Effect of two gaps on the flux lattice internal field distribution: evidence of two length scales from muSR in Mg1-xAlxB2

We have measured the transverse field muon spin precession in the flux lattice (FL) state of the two gap superconductor MgB2 and of the electron doped compounds Mg1-xAlxB2 in magnetic fields up to 2.8T. We show the effect of the two gaps on the internal field distribution in the FL, from which we determine two coherence length parameters and the doping dependence of the London penetration depth. This is an independent determination of the complex vortex structure already suggested by the STM observation of large vortices in a MgB2 single crystal. Our data agrees quantitatively with STM and we thus validate a new phenomenological model for the internal fields.Comment: now in press Phys. Rev. Lett., small modifications required by the edito

Slow magnetic fluctuations and superconductivity in fluorine-doped NdFeAsO

Among the widely studied superconducting iron-pnictide compounds belonging to the Ln1111 family (with Ln a lanthanide), a systematic investigation of the crossover region between the superconducting and the antiferromagnetic phase for the Ln = Nd case has been missing. We fill this gap by focusing on the intermediate doping regime of NdFeAsO(1-x)F(x) by means of dc-magnetometry and muon-spin spectroscopy measurements. The long-range order we detect at low fluorine doping is replaced by short-range magnetic interactions at x = 0.08, where also superconductivity appears. In this case, longitudinal-field muon-spin spectroscopy experiments show clear evidence of slow magnetic fluctuations that disappear at low temperatures. This fluctuating component is ascribed to the glassy-like character of the magnetically ordered phase of NdFeAsO at intermediate fluorine doping

Electron localization and possible phase separation in the absence of a charge density wave in single-phase 1T-VS2_2

We report on a systematic study of the structural, magnetic and transport properties of high-purity 1T-VS$_2$ powder samples prepared under high pressure. The results differ notably from those previously obtained by de-intercalating Li from LiVS$_2$. First, no Charge Density Wave (CDW) is found by transmission electron microscopy down to 94 K. Though, \textit{ab initio} phonon calculations unveil a latent CDW instability driven by an acoustic phonon softening at the wave vector ${\bf q}_{CDW} \approx$ (0.21,0.21,0) previously reported in de-intercalated samples. A further indication of latent lattice instability is given by an anomalous expansion of the V-S bond distance at low temperature. Second, infrared optical absorption and electrical resistivity measurements give evidence of non metallic properties, consistent with the observation of no CDW phase. On the other hand, magnetic susceptibility and NMR data suggest the coexistence of localized moments with metallic carriers, in agreement with \textit{ab initio} band structure calculations. This discrepancy is reconciled by a picture of electron localization induced by disorder or electronic correlations leading to a phase separation of metallic and non-metallic domains in the nm scale. We conclude that 1T-VS$_2$ is at the verge of a CDW transition and suggest that residual electronic doping in Li de-intercalated samples stabilizes a uniform CDW phase with metallic properties.Comment: 22 pages, 10 Figures. Full resolution pictures available at http://journals.aps.org/prb/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevB.89.23512

Understanding the μ\muSR spectra of MnSi without magnetic polarons

Transverse-field muon-spin rotation ($\mu$SR) experiments were performed on a single crystal sample of the non-centrosymmetric system MnSi. The observed angular dependence of the muon precession frequencies matches perfectly the one of the Mn-dipolar fields acting on the muons stopping at a 4a position of the crystallographic structure. The data provide a precise determination of the magnetic dipolar tensor. In addition, we have calculated the shape of the field distribution expected below the magnetic transition temperature $T_C$ at the 4a muon-site when no external magnetic field is applied. We show that this field distribution is consistent with the one reported by zero-field $\mu$SR studies. Finally, we present ab initio calculations based on the density-functional theory which confirm the position of the muon stopping site inferred from transverse-field $\mu$SR. In view of the presented evidence we conclude that the $\mu$SR response of MnSi can be perfectly and fully understood without invoking a hypothetical magnetic polaron state.Comment: 10 pages, 12 figure

Tuning of competing magnetic and superconducting phase volumes in LaFeAsO$_0.945F_0.055 by hydrostatic pressure

The interplay between magnetism and superconductivity in LaFeAsO_0.945F_0.055 was studied as a function of hydrostatic pressure up to p~2.4GPa by means of muon-spin rotation (\muSR) and magnetization measurements. The application of pressure leads to a substantial decrease of the magnetic ordering temperature T_N and a reduction of the magnetic phase volume and, at the same time, to a strong increase of the superconducting transition temperature T_c and the diamagnetic susceptibility. From the volume sensitive \muSR measurements it can be concluded that the superconducting and the magnetic areas which coexist in the same sample are inclined towards spatial separation and compete for phase volume as a function of pressure.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Incidence of the temperature on the hydrophobic effect of alanine dissolved in water

El efecto hidrofóbico ocupa un lugar central en el estudio del plegamiento de las proteínas desde mediados del siglo pasado, cuando W. Kauzmann lo propuso como el principal responsable del colapso de éstas a su conformación nativa compacta, bajo condiciones fisiológicas normales. Experimentalmente se observa, que al variarle la temperatura al sistema se puede desplegar y replegar a una proteína, sin intervención de ningún otro elemento externo. Esto revela la importancia que presenta estudiar la influencia de la temperatura sobre ambos aspectos del efecto hidrofóbico: la hidratación hidrofóbica (estructura del agua alrededor de un aminoácido apolar) y la interacción hidrofóbica (el efecto neto que el medio acuoso ejerce sobre dos aminoácidos apolares disueltos en él). En este trabajo consideramos un sistema formado por alanina disuelta en agua y calculamos las funciones de distribución radial alanina–agua y alanina–alanina, para cuatro temperaturas diferentes (4C, 25C, 50C y 75C). Para esto, utilizamos dos técnicas distintas y a la vez complementarias: (1) una teoría mecánico–estadística de líquidos clásicos, y (2) simulación numérica mediante dinámica molecular. De nuestros resultados se observa que al aumentar la temperatura, la hidratación disminuye y la interacción hidrofóbica alanina–alanina se hace más intensa.The hydrophobic effect has played a central role in the study of proteins folding since W. Kauzmann proposed it as the main responsible for their collapse to the compact native conformation under normal physiological conditions. By changing the medium temperature a protein can be unfolded and folded again to its native conformation, without any other external action. This reveals the importance of studying the influence of the temperature on both aspects of the hydrophobic effect: the hydrophobic hydration and the hydrophobic interaction. In this work we consider a system formed by alanine residues dissolved in water and calculate the alanine-water and alanine-alanine radial distribution functions, at four different temperatures (4C, 25C, 50C and 75C). We use two complementary theoretic techniques: (1) a statistical mechanics theory of classical liquids, and (2) numerical simulations by molecular dynamics. From our results we conclude that when temperature is increased then the residue hydration diminishes and the alanine-alanine hydrophobic interaction becomes more intense.Instituto de Física de Líquidos y Sistemas BiológicosGrupo de Aplicaciones Matemáticas y Estadísticas de la Facultad de Ingenierí