History dependent magnetoresistance in lightly doped La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_{4} thin films

The in-plane magnetoresistance (MR) in atomically smooth La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_{4} thin films grown by molecular-beam-epitaxy was measured in magnetic fields B up to 9 T over a wide range of temperatures T. The films, with x=0.03 and x=0.05, are insulating, and the positive MR emerges at T<4 K. The positive MR exhibits glassy features, including history dependence and memory, for all orientations of B. The results show that this behavior, which reflects the onset of glassiness in the dynamics of doped holes, is a robust feature of the insulating state.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, International School and Workshop on Electronic Crystals (ECRYS-2011); to appear in Physica

Large Positive Magnetoresistance of the Lightly Doped La_{2}CuO_{4} Mott Insulator

The in-plane and out-of-plane magnetoresistance (MR) of single crystals of La_2CuO_4, lightly doped (x=0.03) with either Sr (La_{2-x}Sr_xCuO_4) or Li (La_2Cu_{1-x}Li_xO_4), have been measured in the fields applied parallel and perpendicular to the CuO_2 planes. Both La_{1.97}Sr_{0.03}CuO_4 and La_2Cu_{0.97}Li_{0.03}O_4 exhibit the emergence of a positive MR at temperatures (T) well below the spin glass (SG) transition temperature T_{sg}, where charge dynamics is also glassy. This positive MR grows as T->0 and shows hysteresis and memory. In this regime, the in-plane resistance R_{ab}(T,B) is described by a scaling function, suggesting that short-range Coulomb repulsion between two holes in the same disorder-localized state plays a key role at low T. The results highlight similarities between this magnetic material and a broad class of well-studied, nonmagnetic disordered insulators.Comment: 5+ pages, 3 figures; published versio

Skyrmions in a Doped Antiferromagnet

Magnetization and magnetoresistance have been measured in insulating antiferromagnetic La_{2}Cu_{0.97}Li_{0.03}O_{4} over a wide range of temperatures, magnetic fields, and field orientations. The magnetoresistance step associated with a weak ferromagnetic transition exhibits a striking nonmonotonic temperature dependence, consistent with the presence of skyrmions.Comment: 4+ pages, 3 figures (some low resolution), supplementary material (3 pages); discussion expanded, references added; as publishe

Evidence for Charge Glass-like Behavior in Lightly Doped La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_{4} at Low Temperatures

A c-axis magnetotransport and resistance noise study in La_{1.97}Sr_{0.03}CuO_{4} reveals clear signatures of glassiness, such as hysteresis, memory, and slow, correlated dynamics, but only at temperatures (T) well below the spin glass transition temperature T_{sg}. The results strongly suggest the emergence of charge glassiness, or dynamic charge ordering, as a result of Coulomb interactions.Comment: title changed, presentation improved, references added; to appear in Phys. Rev. Letter

Upper critical fields and thermally-activated transport of Nd(O_0.7F_0.3)FeAs single crystal

We present measurements of the resistivity and the upper critical field H_c2 of Nd(O_0.7F_0.3)FeAs single crystals in strong DC and pulsed magnetic fields up to 45 T and 60 T, respectively. We found that the field scale of H_c2 is comparable to ~100 T of high T_c cuprates. H_c2(T) parallel to the c-axis exhibits a pronounced upward curvature similar to what was extracted from earlier measurements on polycrystalline samples. Thus this behavior is indeed an intrinsic feature of oxypnictides, rather than manifestation of vortex lattice melting or granularity. The orientational dependence of H_c2 shows deviations from the one-band Ginzburg-Landau scaling. The mass anisotropy decreases as T decreases, from 9.2 at 44K to 5 at 34K. Spin dependent magnetoresistance and nonlinearities in the Hall coefficient suggest contribution to the conductivity from electron-electron interactions modified by disorder reminiscent that of diluted magnetic semiconductors. The Ohmic resistivity measured below T_c but above the irreversibility field exhibits a clear Arrhenius thermally activated behavior over 4-5 decades. The activation energy has very different field dependencies for H||ab and H\perp ab. We discuss to what extent different pairing scenarios can manifest themselves in the observed behavior of H_{c2}, using the two-band model of superconductivity. The results indicate the importance of paramagnetic effects on H_c2(T),which may significantly reduce H_c2(0) as compared toH_c2(0)~200-300 T based on extrapolations of H_c2(T) near T_c down to low temperatures.Comment: 11 pages, 16 figure

Azotobacter chroococcum F8/2: a multitasking bacterial strain in sugar beet biopriming

This study assesses the effects of Azotobacter biopriming on the early development of sugar beet. Azotobacter chroococcum F8/2 was screened for plant growth promoting characteristics and biopriming effects were estimated through germination parameters and the structural changes of the root tissues. A. chroococcum F8/2 was characterized as a contributor to nitrogen, iron, and potassium availability, as well as a producer of auxin and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxilic acid deaminase. Applied biopriming had reduced mean germination time by 34.44% and increased vigor I by 90.99% compared to control. Volatile blend comprised 47.67% ethanol, 32.01% 2-methyl-propanol, 17.32% 3-methyl-1-butanol, and a trace of 2,3-butanedione. Root micromorphological analysis of bioprimed sugar beet revealed a considerable increase in primary, secondary xylem area, and vessels size. Obtained results determine A. chroococcum F8/2 as a successful biopriming agent, and active participant in nutrient availability and hormonal status modulation affecting root vascular tissue. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Superstripes and complexity in high-temperature superconductors

While for many years the lattice, electronic and magnetic complexity of high-temperature superconductors (HTS) has been considered responsible for hindering the search of the mechanism of HTS now the complexity of HTS is proposed to be essential for the quantum mechanism raising the superconducting critical temperature. The complexity is shown by the lattice heterogeneous architecture: a) heterostructures at atomic limit; b) electronic heterogeneity: multiple components in the normal phase; c) superconducting heterogeneity: multiple superconducting gaps in different points of the real space and of the momentum space. The complex phase separation forms an unconventional granular superconductor in a landscape of nanoscale superconducting striped droplets which is called the "superstripes" scenario. The interplay and competition between magnetic orbital charge and lattice fluctuations seems to be essential for the quantum mechanism that suppresses thermal decoherence effects at an optimum inhomogeneity.Comment: 20 pages, 3 figures; J. Supercon. Nov. Mag. 201

Theoretical assessment of phosphate amendments for stabilization of (Pb plus Zn) in polluted soil

Contamination of the environment with toxic metals, such as lead (Pb), represents a serious concern for human health. Most of the studies on Pb stabilization were performed using various phosphorus-containing amendments that can reduce Pb mobility and bioavailability by the sorption and precipitation of new, stable pyromorphite-type minerals, presenting very low solubility and bioaccessibility. However, the presence of competing ions, such as zinc (Zn), can reduce stabilization efficacy. The role of chemical composition on the stability of immobilization products of Pb and Zn by the addition of hydroxyapatite (HAP) Or fluoroapatite (FAP) has been examined in this paper. In this analysis we used a theoretical criterion which is based on calculation of the ion-ion interaction potential, representing the main term of the cohesive energy of the matrix/pollutant system. It has been demonstrated that the stability of the HAP matrix decreases and that the stability of the FAP matrix increases with the Pb immobilization in the presence of Zn. The results of this analysis point out FAIR as an advantageous amendment for the immobilization of Pb in the presence of Zn. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.1st International Conference on Environmental Management, Engineering, Planning and Economics (CEMEPE), Jun 24-28, 2007, Skiathos Isl, Greec