arXiv subjects

A. Rigamonti

Publications and source records attributed to A. Rigamonti.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2018

On the superconducting phase fluctuations above Tc in cuprates

In this brief report an attempt is made for a 'mise-a-point' of the subject of the phase fluctuations of the superconducting order parameter above Tc in cuprates, particularly as they appear in underdoped compounds. Measurements of torque magnetometry, Nernst effect and isothermal diamagnetic magnetization curves published in the last years are taken into consideration. Although by different experimental approaches and in different magnetic field ranges it can be stated that vortex-antivortex excitations and phase fluctuations among islands of local non-zero order parameter lacking of long range coherence do occur in a relevant temperature range above Tc, particularly in underdoped compounds. The role of the diamagnetic magnetization curves on approaching Tc from above in opening the field with clear signature is remarked, while enlightening comparison with other approaches appear possible.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2011

Superconducting phase fluctuations in SmFeAsO$_{0.8}$F$_{0.2}$ from diamagnetism at low magnetic field above $T_{c}$

Superconducting fluctuations (SF) in SmFeAsO$_{0.8}$F$_{0.2}$ (characterized by superconducting transition temperature $T_{c} \simeq 52.3$ K) are investigated by means of isothermal high-resolution dc magnetization measurements. The diamagnetic response to magnetic fields up to 1 T above $T_{c}$ is similar to what previously reported for underdoped cuprate superconductors and it can be justified in terms of metastable superconducting islands at non-zero order parameter lacking of long-range coherence because of strong phase fluctuations. In the high-field regime ($H \gtrsim 1.5$ T) scaling arguments predicted on the basis of the Ginzburg-Landau theory of conventional SF are found to be applicable, at variance with what observed in the low-field regime. This fact enlightens that two different phenomena are simultaneously present in the fluctuating diamagnetism, namely the phase SF of novel character and the conventional SF. High magnetic fields (1.5 T $\lesssim H \ll H_{c2}$) are found to suppress the former while leaving unaltered the latter one.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2010

Coupling between 4f and itinerant electrons in SmFeAsO1-xFx (0.15 < x < 0.2) superconductors: an NMR study

$^{19}$F NMR measurements in SmFeAsO$_{1-x}$F$_x$, for $0.15\leq x\leq 0.2$, are presented. The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate $1/T_1$ increases upon cooling with a trend analogous to the one already observed in CeCu$_{5.2}$Au$_{0.8}$, a quasi two-dimensional heavy-fermion intermetallic compound with an antiferromagnetic ground-state. In particular, the behaviour of the relaxation rate either in SmFeAsO$_{1-x}$F$_x$ or in CeCu$_{5.2}$Au$_{0.8}$ can be described in the framework of the self-consistent renormalization theory for weakly itinerant electron systems. Remarkably, no effect of the superconducting transition on $^{19}$F $1/T_1$ is detected, a phenomenon which can hardly be explained within a single band model.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

Zero-Dimensional Superconducting Fluctuations and Fluctuating Diamagnetism in Lead Nanoparticles

High resolution SQUID magnetization measurements in lead nanoparticles are used to study the fluctuating diamagnetism in zero-dimensional condition, namely for particle size d lesser than the coherence length. The diamagnetic magnetization Mdia (H, T= const) as a function of the field H at constant temperature is reported in the critical region and compared with the behaviour in the temperature range where the first-order fluctuation correction is expected to hold. The magnetization curves are analysed in the framework of exact fluctuation theories based on the Ginzburg-Landau functional for the coherence length much greater than d. The role of the upturn field Hup where Mdia reverses the field dependence is discussed and its relevance for the study of the fluctuating diamagnetism, particularly in the critical region where the first-order fluctuation correction breaks down, is pointed out. The size and temperature dependence of Hup is theoretically derived and compared to the experimental data. The relevance and the magnetization curves for non-evanescent field and of the upturn field for the study of the fluctuating diamagnetism above the superconducting transition temperature is emphasized.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2005

Two-bands effect on the superconducting fluctuating diamagnetism in MgB&#8322

The field dependence of the magnetization above the transition temperature Tc in MgB₂ is shown to evidence a diamagnetic contribution consistent with superconducting fluctuations reflecting both the σ and π bands. In particular, the upturn field Hup in the magnetization curve, related to the incipient effect of the magnetic field in quenching the fluctuating pairs, displays a double structure, in correspondence to two correlation lengths. The experimental findings are satisfactorily described by the extension to the diamagnetism of a recent theory for paraconductivity, in the framework of a zero-dimensional model for the fluctuating superconducting droplets above Tc.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2002

Anomalous doping dependence of the fluctuation-induced diamagnetism in superconductors of YBCO family

SQUID magnetization measurements in oriented powders of Y$_{1-x}$Ca$_{x}$Ba$% _{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{y}$, with $x$ ranging from 0 to 0.2, for $y\approx 6.1$ and $y\approx 6.97$, have been performed in order to study the doping dependence of the fluctuating diamagnetism above the superconducting transition temperature $T_{c}$. While for optimally doped compounds the diamagnetic susceptibility and the magnetization curves $-M_{fl}(T=const$) vs. $H$ are rather well justified on the basis of an anisotropic Ginzburg-Landau (GL) functional, in underdoped and overdoped regimes an anomalous diamagnetism is observed, with a large enhancement with respect to the GL scenario. Furthermore the shape of magnetization curves differs strongly from the one derived in that scheme. The anomalies are discussed in terms of phase fluctuations of the order parameter in a layered system of vortices and in the assumption of charge inhomogeneities inducing local, non percolating, superconducting regions with $T_{c}^{(loc)}$ higher than the resistive transition temperature $T_{c}$. The susceptibility displays activated temperature behavior, a mark characteristic of the vortex-antivortex description, while history dependent magnetization, with relaxation after zero-field cooling, is consistent with the hypothesis of superconducting droplets in the normal state. Thus the theoretical picture consistently accounts for most experimental findings.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2001

Superconducting Diamagnetic Fluctuations in MgB2

The fluctuating diamagnetic magnetization Mfl at constant field H as a function of temperature and the isothermal magnetization Mfl vs H are measured in MgB2, above the superconducting transition temperature. The expressions for Mfl in randomly oriented powders are derived in the Gaussian approximation of local Ginzburg-Landau theory and used for the analysis of the data. The scaled magnetization Mfl/H^{1/2}*T is found to be field dependent. In the limit of evanescent field the behaviour for Gaussian fluctuations is obeyed while for H>~ 100 Oe the field tends to suppress the fluctuating pairs, with a field dependence of Mfl close to the one expected when short wavelength fluctuations and non-local electrodynamic effects are taken into account. Our data, besides providing the isothermal magnetization curves for T>Tc(0) in a BCS-type superconductor such as MgB2, evidence an enhancement of the fluctuating diamagnetism which is related to the occurrence in this new superconductor of an anisotropic spectrum of the superconducting fluctuations.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2001

On the "spin-freezing" mechanism in underdoped superconducting cuprates

The letter deals with the spin-freezing process observed by means of NMR-NQR relaxation or by muon spin rotation in underdoped cuprate superconductors. This phenomenon, sometimes referred as coexistence of antiferromagnetic and superconducting order parameters, is generally thought to result from randomly distributed magnetic moments related to charge inhomogeneities (possibly stripes) which exhibit slowing down of their fluctuations on cooling below T$_c$ . Instead, we describe the experimental findings as due to fluctuating, vortex-antivortex, orbital currents state coexisting with d-wave superconducting state. A direct explanation of the experimental results, in underdoped Y$_{1-x}$Ca$_x$Ba$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{6.1}$ and La$_{2-x}$Sr$%_x$CuO$_4$, is thus given in terms of freezing of orbital current fluctuations.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2000

Glassy Spin Freezing and NMR Wipeout Effect in the High-T_c Superconductor La1.90Sr0.10CuO4: What is the Relationship With Stripes ?

We report on 139La and 63Ccu NMR/NQR measurements in the high-Tc superconductor La1.90Sr0.10CuO4 with Tc=26.5 K. Spin fluctuations probed by 139La spin-lattice relaxation (T1), continuously slow down on cooling through Tc. We argue that spin-freezing and superconductivity are bulk effects in this sample. Thus, both phenomena have to coexist microscopically. The distribution of 139La T1 values at low temperature reveals a wide spread of spin fluctuation frequencies in CuO2 planes. A simple estimate shows that Cu nuclei at sites where electronic fluctuations are the slowest are not observable because of too short relaxation times (wipeout effect). This means that the Cu NQR wipeout, observed in this sample, can be explained primarily by slow magnetic, rather than charge, fluctuations. This result does not rule out the connection between wipeout effect and charge stripe order [Hunt et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 4300 (1999)], but it indicates that the relationship between both phenomena is not straightforward. We argue that the wipeout fraction cannot define a proper order parameter for a stripe phase, and cannot be used alone as a criterion for its existence.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2000

Anelastic relaxation and $^{139}$La NQR in La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ around the critical Sr content x=0.02

Anelastic relaxation and $^{139}$La NQR relaxation measurements in La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ for Sr content x around 2 and 3 percent, are presented and discussed in terms of spin and lattice excitations and ordering processes. It is discussed how the phase diagram of La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ at the boundary between the antiferromagnetic (AF) and the spin-glass phase (x = 0.02) could be more complicate than previous thought, with a transition to a quasi-long range ordered state at T = 150 K, as indicated by recent neutron scattering data. On the other hand, the $^{139}$La NQR spectra are compatible with a transition to a conventional AF phase around T = 50 K, in agreement with the phase diagram commonly accepted in the literature. In this case the relaxation data, with a peak of magnetic origin in the relaxation rate around 150 K at 12 MHz and the anelastic counterparts around 80 K in the kHz range, yield the first evidence in La$_{1.98}$Sr$_{0.02}$CuO$_4$ of freezing involving simultaneously lattice and spin excitations. This excitation could correspond to the motion of charged stripes.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2000

Magnetic field dependence of the superconducting fluctuation contribution to NMR-NQR relaxation

The dependence of the Maki-Thompson (MT) and of the density of states depletion (DOS) contributions from superconducting fluctuations (SF) to NMR-NQR relaxation is derived in the framework of the diagrammatic theory, applied to layered three dimensional (3D) high T_c superconductors. The regularization procedure devised for the conductivity (Buzdin and Varlamov, Phys. Rev. B, 58, 14195 (1998)) is used in order to avoid the divergence of the DOS term. The theoretical results are discussed in the light of NMR-NQR measurements in YBCO and compared with the recent theory (Eschrig et al., Phys. Rev. B 59, 12095 (1999)), based on the assumption of a purely 2D spectrum of fluctuations.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv1999

Superconducting fluctuations and anomalous diamagnetism in underdoped YBa2Cu3O6+x from magnetization and 63Cu NMR-NQR relaxation measurements

Magnetization and 63Cu NMR-NQR relaxation measurements are used to study the superconducting fluctuations in YBa2Cu3O6+x (YBCO) oriented powders. In optimally doped YBCO the fluctuating negative magnetization M_{fl}(H,T) is rather well described by an anisotropic Ginzburg-Landau (GL) functional and the curves M_{fl}/sqrt{H} cross at Tc. In underdoped YBCO, instead, over a wide temperature range an anomalous diamagnetism is observed, stronger than in the optimally doped compound by about an order of magnitude. The field and temperature dependences of M_{fl} cannot be described either by an anisotropic GL functional or on the basis of scaling arguments. The anomalous diamagnetism is more pronounced in samples with a defined order in the Cu(1)O chains. The 63Cu(2) relaxation rate shows little, if any, field dependence in the vicinity of the transition temperature Tc(H=0). It is argued how the results in the underdoped compounds can be accounted for by the presence of charge inhomogeneities, favoured by chains ordering.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv1999

Spin dynamics in hole-doped two-dimensional S=1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnets: ^{63}Cu NQR relaxation in La_{2-x}Sr_xCuO_4 for $x\leq 0.04$

The effects on the correlated Cu^{2+} S = 1/2 spin dynamics in the paramagnetic phase of La_{2-x}Sr_xCuO_4 (for $x \lesssim 0.04$) due to the injection of holes are studied by means of ^{63}Cu NQR spin-lattice relaxation time T_1 measurements. The results are discussed in the framework of the connection between T_1 and the in-plane magnetic correlation length $ξ_{2D}(x,T)$. It is found that at high temperatures the system remains in the renormalized classical regime, with a spin stiffness constant $ρ_s(x)$ reduced by small doping to an extent larger than the one due to Zn doping. For $x\gtrsim 0.02$ the effect of doping on $ρ_s(x)$ appears to level off. The values for $ρ_s(x)$ derived from T_1 for $T\gtrsim 500$ K are much larger than the ones estimated from the temperature behavior of sublattice magnetization in the ordered phase ($T\leq T_N$). It is argued that these features are consistent with the hypothesis of formation of stripes of microsegregated holes.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv1999

Spin dynamics and magnetic correlation length in two-dimensional quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnets

The correlated spin dynamics and the temperature dependence of the correlation length $ξ(T)$ in two-dimensional quantum ($S=1/2$) Heisenberg antiferromagnets (2DQHAF) on square lattice are discussed in the light of experimental results of proton spin lattice relaxation in copper formiate tetradeuterate (CFTD). In this compound the exchange constant is much smaller than the one in recently studied 2DQHAF, such as La$_2$CuO$_4$ and Sr$_2$CuO$_2$Cl$_2$. Thus the spin dynamics can be probed in detail over a wider temperature range. The NMR relaxation rates turn out in excellent agreement with a theoretical mode-coupling calculation. The deduced temperature behavior of $ξ(T)$ is in agreement with high-temperature expansions, quantum Monte Carlo simulations and the pure quantum self-consistent harmonic approximation. Contrary to the predictions of the theories based on the Non-Linear $σ$ Model, no evidence of crossover between different quantum regimes is observed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv1999

Tilt waves dynamics of the oxygen octahedra in La2CuO4 from anelastic and 139La NQR relaxation

The anharmonic vibrational dynamics in nearly stoichiometric La2CuO4+delta is studied by means of anelastic and ^{139}La NQR relaxation. In the absorption component of the elastic susceptibility as well as in the nuclear relaxation rate a peak is detected as a function of temperature, and a relaxation time tau = 1.7 10^{-12} exp [(2800 K)/T] s is derived. The relaxation processes are attributed to tilt motion of the CuO6 octahedra in doublewell potentials, whose cooperative character increases the effective energy barrier to the observed value. The analysis of the relaxation mechanisms has been carried out by reducing the dynamics of the interacting octahedra to a one-dimensional equation of motion. The soliton-like solutions correspond to parallel walls separating domains of different tilt patterns and give rise to pseudo-diffusive modes which appear as a central component in the spectral density of the motion of the octahedra. The tilt waves may be considered to correspond to the dynamical lattice stripes observed in La-based and Bi-based high-Tc superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗