Superconductive Phonon Anomalies in High-TcT_c Cuprates

We consider the effects on phonon dynamics of spin-lattice coupling within the slave-boson mean-field treatment of the extended $t$-$J$ model. With no additional assumptions the theory is found to give a semi-quantitative account of the frequency and linewidth anomalies observed by Raman and neutron scattering for the 340$cm^{-1}$ $B_{1g}$ phonon mode in $YBa_2Cu_3O_7$ at the superconducting transition. We discuss the applicability of the model to phonon modes of different symmetries, and report a connection to spin-gap features observed in underdoped YBCO. The results suggest the possibility of a unified understanding of the anomalies in transport, magnetic and lattice properties.Comment: heavily revised version of previous paper, including systematic treatment of effect of $t$ term, coupling constant derivation and calculation of phonon linewidth broadening. Revised Figs. 3 and 4 still only available by sending fax # to [email protected]

On the presence of mid-gap states in CaV4O9

Using exact diagonalizations of finite clusters with up to 32 sites, we study the $J_1-J_2$ model on the 1/5 depleted square lattice. Spin-spin correlation functions are consistent with plaquette order in the spin gap phase which exists for intermediate values of $J_2/J_1$. Besides, we show that singlet states will be present in the singlet-triplet gap if $J_2/J_1$ is not too small ($J_2/J_1 \gtrsim 0.47$). We argue that this property should play a central role in determining the exchange integrals in ${\rm CaV}_4{\rm O}_9$Comment: 4 pages, 5 postscript figure

Effect of Quantum Fluctuations on Magnetic Ordering in CaV3_3O7_7

We present a theoretical model for CaV$_3$O$_7$: the $1/4$-depleted square spin-$1/2$ Heisenberg model which includes both the nearest-neighbor coupling ($J$) and the next-nearest-neighbor coupling ($J'$), where $J$ and $J'$ are antiferromagnetic. Recent experiments of the neutron diffraction by Harashina et.al. report the magnetic ordering at low temperatures, which may be called as a stripe phase. It is shown that the observed spin structure is not stable in the classical theory. By employing the modified spin wave theory, we show that the stripe phase is stabilized by the quantum fluctuations for $J'/J > 0.69$. In CaV$_3$O$_7$, the coupling constants are estimated as $J \sim J'$ by comparing the theoretical and experimental results.Comment: submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Single-Particle Pseudogap in Two-Dimensional Electron Systems

We investigate pseudogap phenomena in the 2D electron system. Based on the mode-mode coupling theory of antiferromagnetic (AFM) and $d_{x^2-y^2}$-wave superconducting ($d$SC) fluctuations, single-particle dynamics is analyzed. For the parameter values of underdoped cuprates, pseudogap structure grows in the single-particle spectral weight $A(k,\omega)$ around the wave vector $(\pi,0)$ and $(0,\pi)$ below the pseudo-spin-gap temperature \TPG signaled by the reduction of dynamical spin correlations in qualitative agreement with the experimental data. The calculated results for the overdoped cuprates also reproduce the absence of the pseudogap in the experiments. We also discuss limitations of our weak-coupling approach.Comment: 6 pages with 4 figures, submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Strongly Correlated Electrons and Neutron Scattering

Various aspects of close and interesting relationship between antiferromagnetism and singlet ground states are introduced for which neutron scattering have been playing vital roles. The special emphasis is on the disorder-induced antiferromagnetism in spin-Peierls systems, which can be viewed as a nucleation process of classical magnetic order in the background of singlet state whose origin is purely quantum-mechanical. It is then pointed out that similar features will be found in Ce_xCu_2Si_2 and high T_c cuprates. Finally the possible charge ordering process in NaV_2O_5 is discussed which leads to the quenching of localized spins.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, Proceedings of 7th ISSP International Symposium "Frontiers in Neutron Scattering Research" (To appear in J. Phys. Chem. Solids (1999)

Exchange interactions and magnetic properties of the layered vanadates CaV2O5, MgV2O5, CaV3O7 and CaV4O9

We have performed ab-initio calculations of exchange couplings in the layered vanadates CaV2O5, MgV2O5, CaV3O7 and CaV4O9. The uniform susceptibility of the Heisenberg model with these exchange couplings is then calculated by quantum Monte Carlo method; it agrees well with the experimental measurements. Based on our results we naturally explain the unusual magnetic properties of these materials, especially the huge difference in spin gap between CaV2O5 and MgV2O5, the unusual long range order in CaV3O7 and the "plaquette resonating valence bond (RVB)" spin gap in CaV4O9

Electronic Specific Heat of La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_{4}: Pseudogap Formation and Reduction of the Superconducting Condensation Energy

To examine the so-called small pseudogap and the superconducting (SC) condensation energy U(0), the electronic specific heat Cel was measured on La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_{4} up to ~120K. In samples with doping level p (=x) less than ~0.2, small pseudogap behavior appears in the \gamma (=Cel/T) vs. T curve around the mean-field critical temperature for a d-wave superconductor Tco (=2*\Delta_{0}/(4~5)k_B), where \Delta_{0} is the maximum gap at T<<Tc. The condensation energy U(0) is largely reduced in the pseudogap regime (p< ~0.2). The reduction of U(0) can be well reproduced by introducing an effective SC energy scale \Delta_{eff}=\beta*p*\Delta_{0} (\beta=4.5) instead of \Delta_{0}. The effective SC energy scale is discussed in relation to the coherent pairing gap formed over the nodal Fermi arc.Comment: 8page

TcT_c suppression in co-doped striped cuprates

We propose a model that explains the reduction of $T_c$ due to the pinning of stripes by planar impurity co-doping in cuprates. A geometrical argument about the planar fraction of carriers affected by stripe pinning leads to a a linear $T_c$ suppression as a function of impurity concentration $z$. The critical value $z_c$ for the vanishing of superconductivity is shown to scale like $T_c^2$ in the under-doped regime and becomes universal in the optimally- and over-doped regimes. Our theory agrees very well with the experimental data in single- and bi-layer cuprates co-doped with Zn, Li, Co, etc...Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Effect of anisotropic impurity scattering in superconductors

We discuss the weak-coupling BCS theory of a superconductor with the impurities, accounting for their anisotropic momentum-dependent potential. The impurity scattering process is considered in the t-matrix approximation and its influence on the superconducting critical temperature is studied in the Born and unitary limit for a d- and (d+s)-wave superconductors. We observe a significant dependence of the pair-breaking strength on the symmetry of the scattering potential and classify the impurity potentials according to their ability to alter T_c. A good agreement with the experimental data for Zn doping and oxygen irradiation in the overdoped cuprates is found.Comment: 31 pages, RevTex, 15 PostScript figure

Impurity Effects on the Superconducting Transition Temperature of NazCoO2.yH2O

Superconducting transition temperature Tc of NazCo1-xMxO2.yH2O has been studied for M=Ir and Ga, which can substitute for Co. It has been found that Tc is suppressed by the M-atom doping. The decreasing rates |dTc/dx| are of the order of 1 K/% and too small to be explained by the pair breaking mechanism for the anisotropic order parameters by non-magnetic impurities. Brief arguments are given on possible origins of the Tc suppression.Comment: 10 pages, 14 figures,submitted to J. Phys. Soc. Jp