Synthesis of superconducting pyrochlore RbOs2O6

RbOs2O6, the third superconducting pyrochlore oxide (known so far), has been synthesized by encapsulation and by high pressure techniques. Suitable post chemical treatment of the as-prepared sample allowed us to eliminate the impurity phases. Bulk superconductivity with Tc=6.4 K was observed in magnetisation and specific heat measurements. The transition temperature of RbOs2O6 was found to be the same for both preparation methods. Structural investigations showed that Rb atoms occupy the 8b site in the pyrochlore lattice with a lattice parameter of 10.1137(1) A.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures, correction to one author name and Figure

Massive Scaling Limit of beta-Deformed Matrix Model of Selberg Type

We consider a series of massive scaling limits m_1 -> infty, q -> 0, lim m_1 q = Lambda_{3} followed by m_4 -> infty, Lambda_{3} -> 0, lim m_4 Lambda_{3} = (Lambda_2)^2 of the beta-deformed matrix model of Selberg type (N_c=2, N_f=4) which reduce the number of flavours to N_f=3 and subsequently to N_f=2. This keeps the other parameters of the model finite, which include n=N_L and N=n+N_R, namely, the size of the matrix and the "filling fraction". Exploiting the method developed before, we generate instanton expansion with finite g_s, epsilon_{1,2} to check the Nekrasov coefficients (N_f =3,2 cases) to the lowest order. The limiting expressions provide integral representation of irregular conformal blocks which contains a 2d operator lim frac{1}{C(q)} : e^{(1/2) \alpha_1 \phi(0)}: (int_0^q dz : e^{b_E phi(z)}:)^n : e^{(1/2) alpha_2 phi(q)}: and is subsequently analytically continued.Comment: LaTeX, 21 pages; v2: a reference adde

Antiferromagnetic Exchange Interaction between Electrons on Degenerate LUMOs in Benzene Dianion

We discuss the ground state of Benzene dianion (Bz$^{2-}$) on the basis of the numerical diagonalization method of an effective model of $\pi$ orbitals. It is found that the ground state can be the spin singlet state, and the exchange coupling between LUMOs can be antiferromagnetic.Comment: Accepted for publication in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn., 2 pages, 3 figure

Anomalous magnetic properties near Mott transition in Kagom\'e lattice Hubbard model

We investigate the characteristics of the metallic phase near the Mott transition in the Kagom\'e lattice Hubbard model using the cellular dynamical mean field theory. By calculating the specific heat and spin correlation functions, we demonstrate that the quasiparticles show anomalous properties in the metallic phase close to the Mott transition. We find clear evidence for the multi-band heavy quasiparticles in the specific heat, which gives rise to unusual temperature dependence of the spin correlation functions.Comment: 2 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in J. Mag. Mag. Mater. (Proceedings of the ICM, Kyoto, Japan, August 2006

Upper critical field and de Haas-van Alphen oscillations in KOs2_2O6_6 measured in a hybrid magnet

Magnetic torque measurements have been performed on a KOs$_2$O$_6$ single crystal in magnetic fields up to 35.3 T and at temperatures down to 0.6 K. The upper critical field is determined to be $\sim$30 T. De Haas-van Alphen oscillations are observed. A large mass enhancement of (1+$\lambda$) = $m^* / m_{band}$ = 7.6 is found. It is suggested that, for the large upper critical field to be reconciled with Pauli paramagnetic limiting, the observed mass enhancement must be of electron-phonon origin for the most part.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, published versio

Theory of Room Temperature Ferromagnet V(TCNE)_x (1.5 < x < 2): Role of Hidden Flat Bands

Theoretical studies on the possible origin of room temperature ferromagnetism (ferromagnetic once crystallized) in the molecular transition metal complex, V(TCNE)_x (1.5<x<2) have been carried out. For this family, there have been no definite understanding of crystal structure so far because of sample quality, though the effective valence of V is known to be close to +2. Proposing a new crystal structure for the stoichiometric case of x=2, where the valence of each TCNE molecule is -1 and resistivity shows insulating behavior, exchange interaction among d-electrons on adjacent V atoms has been estimated based on the cluster with 3 vanadium atoms and one TCNE molecule. It turns out that Hund's coupling among d orbitals within the same V atoms and antiferromagnetic coupling between d oribitals and LUMO of TCNE (bridging V atoms) due to hybridization result in overall ferromagnetism (to be precise, ferrimagnetism). This view based on localized electrons is supplemented by the band picture, which indicates the existence of a flat band expected to lead to ferromagnetism as well consistent with the localized view. The off-stoichiometric cases (x<2), which still show ferromagnetism but semiconducting transport properties, have been analyzed as due to Anderson localization.Comment: Accepted for publication in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. Vol.79 (2010), No. 3 (March issue), in press; 6 pages, 8 figure

A Novel IFITM5 Variant Associated with Phenotype of Osteoporosis with Calvarial Doughnut Lesions: A Case Report

cited By 0Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and other decreased bone density disorders comprise a heterogeneous group of heritable diseases with skeletal fragility. Recently, it was discovered that mutations in SGMS2, encoding sphingomyelin synthetase 2, result in aberrant sphingomyelin metabolism and lead to a novel form of OI termed osteoporosis with calvarial doughnut lesions (OP-CDL) with moderate to severe skeletal fragility and variable cranial hyperostotic lesions. This study describes a Japanese family with the skeletal phenotype of OP-CDL. The affected individuals have moderately severe, childhood-onset skeletal fragility with multiple long-bone fractures, scoliosis and bone deformities. In addition, they exhibit multiple CDLs or calvarial bumps with central radiolucency and peripheral radiopacity. However, SGMS2 sequencing was normal. Instead, whole-exome sequencing identified a novel IFITM5 missense mutation c.143A>G (p.N48S) (classified as a VUS by ACMG). IFITM5 encodes an osteoblast-restricted protein BRIL and a recurrent c.-14C>T mutation in its 5' UTR region results in OI type V, a distinctive subtype of OI associated with hyperplastic callus formation and ossification of the interosseous membranes. The patients described here have a phenotype clearly different from OI type V and with hyperostotic cranial lesions, feature previously unreported in association with IFITM5. Our findings expand the genetic spectrum of OP-CDL, indicate diverse phenotypic consequences of pathogenic IFITM5 variants, and imply an important role for BRIL in cranial skeletogenesis.Peer reviewe

Inhomogeneous superconductivity in organic conductors: role of disorder and magnetic field

Several experimental studies have shown the presence of spatially inhomogeneous phase coexistence of superconducting and non superconducting domains in low dimensional organic superconductors. The superconducting properties of these systems are found to be strongly dependent on the amount of disorder introduced in the sample regardless of its origin. The suppression of the superconducting transition temperature $T_c$ shows clear discrepancy with the result expected from the Abrikosov-Gor'kov law giving the behavior of $T_c$ with impurities. Based on the time dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory, we derive a model to account for the striking feature of $T_c$ in organic superconductors for different types of disorder by considering the segregated texture of the system. We show that the calculated $T_c$ quantitatively agrees with experiments. We also focus on the role of superconducting fluctuations on the upper critical fields $H_{c2}$ of layered superconductors showing slab structure where superconducting domains are sandwiched by non-superconducting regions. We found that $H_{c2}$ may be strongly enhanced by such fluctuations.Comment: to appear in Journal of Physics: Condensed Matte