High-energy magnetic excitations in overdoped La2−x_{2-x}Srx_{x}CuO4_{4} studied by neutron and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering

We have performed neutron inelastic scattering and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) at the Cu-$L_3$ edge to study high-energy magnetic excitations at energy transfers of more than 100 meV for overdoped La$_{2-x}$Sr$_{x}$CuO$_{4}$ with $x=0.25$ ($T_c=15$ K) and $x=0.30$ (non-superconducting) using identical single crystal samples for the two techniques. From constant-energy slices of neutron scattering cross-sections, we have identified magnetic excitations up to ~250 meV for $x=0.25$. Although the width in the momentum direction is large, the peak positions along the (pi, pi) direction agree with the dispersion relation of the spin-wave in the non-doped La$_{2}$CuO$_{4}$ (LCO), which is consistent with the previous RIXS results of cuprate superconductors. Using RIXS at the Cu-$L_3$ edge, we have measured the dispersion relations of the so-called paramagnon mode along both (pi, pi) and (pi, 0) directions. Although in both directions the neutron and RIXS data connect with each other and the paramagnon along (pi, 0) agrees well with the LCO spin-wave dispersion, the paramagnon in the (pi, pi) direction probed by RIXS appears to be less dispersive and the excitation energy is lower than the spin-wave of LCO near (pi/2, pi/2). Thus, our results indicate consistency between neutron inelastic scattering and RIXS, and elucidate the entire magnetic excitation in the (pi, pi) direction by the complementary use of two probes. The polarization dependence of the RIXS profiles indicates that appreciable charge excitations exist in the same energy range of magnetic excitations, reflecting the itinerant character of the overdoped sample. A possible anisotropy in the charge excitation intensity might explain the apparent differences in the paramagnon dispersion in the (pi, pi) direction as detected by the X-ray scattering.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

Direct observation of bulk charge modulations in optimally-doped Bi1.5_{1.5}Pb0.6_{0.6}Sr1.54_{1.54}CaCu2_{2}O8+δ_{8+\delta}

Bulk charge density modulations, recently observed in high critical-temperature ($T_\mathrm{c}$) cuprate superconductors, coexist with the so-called pseudogap and compete with superconductivity. However, its direct observation has been limited to a narrow doping region in the underdoped regime. Using energy-resolved resonant x-ray scattering we have found evidence for such bulk charge modulations, or soft collective charge modes (soft CCMs), in optimally doped Bi$_{1.5}$Pb$_{0.6}$Sr$_{1.54}$CaCu$_{2}$O$_{8+\delta}$ (Pb-Bi2212) around the summit of the superconducting dome with momentum transfer $q_{\parallel}\sim0.28$ reciprocal lattice units (r.l.u.) along the Cu-O bond direction. The signal is stronger at $T\simeq T_\mathrm{c}$ than at lower temperatures, thereby confirming a competition between soft CCMs and superconductivity. These results demonstrate that soft CCMs are not constrained to the underdoped regime, suggesting that soft CCMs appear across a large part of the phase diagram of cuprates and are intimately entangled with high-$T_\mathrm{c}$ superconductivity.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl

Magnetic excitations in stripe-ordered La1.875_{1.875}Ba0.125_{0.125}CuO4_4 studied using resonant inelastic x-ray scattering

The charge and spin correlations in La$_{1.875}$Ba$_{0.125}$CuO$_4$ (LBCO 1/8) are studied using Cu $L_3$ edge resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS). The static charge order (CO) is observed at a wavevector of $(0.24,0)$ and its charge nature confirmed by measuring the dependence of this peak on the incident x-ray polarization. The paramagnon excitation in LBCO 1/8 is then measured as it disperses through the CO wavevector. Within the experimental uncertainty no changes are observed in the paramagnon due to the static CO, and the paramagnon seems to be similar to that measured in other cuprates, which have no static CO. Given that the stripe correlation modulates both the charge and spin degrees of freedom, it is likely that subtle changes do occur in the paramagnon due to CO. Consequently, we propose that future RIXS measurements, realized with higher energy resolution and sensitivity, should be performed to test for these effects.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Magnetic excitations and phonons simultaneously studied by resonant inelastic x-ray scattering in optimally doped Bi1.5_{1.5}Pb0.55_{0.55}Sr1.6_{1.6}La0.4_{0.4}CuO6+δ_{6+\delta}

Magnetic excitations in the optimally doped high-$T_\mathrm{c}$ superconductor Bi$_{1.5}$Pb$_{0.55}$Sr$_{1.6}$La$_{0.4}$CuO$_{6+\delta}$ (OP-Bi2201, $T_\mathrm{c}\simeq 34$ K) are investigated by Cu $L_3$ edge resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS), below and above the pseudogap opening temperature. At both temperatures the broad spectral distribution disperses along the (1,0) direction up to $\sim$350~meV at zone boundary, similarly to other hole-doped cuprates. However, above $\sim$0.22 reciprocal lattice units, we observe a concurrent intensity decrease for magnetic excitations and quasi-elastic signals with weak temperature dependence. This anomaly seems to indicate a coupling between magnetic, lattice and charge modes in this compound. We also compare the magnetic excitation spectra near the anti-nodal zone boundary in the single layer OP-Bi2201 and in the bi-layer optimally doped Bi$_{1.5}$Pb$_{0.6}$Sr$_{1.54}$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+\delta}$ (OP-Bi2212, $T_\mathrm{c}\simeq96$ K). The strong similarities in the paramagnon dispersion and in their energy at zone boundary indicate that the strength of the super-exchange interaction and the short-range magnetic correlation cannot be directly related to $T_\mathrm{c}$, not even within the same family of cuprates

Preocupações de carreira e adaptabilidade : estudo exploratório com uma amostra de candidatos a sargentos e oficiais do Exército Português

Tese de mestrado, Psicologia (Psicologia dos Recursos Humanos, do Trabalho e das Organizações), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Psicologia, 2010O presente trabalho consiste num estudo exploratório sobre as preocupações de carreira e as dimensões da adaptabilidade, baseando-se na Perspectiva de Desenvolvimento da Carreira de Donald Super e na Perspectiva Construtivista de Mark Savickas. Pretende-se, ainda, contribuir para a investigação acerca do Inventário sobre Adaptabilidade, que se encontra ainda em estudo no âmbito de um Projecto Internacional. Foram aplicados o Inventário das Preocupações de Carreira e o Inventário sobre Adaptabilidade a uma amostra de 75 adultos candidatos a Sargentos e Oficiais do Exército Português. Os resultados obtidos tendem a confirmar as hipóteses de investigação formuladas, apontando para a relação entre a variável idade e as tarefas de desenvolvimento das fases da carreira Exploração e Estabelecimento, para a predominância das dimensões Confiança e Cooperação, e para a relação entre preocupações de carreira e dimensões da adaptabilidade. Apresentam-se as conclusões do presente estudo, algumas limitações deste e futuras linhas de investigação. Tecem-se também algumas considerações sobre as implicações do estudo para as práticas de gestão de carreira.This work is an exploratory study about the career concerns and the dimensions of adaptability, based on the Perspective of the Career Development of Donald Super and the Constructivist Perspective of Mark Savickas. It is also intended to contribute to the research on the Career Adapt-Abilities Inventory, which is still under investigation as part of an International Project. The Career Concerns Inventory and the Career Adapt-Abilities Inventory were applied to a sample of 75 adult candidates to Sergeants and Officers of the Portuguese Army. The results seem to confirm the research hypotheses, pointing to the relation between the variable age and the developmental tasks of the Exploration and Establishment career phases, to the predominance of the dimensions Cooperation, and Confidence and also to the relation between career concerns and adaptability dimensions. The findings of this study, some of its limitations and future research paths are presented. Some reflections are also discussed in what concerns the study's implications for the career management practices

Giant phonon anomalies and central peak due to charge density wave formation in YBa2_2Cu3_3O6.6_{6.6}

The electron-phonon interaction is a major factor influencing the competition between collective instabilities in correlated-electron materials, but its role in driving high-temperature superconductivity in the cuprates remains poorly understood. We have used high-resolution inelastic x-ray scattering to monitor low-energy phonons in YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{6.6}$ (superconducting $\bf T_c = 61$ K), which is close to a charge density wave (CDW) instability. Phonons in a narrow range of momentum space around the CDW ordering vector exhibit extremely large superconductivity-induced lineshape renormalizations. These results imply that the electron-phonon interaction has sufficient strength to generate various anomalies in electronic spectra, but does not contribute significantly to Cooper pairing. In addition, a quasi-elastic "central peak" due to CDW nanodomains is observed in a wide temperature range above and below $\bf T_c$, suggesting that the gradual onset of a spatially inhomogeneous CDW domain state with decreasing temperature is a generic feature of the underdoped cuprates

Influence of apical oxygen on the extent of in-plane exchange interaction in cuprate superconductors

In high Tc superconductors the magnetic and electronic properties are determined by the probability that valence electrons virtually jump from site to site in the CuO2 planes, a mechanism opposed by on-site Coulomb repulsion and favored by hopping integrals. The spatial extent of the latter is related to transport properties, including superconductivity, and to the dispersion relation of spin excitations (magnons). Here, for three antiferromagnetic parent compounds (single-layer Bi2Sr0.99La1.1CuO6+delta, double-layer Nd1.2Ba1.8Cu3O6 and infinite-layer CaCuO2) differing by the number of apical atoms, we compare the magnetic spectra measured by resonant inelastic x-ray scattering over a significant portion of the reciprocal space and with unprecedented accuracy. We observe that the absence of apical oxygens increases the in-plane hopping range and, in CaCuO2, it leads to a genuine 3D exchange-bond network. These results establish a corresponding relation between the exchange interactions and the crystal structure, and provide fresh insight into the materials dependence of the superconducting transition temperature.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, 1 Table, 42 reference

4f excitations in Ce Kondo lattices studied by resonant inelastic x-ray scattering

The potential of resonant inelastic soft x-ray scattering to measure 4f crystal electric-field excitation spectra in Ce Kondo lattices has been examined. Spectra have been obtained for several Ce systems and show a well-defined structure determined by crystal-field, spin-orbit, and charge-transfer excitations only. The spectral shapes of the excitation spectra can be well understood in the framework of atomic multiplet calculations. For CeCu2Si2 we found notable disagreement between the inelastic x-ray-scattering spectra and theoretical calculations when using the crystal-field scheme proposed from inelastic neutron scattering. Modified sets of crystal-field parameters yield better agreement. Our results also show that, with the very recent improvements of soft x-ray spectrometers in resolution to below 30 meV at the Ce M4,5 edges, resonant inelastic x-ray scattering could be an ideal tool to determine the crystal-field scheme in Ce Kondo lattices and other rare-earth compounds