NMR evidence for two-step phase-separation in Nd_{1.85}Ce_{0.15}CuO_{4-delta}

By Cu NMR we studied the spin and charge structure in Nd_{2-x}Ce_{x}CuO_{4-delta}. For x=0.15, starting from a superconducting sample, the low temperature magnetic order in the sample reoxygenated under 1 bar oxygen at 900^0 C, reveals a peculiar modulation of the internal field, indicative for a phase characterized by large charge droplets ('Blob'-phase). By prolonged reoxygenation at 4 bar the blobs brake up and the spin structure changes to that of an ordered antiferromagnet (AF). We conclude that the superconductivity in the n-type systems competes with a genuine type I Mott-insulating state

Domain structure in polycrystalline MnZn ferrite imaged by magnetic force microscopy

Quantum Matter and Optic

First time determination of the microscopic structure of a stripe phase: Low temperature NMR in La2NiO4.17

The experimental observations of stripes in superconducting cuprates and insulating nickelates clearly show the modulation in charge and spin density. However, these have proven to be rather insensitive to the harmonic structure and (site or bond) ordering. Using 139La NMR in La2NiO4.17, we show that in the 1/3 hole doped nickelate below the freezing temperature the stripes are strongly solitonic and site ordered with Ni3+ ions carrying S=1/2 in the domain walls and Ni2+ ions with S=1 in the domains.Comment: 4 pages including 4 figure

Mesoscopic phase separation in La2CuO4.02 - a 139La NQR study

In crystals of La2CuO4.02 oxygen diffusion can be limited to such small length scales, that the resulting phase separation is invisible for neutrons. Decomposition of the 139La NQR spectra shows the existence of three different regions, of which one orders antiferromagnetically below 17K concomitantly with the onset of a weak superconductivity in the crystal. These regions are compared to the macroscopic phases seen previously in the title compound and the cluster-glass and striped phases reported for the underdoped Sr-doped cuprates.Comment: 4 pages, RevTeX, 5 figures, to be published in PR

Spin dynamics and ordering of a cuprate stripe-antiferromagnet

In La1.48Nd0.4Sr0.12CuO4 the 139La and 63Cu NQR relaxation rates and signal wipe-out upon lowering temperature are shown to be due to purely magnetic fluctuations. They follow the same renormalized classical behavior as seen in neutron data, when the electronic spins order in stripes, with a small spread in spin stiffness (15% spread in activation energy). The La signal, which reappears at low temperatures, is magnetically broadened and experiences additional wipe-out due to slowing down of the Nd fluctuations.Comment: 4 pages including 3 figures - ref. 16 adde

Similarity of slow stripe fluctations between Sr-doped cuprates and oxygen-doped nickelates

Stripe fluctuations in La2NiO4.17 have been studied by 139La NMR using the field and temperature dependence of the linewidth and relaxation rates. In the formation process of the stripes the NMR line intensity is maximal below 230K, starts to diminish around 140K, disappears around 50K and recovers at 4K. These results are shown to be consistent with, but completely complementary to neutron measurements, and to be generic for oxygen doped nickelates and underdoped cuprates.Comment: 4 pages including 4 figure

Freezing of a Stripe Liquid

The existence of a stripe-liquid phase in a layered nickelate, La(1.725)Sr(0.275)NiO(4), is demonstrated through neutron scattering measurements. We show that incommensurate magnetic fluctuations evolve continuously through the charge-ordering temperature, although an abrupt decrease in the effective damping energy is observed on cooling through the transition. The energy and momentum dependence of the magnetic scattering are parametrized with a damped-harmonic-oscillator model describing overdamped spin-waves in the antiferromagnetic domains defined instantaneously by charge stripes.Comment: 4 2-col pages, including 5 figures; Final version, to be published in PR

Inhomogeneous Low Frequency Spin Dynamics in La_{1.65}Eu_{0.2}Sr_{0.15}CuO_4

We report Cu and La nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements in the title compound that reveal an inhomogeneous glassy behavior of the spin dynamics. A low temperature peak in the La spin lattice relaxation rate and the ``wipeout'' of Cu intensity both arise from these slow electronic spin fluctuations that reveal a distribution of activation energies. Inhomogeneous slowing of spin fluctuations appears to be a general feature of doped lanthanum cuprate.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Very slight modifications to figure