Neutron Scattering Studies of the Magnetic Fluctuations in YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-\delta}

Neutron scattering measurements have been made on the spin fluctuations in YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-\delta} for different oxygen doping levels. Incommensurability is clearly observed for oxygen concentrations of 6.6 and 6.7 and is suggested for the 6.93. Measurements of the resonance for the O_{6.6} concentration show that it exists in a broadened and less intense form at temperatures much higher than T_c.Comment: 9 pages, 4 gif figures, Proceedings of Spectroscopies in Novel Superconductors, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Sept, 199

GRB 030226 in a Density-Jump Medium

We present an explanation for the unusual temporal feature of the GRB 030226 afterglow. The R-band afterglow of this burst faded as ~ t^{-1.2} in ~ 0.2 days after the burst, rebrightened during the period of ~ 0.2 - 0.5 days, and then declined with ~ t^{-2.0}. To fit such a light curve, we consider an ultrarelativistic jetted blast wave expanding in a density-jump medium. The interaction of the blast wave with a large density jump produces relativistic reverse and forward shocks. In this model, the observed rebrightening is due to emissions from these newly forming shocks, and the late-time afterglow is caused by sideways expansion of the jet. Our fitting implies that the progenitor star of GRB 030226 could have produced a stellar wind with a large density jump prior to the GRB onset.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

Pseudogap and incommensurate magnetic fluctuations in YBa_2Cu_3O_{6. 6}

Unpolarized inelastic neutron scattering is used to study the temperature and wave vector dependence of the dynamical magnetic susceptibility, $\chi''(q,\omega)$, of a well characterized single crystal $YBa_2Cu_3O_{6.6}$ ($T_c=62.7$ K). We find that a pseudogap opens in the spin fluctuation spectrum at temperatures well above $T_c$. We speculate that the appearance of the low frequency incommensurate fluctuations is associated with the opening of the pseudogap. To within the error of the measurements, a gap in the spin fluctuation spectrum is found in the superconducting state.Comment: 6 pages, 3 ps figs, Proceedings of ICNS, Physica B, to be publishe