Large Energy Gaps in CaC₆ from Tunneling Spectroscopy: Possible Evidence of Strong-Coupling Superconductivity

Tunneling in CaC6 crystals reproducibly reveals superconducting gaps Δ of 2.3±0.2 meV that are ~40% larger than reported earlier. In an isotropic s -wave scenario, that puts CaC6 into the class of very strongly coupled superconductors, since 2Δ k Tc ~4.6, implying that soft Ca phonons are primarily involved in the superconductivity. This conclusion explains the relatively large Ca isotope effect found recently for CaC6, but it could also signal a strong anisotropy in the electron-phonon interaction

Modeling Study of the Dip-Hump Feature in Bi₂ Sr₂ CaCu₂ O\u3csub\u3e8+δ\u3c/sub\u3e Tunneling Spectroscopy

The tunneling spectra of high-temperature superconductors on Bi2 Sr2 CaCu2 O8+δ (Bi-2212) reproducibly show a high-bias structure in the form of a dip-hump at voltages higher than the gap voltage. Of central concern is whether this feature originates from the normal state background or is intrinsic to the superconducting mechanism. We address this issue by generating a set of model conductance curves-a normal state conductance that takes into account effects such as the band structure and a possible pseudogap, and a pure superconducting state conductance. When combined, the result shows that the dip-hump feature present in the experimental conductance curves cannot be naively attributed to a normal state effect. In particular, strong dip features found in superconductor-insulator-superconductor data on optimally doped Bi-2212, including negative dI /dV, cannot be a consequence of an extrinsic pseudogap. However, such features can easily arise from state-conserving deviations in the superconducting density of states, e.g., from strong-coupling effects

Tunneling Spectroscopy of Tl2Ba2CuO6

New results from tunneling spectroscopies on near optimally-doped single crystals of Tl_{2}Ba_{2}CuO_{6} (Tl-2201) junctions are presented. The superconductor-insulator-normal metal (SIN) tunnel junctions are obtained using the point-contact technique with a Au tip. The tunneling conductances reproducibly show a sharp cusp-like subgap, prominent quasiparticle peaks with a consistent asymmetry, and weakly decreasing backgrounds. A rigorous analysis of the SIN tunneling data is performed using two different models for the $d_{x^{2}-y^{2}}$ (d-wave) density of states (DOS). Based on these and earlier results, the tunneling DOS of Tl-2201 have exhibited the most reproducible data that are consistent with a d-wave gap symmetry. We show that the dip feature at $2\Delta$ that is clearly seen in SIN tunneling data of Bi_{2}Sr_{2}CaCu_{2}O_{8+\delta} is also present in Tl-2201, but at a weaker level. The gap values for crystals with a bulk T_c = 86 K are in the range of 19-25 meV.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Evidence of Strong-Coupled Superconductivity in CaC6 from Tunneling Spectroscopy

Point-contact tunneling on CaC$_6$ crystals reproducibly reveals superconducting gaps, $\Delta$, of 2.3$\pm$0.2 meV which are $\sim$~40% larger than earlier reports. That puts CaC$_6$ into the class of very strong-coupled superconductors since 2$\Delta$/kT$_c\sim$~4.6. Thus soft Ca phonons will be primarily involved in the superconductivity, a conclusion that explains the large Ca isotope effect found recently for CaC$_6$. Consistency among superconductor-insulator-normal metal (SIN), SIS and Andreev reflection (SN) junctions reinforces the intrinsic nature of this result.Comment: 2nd version, 4 pages, 4 figures, re-submitted to Physical Review Letter

Counterintuitive Consequence of Heating in Strongly-Driven Intrinsic Junctions of Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O\u3csub\u3e8+δ\u3c/sub\u3e mesas

Anomalously high and sharp peaks in the conductance of intrinsic Josephson junctions in Bi2 Sr2 CaCu2 O 8+δ (Bi2212) mesas have been commonly interpreted as superconducting energy gaps but here we show they are a result of strong self-heating. This conclusion follows directly from a comparison to the equilibrium gap measured by tunneling in single break junctions on equivalent crystals. As the number of junctions in the mesa, N, and thus heating increase, the peak voltages decrease and the peak width abruptly sharpens for N≥12. Clearly these widely variable features vs N cannot all represent the equilibrium properties. Our data imply that the sharp peaks represent a transition to the normal state. That it occurs at the same dissipated power for N=12-30 strongly implicates heating as the cause. Although peak sharpening due to heating is counterintuitive, as tunneling spectra usually broaden at higher temperatures, a lateral temperature gradient, leading to coexistence of normal hot spots and superconductive regions, qualitatively explains the behavior. However, a more uniform temperature profile cannot be ruled out. As the peak\u27s width and voltage in our shortest mesa (N=6) are more consistent with the break junction data, we propose a figure of merit for Bi2212 mesas, the relative conductance peak width, such that small values signal a crossover into the strong self-heating regime

Reply to Comment on \u27Counterintuitive Consequence of Heating in Strongly-Driven Intrinsic Junctions of Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O \u3csub\u3e8+δ\u3c/sub\u3e Mesas\u27

The main criticism raised in the preceding Comment concerns our suggestion that sharp conduction peaks in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O 8+δ mesas, along with absent dip-hump features, may, in general, be a result of self-heating. The author points to the variety of experimental configurations, matrix-element effects, and doping dependencies that might allow a diversity of conductance spectra. We argue that numerous mesa studies (with fixed matrix elements) firmly establish the systematic development of sharp conductance peaks with increased self-heating, and thus, the issue of nonuniversality of tunneling characteristics is not relevant. The author mentions a number of studies that show that the mesa is superconducting near the conductance peak voltage. This is not in dispute and indicates a misinterpretation of our analysis that is clarified here. To address further comments on the technical details of our heating model, we reiterate that our conclusions are independent of our model but rather are based solely on experimental data that are not in dispute

Chiral Devices for Terahertz Waves Based on Tunable Metamaterials

There are exceptional advantages in the region where Terahertz (THz) frequency takes place that could be identified as; a non-ionizing bio-innocuous property, transparent characteristics in cardboard or textiles, and extremely discriminating absorption spectral lines which can provide a “genetic code” of various bio-materials. [1,2]. The resonant effects at various terahertz frequencies that were displayed by metamaterials have created to accomplish a very important situation. Metamaterials are virtually desirable platforms for investigating chiral effects. In order to enhance these effects, producing the tunable chiral devices attracted lots of attention. Among the phase change materials for chiral metamaterials, graphene is a promising candidate due to its astonishing properties specifically in the THz and far infrared region. In this study, a chiral metamaterial gammadion structure is designed and fabricated on both sides of the sapphire substrates. A commercial COMSOL and CST Microwave Studio programs are used to design and optimize the chiral metamaterial. Numerical simulations are based on the interaction of the chiral structure with linearly and circularly polarized light. In the experimental side, a resistive evaporation and dc magnetron sputtering method is used for the deposition of gold and Sb2Se3 films respectively. A single layer graphene is used, that is grown on a copper foil by chemical vapor deposition. The thin graphene layer transferred on the Sb2Se3 coated sapphire substrates. The conventional UV lithography and ion beam etching techniques are used for patterning process. The THz characterization measurements were performed in order to assess the THz frequency response and to demonstrate the dynamically tunable chiroptical response using optical pumping [3,4]. The active polarization manipulation capability of the Sb2Se3/graphene chiral metamaterial with frequency tunability are investigated both numerically and experimentally.XVI Photonics Workshop : Book of abstracts; March 12-15, 2023; Kopaonik, Serbi

Fabrication of Array of Mesas on Superconducting Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O\u3csub\u3e8+δ\u3c/sub\u3e single crystals

The superconducting properties of multi-layered high temperature superconductors (HTS) result mainly from the CuO2 planes, while the other structural components behave simply as charge reservoirs. Using these perfect-layered structures of HTS, arrays of mesas have been fabricated on the surfaces of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ (Bi2212) single crystals using hotolithography and argon ion beam etching techniques. These arrays have current-voltage (I-V) characteristics that consist of some branches corresponding to different intrinsic Josephson junctions in the mesas, The surface topography and heights of the mesas were examined with atomic force microscopy. Due to the small mesa area, conventional wire bonding techniques are not applicable. A novel method, point contact tunneling apparatus with a sharp Au tip, was used to obtain the I-V characteristics of the fabricated intrinsic Josephson junctions, below the critical temperature of Bi2212. Since the ultimate goal was to obtain an ordered group of mesas with small lateral dimensions, to eliminate heating effects during I-V measurements, we showed that submicron-sized mesas could be characterized by the new technique

Spin Polarized and Degenerate Tunneling Spectra in Intrinsic Josephson Junctions of Bi2212

Tunneling characteristics of HgBr2 intercalated superconducting Bi2212 single crystals have been obtained by using 10x10 μm2 intrinsic Josephson junction stacks, so called mesa structures. The spin degenerate current is driven along the c-axis with Au layer using point contact tunneling assembly at 4,2 K. The spin polarized current is also driven along the c-axis of crystals with Au/Co/Au multilayer. In order to understand the role of ferromagnetic layer (Co), quasiparticle branches are examined with and without magnetic field. The magnetic field evolution of switching currents are obtained for gaining further insight about the spin injection through the stack

Comparison of photocatalytic properties of TiO

Efficiency of solar panels degrades as a result of organic contamination such as airborne particles, bird droppings and leaves. Any foreign object on photovoltaic panels reduces the sunlight entering the absorbing surface of the solar panels. Since this leads to a major problem decreasing in energy production, solar panels should be cleaned. The self-cleaning method can be preferred. There are some methods to clean the surface of solar panels. Among the self-cleaning materials, TiO2 is the most preferable ones because of its powerful photocatalytic properties. In this study, photocatalytic TiO2 were produced in two different nanostructures: nanofibers and thin films. TiO2 nanofibers were successfully produced by electrospinning. TiO2 thin films were fabricated by reactive magnetron sputtering technique. Both TiO2 nanofiber and thin film structures were heat-treated to form TiO2 in anatase phase at 600 °C for 2 h in air. Then, they were evaluated by SEM analyses for morphology, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses for phase structures, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for the chemical state and atomic concentration, and UV-spectrometer for photocatalytic performance. The results indicate that photocatalytic and transmittance properties of TiO2 thin films are better than those of nanofibers. Consequently, TiO2 based thin films exhibit better performance for solar cell applications due to the surface cleanliness