Superconductivity in BiS2-Based Layered Compounds

Crystal structure and physical properties of the novel BiS2-based layered superconductors are briefly reviewed. Superconductivity in the BiS2-based layered compounds is induced by electron doping into the BiS2 conduction layers. The superconducting properties seem to correlate with the crystal structure. Possible strategies for increasing transition temperature in this family are discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, a brief review submitted to ISS2013 proceeding

Nonvolatile Magneto-Thermal Switching in MgB2

Ongoing research explores thermal switching materials to control heat flow. Specifically, there has been interest in magneto-thermal switching (MTS) materials based on superconductors, which only exhibited switching behavior when a magnetic field was applied. However, a recent report highlighted nonvolatile MTS in commercial Sn-Pb solders, attributed to magnetic flux trapping. In this study, we focused on flux trapping in a type-II superconductor MgB2. Magnetization and thermal conductivity measurements under magnetic fields were conducted on polycrystalline MgB2. We confirmed that magnetic flux was indeed trapped in MgB2 even after demagnetization. Additionally, we observed nonvolatile MTS in MgB2 as well as Sn-Pb solders. These results suggest that the nonvolatile MTS may be a widespread characteristic of superconducting materials with flux trapping.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Evolution of two-step structural phase transition in Fe1+dTe detected by low-temperature x-ray diffraction

The low-temperature crystal structure of Fe1.13Te, which exhibits an anomalous two-step magnetic transition, was clarified by the systematic x-ray diffraction measurements. It was found that two-step structural phase transition, tetragonal-orthorhombic-monoclinic, occurred correspondingly to the two-step magnetic transition. The detailed analysis of the profile at 5 K indicated the coexistence of the minor orthorhombic area inside the major monoclinic lattice, which could explain the lower-shift (suppression) of the antiferromagnetic transition temperature in Fe1.13Te and suggest a possibility of superconductivity at the domain boundary.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure