1,316 research outputs found
Temperature dependence of the impurity-induced resonant state in Zn-doped Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O by Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy
We report on the temperature dependence of the impurity-induced resonant
state in Zn-doped Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O by scanning tunneling
spectroscopy at 30 mK < T < 52 K. It is known that a Zn impurity induces a
sharp resonant peak in tunnel spectrum at an energy close to the Fermi level.
We observed that the resonant peak survives up to 52 K. The peak broadens with
increasing temperature, which is explained by the thermal effect. This result
provides information to understand the origin of the resonant peak.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.
Single grain (LRE)-Ba-Cu-O superconductors fabricated by top seeded melt growth in air
We have recently reported a practical processing method for the fabrication in air of large, single grain (LRE)-Ba-Cu-O [where LRE Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd] bulk superconductors that exhibit high Tc and high Jc. The process is based initially on the development of a new type of generic seed crystal that can promote effectively the epitaxial nucleation of any (RE)-Ba-Cu-O system and, secondly, by suppressing the formation of (LRE)/Ba solid solution in a controlled manner within large LRE-Ba-Cu-O grains processed in air. In this paper we investigate the degree of homogeneity of large grain Sm-Ba-Cu-O superconductors fabricated by this novel process. The technique offers a significant degree of freedom in terms of processing parameters and reproducibility in the growth of oriented single grains in air and yields bulk samples with significantly improved superconducting and field-trapping properties compared to those processed by conventional top seeded melt growth (TSMG)
Effect of La Doping on Microstructure and Critical Current Density of MgB2
In the present study, La-doped MgB_2 superconductors with different doping
level (Mg1-xLaxB2; x=0.00, 0.01, 0.03 & 0.05) have been synthesized by
solid-state reaction route at ambient pressure. Effect of La doping have been
investigated in relation to microstructural characteristics and superconducting
properties, particularly intragrain critical current density (Jc). The
microstructural characteristics of the as synthesized Mg(La)B2 compounds were
studied employing transmission electron microscopic (TEM) technique. The TEM
investigations reveal inclusion of LaB6 nanoparticles within the MgB2 grains
which provide effective flux pinning centres. The evaluation of intragrain Jc
through magnetic measurements on the fine powdered version of the as
synthesized samples reveal that Jc of the samples change significantly with the
doping level. The optimum result on Jc is obtained for Mg0.97La0.03B2 at 5K,
the Jc reaches ~1.4x107A/cm2 in self field, ~2.1 x 106A/cm2 at 1T, ~2.5 x
105A/cm2 at 2.5T and ~1.8 x 104 A/cm2 at 4.5T. The highest value of intragrain
Jc in Mg0.97La0.03B2 superconductor has been attributed to the inclusion of
LaB6 nanoparticles which are capable of providing effective flux pinning
centres
Local transport characteristics of break junction in Sr(2)RuO(4) microbridge
We have measured tunnel conductance of spin-triplet superconductor Sr(2)RuO(4) (SRO) break junction which was made by micro fabrication technique with a focused ion beam. This is a new type of tunnel junctions made of SRO, which is different from those made of SRO and other materials. Since the tunnel conductance is sensitive to the internal phase of superconductivity, it enables us to examine the chiral p-wave pairing state, which is the most probable candidate of SRO. The tunnel conductance spectrum of the junction showed a broad zero-bias conductance peak whose shape is different from that of high-T(c) cuprate superconductors. The shape of the spectrum is in quite good agreement with the calculated spectrum of a chiral p-wave/insulator/normal metal junction.ArticlePHYSICA C-SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND ITS APPLICATIONS. 471(21-22):708-710 (2011)journal articl
Microstructure and superconducting properties of hot isostatically pressed MgB2
Bulk samples of MgB2 have been formed by hot isostatic pressing (HIPping) of
commercial powder at 100MPa and 950=B0C. The resulting material is 100% dense
with a sharp superconducting transition at 37.5K. Microstructural studies have
indicated the presence of small amounts of second phases within the material,
namely MgO and B rich compositions, probably MgB4. Magnetisation measurements
performed at 20K have revealed values of Jc=1.3 x 106A/cm2 at zero field, and
9.3 x 105A/cm2 at 1T. Magneto optical (MO) studies have shown direct evidence
for the superconducting homogeneity and strong intergranular current flow in
the material.Comment: 3 pages, 6 figures, text updated, new references included and
discussed. Submitted to Superconductor Science and Technolog
Anisotropic Superconducting Properties of MgB2 Single Crystals
In-plane electrical transport properties of MgB2 single crystals grown under
high pressure of 4-6 GPa and temperature of 1400-1700oC in Mg-B-N system have
been measured. For all specimens we found sharp superconducting transition
around 38.1-38.3K with transition width within 0.2-0.3K. Estimated resistivity
value at 40K is about 1 mkOhmcm and resistivity ratio R(273K)/R(40K) of about
4.9. Results of measurements in magnetic field up to 5.5T perpendicular to Mg
and B planes and up to 9T in parallel orientation show temperature dependent
anisotropy of the upper critical field with anisotropy ratio increasing from
2.2 close to Tc up to about 3 below 30K. Strong deviation of the angular
dependence of Hc2 from anisotropic mass model has been also found.Comment: 10pages, including 5 figures,submitted to Physica C (in press
Superconducting thin films of MgB2 on (001)-Si by pulsed laser deposition
Superconducting thin films have been prepared on Si-substrates, using pulsed
laser deposition from a target composed of a mixture of Mg and MgB2 powders.
The films were deposited at room temperature and post-annealed at 600 degrees
C. The zero resistance transition temperatures were 12 K, with an onset
transition temperature of 27 K. Special care has been taken to avoid oxidation
of Mg in the laser plasma and deposited film, by optimizing the background
pressure of Ar gas in the deposition chamber. For this the optical emission in
the visible range from the plasma has been used as indicator. Preventing Mg
from oxidation was found to be essential to obtain superconducting films
Current percolation and anisotropy in polycrystalline MgB
The influence of anisotropy on the transport current in MgB
polycrystalline bulk samples and wires is discussed. A model for the critical
current density is proposed, which is based on anisotropic London theory, grain
boundary pinning and percolation theory. The calculated currents agree
convincingly with experimental data and the fit parameters, especially the
anisotropy, obtained from percolation theory agree with experiment or
theoretical predictions.Comment: 5 pages, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters
(http://prl.aps.org/
Evidence for high inter-granular current flow in single-phase polycrystalline MgB2 superconductor
The distribution of magnetic field in single-phase polycrystalline bulk MgB2
has been measured using a Magneto-Optical (MO) technique for an external
magnetic field applied perpendicular to the sample surface. The MO studies
indicate that an inter-granular current network is readily established in this
material and the current is not limited by weak-linked grain boundaries. The
grain boundaries are observed to resist preferential magnetic field
penetration, with the inter-grain mechanism dominating the current flow in the
sample at temperatures up to 30K. The results provide clear evidence that the
intra-granular current flow is isotropic. A critical current density of ~10^4
Acm-2 was estimated at 30K in a field of 150mT from the MO measurements. These
results provide further evidence of the considerable potential for MgB2 for
engineering applications.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure
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