1,360 research outputs found
Similar zone-center gaps in the low-energy spin-wave spectra of NaFeAs and BaFe2As2
We report results of inelastic-neutron-scattering measurements of low-energy
spin-wave excitations in two structurally distinct families of iron-pnictide
parent compounds: Na(1-{\delta})FeAs and BaFe2As2. Despite their very different
values of the ordered magnetic moment and N\'eel temperatures, T_N, in the
antiferromagnetic state both compounds exhibit similar spin gaps of the order
of 10 meV at the magnetic Brillouin-zone center. The gap opens sharply below
T_N, with no signatures of a precursor gap at temperatures between the
orthorhombic and magnetic phase transitions in Na(1-{\delta})FeAs. We also find
a relatively weak dispersion of the spin-wave gap in BaFe2As2 along the
out-of-plane momentum component, q_z. At the magnetic zone boundary (q_z = 0),
spin excitations in the ordered state persist down to 20 meV, which implies a
much smaller value of the effective out-of-plane exchange interaction, J_c, as
compared to previous estimates based on fitting the high-energy spin-wave
dispersion to a Heisenberg-type model.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl
Lattice dynamical signature of charge density wave formation in underdoped YBa2Cu3O6+x
We report a detailed Raman scattering study of the lattice dynamics in
detwinned single crystals of the underdoped high temperature superconductor
YBa2Cu3O6+x (x=0.75, 0.6, 0.55 and 0.45). Whereas at room temperature the
phonon spectra of these compounds are similar to that of optimally doped
YBa2Cu3O6.99, additional Raman-active modes appear upon cooling below ~170-200
K in underdoped crystals. The temperature dependence of these new features
indicates that they are associated with the incommensurate charge density wave
state recently discovered using synchrotron x-ray scattering techniques on the
same single crystals. Raman scattering has thus the potential to explore the
evolution of this state under extreme conditions.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figure
Collective nature of spin excitations in superconducting cuprates probed by resonant inelastic x-ray scattering
We used resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) with and without analysis
of the scattered photon polarization, to study dispersive spin excitations in
the high temperature superconductor YBa2Cu3O6+x over a wide range of doping
levels (0.1 < x < 1). The excitation profiles were carefully monitored as the
incident photon energy was detuned from the resonant condition, and the spin
excitation energy was found to be independent of detuning for all x. These
findings demonstrate that the largest fraction of the spin-flip RIXS profiles
in doped cuprates arises from magnetic collective modes, rather than from
incoherent particle-hole excitations as recently suggested theoretically
[Benjamin et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 247002(2014)]. Implications for the
theoretical description of the electron system in the cuprates are discussed.Comment: Supplementary materials are available upon reques
Nonlinear lattice dynamics as a basis for enhanced superconductivity in YBa2Cu3O6.5
THz-frequency optical pulses can resonantly drive selected vibrational modes
in solids and deform their crystal structure. In complex oxides, this method
has been used to melt electronic orders, drive insulator to metal transitions
or induce superconductivity. Strikingly, coherent interlayer transport strongly
reminiscent of superconductivity can be transiently induced up to room
temperature in YBa2Cu3O6+x. By combining femtosecond X-ray diffraction and ab
initio density functional theory calculations, we determine here the crystal
structure of this exotic non-equilibrium state. We find that nonlinear lattice
excitation in normal-state YBa2Cu3O6+x at 100 K causes a staggered
dilation/contraction of the Cu-O2 intra/inter- bilayer distances, accompanied
by anisotropic changes in the in-plane O-Cu-O bond buckling. Density functional
theory calculations indicate that these motions cause dramatic changes in the
electronic structure. Amongst these, the enhancement in the dx2-y2 character of
the in-plane electronic structure is likely to favor superconductivity.Comment: 28 pages, including Supplemen
Accessing the entire overdoped regime in pristine YBa2Cu3O6 + x by application of pressure
We uncover the previously inaccessible overdoped regime to attain the complete superconducting dome in a pristine high temperature cuprate superconductor, by applying pressures up to 280 kbar to single crystals near stoichiometric YBa[subscript 2]Cu[subscript3]O[subscript 7]. The obtained superconducting phase boundary as a function of hole doping closely follows the form of the superconducting dome in La[subscript 2−x]Sr[subscript x]CuO[subscript 4]. Measurements are now enabled to trace the evolution of various entangled phases and the Fermi surface from the underdoped to overdoped regime in a single high purity cuprate superconducting family of materials.Royal Society (Great Britain)Winton Programme for the Physics of SustainabilityCambridge-MIT InstituteSeventh Framework Programme (European Commission) (Grants FP/2007-2013, ERC 337425 and EPSRC EP/M000524/1
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