Non-cubic layered structure of Ba(1-x)K(x)BiO3 superconductor

Bismuthate superconductor Ba(1-x)K(x)BiO3 (x=0.27-0.49, Tc=25-32K) grown by an electrolysis technique was studied by electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy. The crystalline structure thereof has been found to be non-cubic, of the layered nature, and non-centrosymmetric, with the lattice parameters a ~ ap, c ~ 2ap (ap is a simple cubic perovskite cell parameter) containing an ordered arrangement of barium and potassium. The evidence for the layered nature of the bismuthate superconductor removes the principal crystallographic contradiction between bismuthate and cuprate high-Tc superconductors.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, to be published in Physical Review B as a Rapid Communicatio

Observation of a Transition from BCS to HTSC-like Superconductivity in Ba_{1-x}K_xBiO_3 Single Crystals

A study of temperature dependences of the upper critical field B_{c2}(T) and surface impedance Z(T)=R(T)+iX(T) in Ba_{1-x}K_xBiO_3 single crystals that have transition temperatures in the range 6 x>0.4) reveals a transition from BCS to unusual type of superconductivity. B_{c2}(T) curves corresponding to the crystals that have T_c>20 K have positive curvature (like in some HTSC), and those of the crystals with T_c<15 K fall on the usual Werthamer-Helfand-Hohenberg curve. R(T) and X(T) dependences of the crystals with T_c~30 K and T_c~11 K are respectively linear (like in HTSC) and exponential (BCS) in the temperature range T << T_c. The experimental results are discussed in connection with the extended saddle point model by Abrikosov.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Electronic Collective Modes and Superconductivity in Layered Conductors

A distinctive feature of layered conductors is the presence of low-energy electronic collective modes of the conduction electrons. This affects the dynamic screening properties of the Coulomb interaction in a layered material. We study the consequences of the existence of these collective modes for superconductivity. General equations for the superconducting order parameter are derived within the strong-coupling phonon-plasmon scheme that account for the screened Coulomb interaction. Specifically, we calculate the superconducting critical temperature Tc taking into account the full temperature, frequency and wave-vector dependence of the dielectric function. We show that low-energy plasmons may contribute constructively to superconductivity. Three classes of layered superconductors are discussed within our model: metal-intercalated halide nitrides, layered organic materials and high-Tc oxides. In particular, we demonstrate that the plasmon contribution (electronic mechanism) is dominant in the first class of layered materials. The theory shows that the description of so-called ``quasi-two-dimensional superconductors'' cannot be reduced to a purely 2D model, as commonly assumed. While the transport properties are strongly anisotropic, it remains essential to take into account the screened interlayer Coulomb interaction to describe the superconducting state of layered materials.Comment: Final version (minor changes) 14 pages, 6 figure

Positive curvature in the temperature dependence of H-c2 in KxBa1-xBiO3

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