime expands with decreasing defect density. Such results are consistent with the setting up of confined vortices morphologies. Experimental data concerning the IL with the field orthogonal to the columnar defect direction as well as critical current density enhancements are also reported and discussed

Comprehensive Eliashberg analysis of microwave conductivity and penetration depth of K-, Co-, and P-substituted BaFe2As2

We report on the combined experimental and theoretical analysis of the microwave-frequency electromagnetic response of BaFe2As2single crystals with different substitutions: K in the Ba site (hole doping), Co in the Fe site (electron doping), and P in the As site (isovalent substitution). Measurements using a coplanar resonator technique lead to the experimental determination of the penetration depth and microwave conductivity as a function of temperature. The whole set of data is analyzed within a self-consistent three-bands±-wave Eliashberg approach, able to account for all the main observed features in the different properties. Besides the validation of the model itself, the comparison between experiment and theory allows discussing the possible role of the Fe-As planes in defining the superconducting properties of these compounds, the relevance of coherence effects, and the presence of nodes in the superconducting order parameter

Disorder-Driven Transition from s(+/-) to s(+ +) Superconducting Order Parameter in Proton Irradiated Ba(Fe1-xRhx)(2)As-2 Single Crystals

Microwave measurements of the London penetration depth and critical temperature T c were used to show evidence of a disordered-driven transition from s ± to s + + order parameter symmetry in optimally doped Ba ( Fe 1 − x Rh x ) 2 As 2 single crystals, where disorder was induced by means of 3.5 MeV proton irradiation. Signatures of such a transition, as theoretically predicted [V. D. Efremov et al., Phys. Rev. B 84, 180512(R) (2011)], are found as a drop in the low-temperature values of the London penetration depth and a virtually disorder-independent superconducting T c . We show how these experimental observations can be described by multiband Eliashberg calculations in which the effect of disorder is accounted for in a suitable way. To this aim, an effective two-band approach is adopted, allowing us to treat disorder in a range between the Born approximation and the unitary limit