Bulk polycrystalline samples, SmFeAsO and the iso-structural superconducting
SmFeAsO0.80F0.20 are explored through resistivity with temperature under
magnetic field {\rho}(T, H), AC and DC magnetization (M-T), and Specific heat
(Cp) measurements. The Resistivity measurement shows superconductivity for x =
0.20 sample with Tc(onset) ~ 51.7K. The upper critical field, [Hc2(0)] is
estimated ~3770kOe by Ginzburg-Landau (GL) theory. Broadening of
superconducting transition in magneto transport is studied through thermally
activated flux flow in applied field up to 130 kOe. The flux flow activation
energy (U/kB) is estimated ~1215K for 1kOe field. Magnetic measurements
exhibited bulk superconductivity with lower critical field (Hc1) of ~1.2kOe at
2K. In normal state, the paramagnetic nature of compound confirms no trace of
magnetic impurity which orders ferromagnetically. AC susceptibility
measurements have been carried out for SmFeAsO0.80F0.20 sample at various
amplitude and frequencies of applied AC drive field. The inter-granular
critical current density (Jc) is estimated. Specific heat [Cp(T)] measurement
showed an anomaly at around 140K due to the SDW ordering of Fe, followed by
another peak at 5K corresponding to the antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering of
Sm+3 ions in SmFeAsO compound. Interestingly the change in entropy (marked by
the Cp transition height) at 5K for Sm+3 AFM ordering is heavily reduced in
case of superconducting SmFeAsO0.80F0.20 sample.Comment: 18 pages text + Figs: comments/suggestions welcome
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