Magnetic field induced 3D to 1D crossover in Sr0:9La0:1CuO2

The effect of the magnetic field on the critical behavior of Sr0:9La0:1CuO2 is explored in terms of reversible magnetization data. As the correlation length transverse to the magnetic field Hi,applied along the i-axis, cannot grow beyond the limiting magnetic length LHi, related to the average distance between vortex lines, one expects a magnetic field induced finite size effect. Invoking the scaling theory of critical phenomena we provide clear evidence for this effect. It implies that in type II superconductors there is a 3D to 1D crossover line Hpi(T). Consequently, below Tc and above Hpi(T) uperconductivity is confined to cylinders with diameter LHi(1D). Accordingly, there is no continuous phase transition in the (H,T)-plane along the Hc2-lines as predicted by the mean-field treatment.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Pressure effects on the superconducting properties of YBa_2Cu_4O_8

Measurements of the magnetization under high hydrostatic pressure (up to 10.2 kbar) in YBa_2Cu_4O_8 were carried out. From the scaling analysis of the magnetization data the pressure induced shifts of the transition temperature T_c, the volume V and the anisotropy \gamma have been obtained. It was shown that the pressure induced relative shift of T_c mirrors essentially that of the anisotropy. This observation uncovers a novel generic property of anisotropic type II superconductors, that inexistent in the isotropic case.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Implications of the isotope effects on the magnetization, magnetic torque and susceptibility

We analyze the magnetization, magnetic torque and susceptibility data of La2-xSrxCu(16,18)O4 and YBa2(63,65)CuO7-x near Tc in terms of the universal 3D-XY scaling relations. It is shown that the isotope effect on Tc mirrors that on the anisotropy. Invoking the generic behavior of the anisotropy the doping dependence of the isotope effects on the critical properties, including Tc, correlation lengths and magnetic penetration depths are traced back to a change of the mobile carrier concentration.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Probing inhomogeneities in type II superconductors by means of thermal fluctuations, magnetic fields and isotope effects

Type II superconductors, consisting of superconducting domains embedded in a normal or insulating matrix, undergo a rounded phase transition. Indeed, the correlation length cannot grow beyond the spatial extent of the domains. Accordingly, the thermodynamic properties will exhibit a finite size effect. It is shown that the specific heat and penetration depth data of a variety of type II superconductors, including cuprates, exhibit the characteristic properties of a finite size effect, arising from domains with nanoscale extent. The finite size scaling analysis reveals essential features of the mechanism. Transition temperature and superfluidity increase with reduced domain size. The combined finite size and isotope effects uncover the relevance of local lattice distortionsComment: 9 pages, 5 figur

Pressure and isotope effect on the anisotropy of MgB2_{2}

We analyze the data for the pressure and boron isotope effect on the temperature dependence of the magnetization near $T_{c}$. Invoking the universal scaling relation for the magnetization at fixed magnetic field it is shown that the relative shift of $T_{c}$, induced by pressure or boron isotope exchange, mirrors essentially that of the anisotropy. This uncovers a novel generic property of anisotropic type II superconductors, inexistent in the isotropic case. For MgB$_{2}$ it implies that the renormalization of the Fermi surface topology due to pressure or isotope exchange is dominated by a mechanism controlling the anisotropy.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

Comment on "Spatio-temporal filling of missing points in geophysical data sets" by D. Kondrashov and M. Ghil, Nonlin. Processes Geophys., 13, 151–159, 2006

Kondrashov and Ghil (2006) (KG hereafter) describe a method for imputing missing values in incomplete datasets that can exploit both spatial and temporal covariability to estimate missing values from available values. Temporal covariability has not been exploited as widely as spatial covariability in imputing missing values in geophysical datasets, but, as KG show, doing so can improve estimates of missing values. However, there are several inaccuracies in KG’s paper. Since similar inaccuracies have surfaced in other recent papers, for example, in the literature on paleo-climate reconstructions, I would like to point them out here

Competition between anisotropy and superconductivity in organic and cuprate superconductors

We analyze the empirical correlation between the zero temperature penetration depth $\lambda_{c}(0)$ and the corresponding normal state DC conductivity $\sigma_{c}^{DC}$, measured slightly above the transition temperature $T_{c}$, in different classes of quasi two-dimensional superconductors, including cuprates and organics. For this purpose we invoke the scaling theory of quantum and finite temperature critical phenomena. Important implications are: Superconductivity in the organic and cuprate superconductors is a genuine three dimensional (3D) phenomenon. The competition between anisotropy and superconductivity destroys the latter in the 2D limit even in the ground state. The data uncovers the flow to quantum criticality, including the 2D quantum superconductor to insulator (2D-QSI) and the 3D quantum superconductor to normal state (3D-QSN) transition. This flow gives a clear perspective of the regimes where quantum fluctuations are essential and mean-field treatments fail. Thus, a detailed account of the flow from mean-field to 2D-QSI criticality in organics and the crossover from the 2D-QSI to the 3D-QSN critical point in cuprates is a challenge for microscopic theories attempting to solve the puzzle of superconductivity in these materials.Comment: 6 p-ages, 1 figur