1,125 research outputs found
Localized Distributions of Quasi Two-Dimensional Electronic States near Defects Artificially Created at Graphite Surfaces in Magnetic Fields
We measured the local density of states of a quasi two-dimensional electron
system (2DES) near defects, artificially created by Ar-ion sputtering, on
surfaces of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) with scanning tunneling
spectroscopy (STS) in high magnetic fields. At valley energies of the Landau
level spectrum, we found two typical localized distributions of the 2DES
depending on the defects. These are new types of distributions which are not
observed in the previous STS work at the HOPG surface near a point defect [Y.
Niimi \textit{et al}., Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 97}, 236804 (2006).]. With
increasing energy, we observed gradual transformation from the localized
distributions to the extended ones as expected for the integer quantum Hall
state. We show that the defect potential depth is responsible for the two
localized distributions from comparison with theoretical calculations.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
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)
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.
STS Observations of Landau Levels at Graphite Surfaces
Scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements were made on surfaces of two
different kinds of graphite samples, Kish graphite and highly oriented
pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), at very low temperatures and in high magnetic
fields. We observed a series of peaks in the tunnel spectra, which grow with
increasing field, both at positive and negative bias voltages. These are
associated with Landau quantization of the quasi two-dimensional electrons and
holes in graphite in magnetic fields perpendicular to the basal plane. Almost
field independent Landau levels fixed near the Fermi energy, which are
characteristic of the graphite crystalline structure, were directly observed
for the first time. Calculations of the local density of states at the graphite
surfaces allow us to identify Kish graphite as bulk graphite and HOPG as
graphite with finite thickness effectively
Construction of a Versatile Ultra-Low Temperature Scanning Tunneling Microscope
We constructed a dilution-refrigerator (DR) based ultra-low temperature
scanning tunneling microscope (ULT-STM) which works at temperatures down to 30
mK, in magnetic fields up to 6 T and in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). Besides these
extreme operation conditions, this STM has several unique features not
available in other DR based ULT-STMs. One can load STM tips as well as samples
with clean surfaces prepared in a UHV environment to an STM head keeping low
temperature and UHV conditions. After then, the system can be cooled back to
near the base temperature within 3 hours. Due to these capabilities, it has a
variety of applications not only for cleavable materials but also for almost
all conducting materials. The present ULT-STM has also an exceptionally high
stability in the presence of magnetic field and even during field sweep. We
describe details of its design, performance and applications for low
temperature physics.Comment: 6 pages, 9 figures. accepted for publication in Rev. Sci. Instru
Real-Space Imaging of Alternate Localization and Extension of Quasi Two-Dimensional Electronic States at Graphite Surfaces in Magnetic Fields
We measured the local density of states (LDOS) of a quasi two-dimensional
(2D) electron system near point defects on a surface of highly oriented
pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) with scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy.
Differential tunnel conductance images taken at very low temperatures and in
high magnetic fields show a clear contrast between localized and extended
spatial distributions of the LDOS at the valley and peak energies of the Landau
level spectrum, respectively. The localized electronic state has a single
circular distribution around the defects with a radius comparable to the
magnetic length. The localized LDOS is in good agreement with a spatial
distribution of a calculated wave function for a single electron in 2D in a
Coulomb potential in magnetic fields.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
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
Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy of the electronic local density of states of graphite surfaces near monoatomic step edges
We measured the electronic local density of states (LDOS) of graphite
surfaces near monoatomic step edges, which consist of either the zigzag or
armchair edge, with the scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy
(STS) techniques. The STM data reveal that the and honeycomb superstructures coexist over a length scale of 3-4 nm
from both the edges. By comparing with density-functional derived nonorthogonal
tight-binding calculations, we show that the coexistence is due to a slight
admixing of the two types of edges at the graphite surfaces. In the STS
measurements, a clear peak in the LDOS at negative bias voltages from -100 to
-20 mV was observed near the zigzag edges, while such a peak was not observed
near the armchair edges. We concluded that this peak corresponds to the
graphite "edge state" theoretically predicted by Fujita \textit{et al.} [J.
Phys. Soc. Jpn. {\bf 65}, 1920 (1996)] with a tight-binding model for graphene
ribbons. The existence of the edge state only at the zigzag type edge was also
confirmed by our first-principles calculations with different edge
terminations.Comment: 20 pages, 11 figure
Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy studies of graphite edges
We studied experimentally and theoretically the electronic local density of
states (LDOS) near single step edges at the surface of exfoliated graphite. In
scanning tunneling microscopy measurements, we observed the and honeycomb superstructures extending over 34 nm
both from the zigzag and armchair edges. Calculations based on a
density-functional derived non-orthogonal tight-binding model show that these
superstructures can coexist if the two types of edges admix each other in real
graphite step edges. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements near the
zigzag edge reveal a clear peak in the LDOS at an energy below the Fermi energy
by 20 meV. No such a peak was observed near the armchair edge. We concluded
that this peak corresponds to the "edge state" theoretically predicted for
graphene ribbons, since a similar prominent LDOS peak due to the edge state is
obtained by the first principles calculations.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, APF9, Appl. Surf. Sci. \bf{241}, 43 (2005
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
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