990 research outputs found
Measurement of the Tip-Induced Potential in Scanning Gate Experiments
We present a detailed experimental study on the electrostatic interaction
between a quantum dot and the metallic tip of a scanning force microscope. Our
method allowed us to quantitatively map the tip-induced potential and to
determine the spatial dependence of the tip's lever arm with high resolution.
We find that two parts of the tip-induced potential can be distinguished, one
that depends on the voltage applied to the tip and one that is independent of
this voltage. The first part is due to the metallic tip while we interpret the
second part as the effect of a charged dielectric particle on the tip. In the
measurements of the lever arm we find fine structure that depends on which
quantum state we study. The results are discussed in view of scanning gate
experiments where the tip is used as a movable gate to study nanostructures.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, minor changes to fit published versio
Vortex avalanches in the non-centrosymmetric superconductor Li2Pt3B
We investigated the vortex dynamics in the non-centrosymmetric superconductor
Li_2Pt_3B in the temperature range 0.1 K - 2.8 K. Two different logarithmic
creep regimes in the decay of the remanent magnetization from the Bean critical
state have been observed. In the first regime, the creep rate is
extraordinarily small, indicating the existence of a new, very effective
pinning mechanism. At a certain time a vortex avalanche occurs that increases
the logarithmic creep rate by a factor of about 5 to 10 depending on the
temperature. This may indicate that certain barriers against flux motion are
present and they can be opened under increased pressure exerted by the
vortices. A possible mechanism based on the barrier effect of twin boundaries
is briefly discussed
Asymmetric magnetic interference patterns in 0-pi Josephson junctions
We examine the magnetic interference patterns of Josephson junctions with a
region of 0- and of pi-phase shift. Such junctions have recently been realized
as c-axis YBCO-Pb junctions with a single twin boundary in YBCO. We show that
in general the junction generates self-fields which introduces an asymmetry in
the critical current under reversal of the magnetic field. Numerical
calculations of these asymmetries indicate they account well for the
unexplained features observed in single twin boundary junctions.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Josephson tunneling in high- superconductors
This article describes the Josephson tunneling from time-reversal
symmetry-breaking states and compares it with that from time-reversal invariant
states for both twinned and untwinned crystals and for both -axis and
basal-plane currents, in a model for orthorhombic YBCO. A macroscopic
invariance group describing the superconducting state of a twinned crystal is
introduced and shown to provide a useful framework for the discussion of the
results for twinned crystals. In addition, a ring geometry, which allows
-wave and -wave superconductivity in a tetragonal
superconductor to be distinguished on the basis of symmetry arguments only, is
proposed and analyzed. Finally, an appendix gives details of the experimental
Josephson tunneling evidence for a superconducting state of orthorhombic
symmetry in YBCO.Comment: Latex File, 18 pages, 6 Postscript figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Degenerate ground state and anomalous flux hysteresis in an YBa2Cu3O7 grain boundary r.f. SQUID
We report measurements of the flux hysteresis curves and trapped flux
distribution in an YBa2Cu3O7 r.f. SQUID containing two closely spaced grain
boundary Josephson junctions in parallel. Broadening of the flux distribution
from T = 15 K to 30 K is followed by a bifurcation at T = 35 K which
corresponds to a degenerate ground state. Above T ~ 40 K the bifurcation
disappears, the flux distribution narrows significantly and small secondary
loops appear in the hysteresis curves. This behaviour can be modelled
qualitatively if we assume a temperature dependent second harmonic term in the
current-phase relationship of the junctions.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure
Orbital-selective Mott transitions in the anisotropic two-band Hubbard model at finite temperatures
The anisotropic degenerate two-orbital Hubbard model is studied within
dynamical mean-field theory at low temperatures. High-precision calculations on
the basis of a refined quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) method reveal that two
distinct orbital-selective Mott transitions occur for a bandwidth ratio of 2
even in the absence of spin-flip contributions to the Hund exchange. The second
transition -- not seen in earlier studies using QMC, iterative perturbation
theory, and exact diagonalization -- is clearly exposed in a low-frequency
analysis of the self-energy and in local spectra.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Spontaneous flux in a d-wave superconductor with time-reversal-symmetry-broken pairing state at {110} boundaries
The induction of an s-wave component in a d-wave superconductor is
considered. Near the {110}-oriented edges of such a sample, the induced s-wave
order parameter together with d-wave component forms a complex combination
d+e^{i\phi} s, which breaks the time reversal symmetry (BTRS) of the pairing
state. As a result, the spontaneous current is created. We numerically study
the current distribution and the formation of the spontaneous flux induced by
the current. We show that the spontaneous flux formed from a number of defect
lines with {110} orientation has a measurable strength. This result may provide
a unambiguous way to check the existence of BTRS pairing state at
{110}-oriented boundaries.Comment: 4 pages, 2 ps-figures, content changed, references adde
Electronic states on a twin boundary of a d-wave superconductor
We show that an induced -wave harmonic in the superconducting gap of an
orthorhombic superconductor strongly affects the excitation
spectrum near a twinning plane. In particular, it yields bound states of zero
energy with areal density proportional to the relative weight of the -wave
component. An unusual scattering process responsible for the thermal
conductivity across the twin boundary at low temperatures is also identified.Comment: 4 pages, ReVTEX, 2 PS-figure
Nonlinear Magneto-Optical Response of - and -Wave Superconductors
The nonlinear magneto-optical response of - and -wave superconductors
is discussed. We carry out the symmetry analysis of the nonlinear
magneto-optical susceptibility in the superconducting state. Due to the surface
sensitivity of the nonlinear optical response for systems with bulk inversion
symmetry, we perform a group theoretical classification of the superconducting
order parameter close to a surface. For the first time, the mixing of singlet
and triplet pairing states induced by spin-orbit coupling is systematically
taken into account. We show that the interference of singlet and triplet
pairing states leads to an observable contribution of the nonlinear
magneto-optical Kerr effect. This effect is not only sensitive to the
anisotropy of the gap function but also to the symmetry itself. In view of the
current discussion of the order parameter symmetry of High-T
superconductors, results for a tetragonal system with bulk singlet pairing for
various pairing symmetries are discussed.Comment: 21 pages (REVTeX) with 8 figures (Postscript
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