Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

C. W. Chu

Publications and source records attributed to C. W. Chu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2023

Replication and study of anomalies in LK-99--the alleged ambient-pressure, room-temperature superconductor

We have studied LK-99 [Pb$_{10-x}$Cu$_x$(PO$_4$)$_6$O], alleged by Lee et al. to exhibit superconductivity above room temperature and at ambient pressure, and have reproduced all anomalies in electric and magnetic measurements that they reported as evidence for the claim of LK-99 being an ambient-pressure, room-temperature superconductor. We found that these anomalies are associated with the structural transition of the Cu$_2$S impurity in their sample and not with superconductivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2022

Magnetic Kagome Superconductor CeRu$_2$

Materials with a kagome lattice provide a platform for searching for new electronic phases and investigating the interplay between correlation and topology. Various probes have recently shown that the kagome lattice can host diverse quantum phases with intertwined orders, including charge density wave states, bond density wave states, chiral charge order, and, rarely, superconductivity. However, reports of the coexistence of superconductivity and magnetic order in kagome materials remain elusive. Here we revisit a magnetic superconductor CeRu$_2$ with a kagome network formed by Ru atoms. Our first-principles calculations revealed a kagome flat band near the Fermi surface, indicative of flat-band magnetism. At ambient pressure, CeRu$_2$ exhibits a superconducting transition temperature ($T_{\text{c}}$) up to ~ 6 K and a magnetic order at ~ 40 K. Notably, superconductivity and related behavior can be tuned by adjusting the amount of Ru. We conducted a systematic investigation of the superconductivity and magnetic order in CeRu$_2$ via magnetic, resistivity, and structural measurements under pressure up to ~ 168 GPa. An unusual phase diagram that suggests an intriguing interplay between the compound's superconducting order parameters has been constructed. A $T_{\text{c}}$ resurgence was observed above pressure of ~ 28 GPa, accompanied by the sudden appearance of a secondary superconducting transition. Our experiments have identified tantalizing phase transitions driven by high pressure and suggest that the superconductivity and magnetism in CeRu$_2$ are strongly intertwined.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2020

Pressure induced superconductivity in MnSe

The rich phenomena in the FeSe and related compounds have attracted great interests as it provides fertile material to gain further insight into the mechanism of high temperature superconductivity. A natural follow-up work was to look into the possibility of superconductivity in MnSe. It was shown that MnP becomes superconducting with Tc ~ 1 K under pressure. We demonstrated in this work that high pressure can effectively suppress the complex magnetic characters of MnSe crystal when observed at ambient condition. MnSe under pressure is found to undergo several structural transformations: the cubic phase first partially transforms to the hexagonal phase at about 12 GPa, the crystal exhibits the coexistence of cubic, hexagonal and orthorhombic phases from 16 GPa to 30 GPa, and above 30 GPa the crystal shows a single orthorhombic phase. Superconductivity with Tc ~ 5 K was first observed at pressure ~12 GPa by magnetic measurements (~16 GPa by resistive measurements). The highest Tc is ~ 9 K (magnetic result) at ~35 GPa. Our observations suggest the observed superconductivity may closely relate to the pressure-induced structural change. However, the interface between the metallic and insulating boundaries may also play an important role to the pressure induced superconductivity in MnSe.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2017

Weak antilocalization effect due to topological surface states in Bi$_2$Se$_{2.1}$Te$_{0.9}$

We have investigated the weak antilocalization (WAL) effect in the p-type Bi$_2$Se$_{2.1}$Te$_{0.9}$ topological system. The magnetoconductance shows a cusp-like feature at low magnetic fields, indicating the presence of the WAL effect. The WAL curves measured at different tilt angles merge together when they are plotted as a function of the normal field components, showing that surface states dominate the magnetoconductance in the Bi$_2$Se$_{2.1}$Te$_{0.9}$ crystal. We have calculated magnetoconductance per conduction channel and applied the Hikami-Larkin-Nagaoka formula to determine the physical parameters that characterize the WAL effect. The number of conduction channels and the phase coherence length do not change with temperature up to T=5 K. In addition, the sample shows a large positive magnetoresistance that reaches 1900% under a magnetic field of 35 T at T=0.33K with no sign of saturation. The magnetoresistance value decreases with both increasing temperature and tilt angle of the sample surface with respect to the magnetic field. The large magnetoresistance of topological insulators can be utilized in future technology such as sensors and memory devices.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2017

Large magnetoresistance and Fermi surface study of Sb$_2$Se$_2$Te single crystal

We have studied the magnetotransport properties of a Sb$_2$Se$_2$Te single crystal. Magnetoresistance (MR) is maximum when the magnetic field is perpendicular to the sample surface and reaches to a value of 1100\% at $B$=31 T with no sign of saturation. MR shows Shubnikov de Haas (SdH) oscillations above $B$=15 T. The frequency spectrum of SdH oscillations consists of three distinct peaks at $α$=32 T, $β$=80 T and $γ$=117 T indicating the presence of three Fermi surface pockets. Among these frequencies, $β$ is the prominent peak in the frequency spectrum of SdH oscillations measured at different tilt angles of the sample with respect to the magnetic field. From the angle dependence $β$ and Berry phase calculations, we have confirmed the trivial topology of the $β$-pocket. The cyclotron masses of charge carriers, obtained by using the Lifshitz-Kosevich formula, are found to be $m^{*}_β=0.16m_o$ and $m^{*}_γ=0.63m_o$ for the $β$ and $γ$ bands respectively. Large MR of Sb$_2$Se$_2$Te is suitable for utilization in electronic instruments such as a computer hard disc, high field magnetic sensors, and memory devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2017

The Search for Higher $T_c$ in Houston

It is a great pleasure to be invited to join the chorus on this auspicious occasion to celebrate Professor K. Alex Mueller's 90th birthday by Professors Annette Bussman-Holder, Hugo Keller, and Antonio Bianconi. As a student in high temperature superconductivity, I am forever grateful to Professor Alex Mueller and Dr. Georg Bednorz "for their important breakthrough in the discovery of superconductivity in the ceramic materials" in 1986 as described in the citation of their 1987 Nobel Prize in Physics. It is this breakthrough discovery that has ushered in the explosion of research activities in high temperature superconductivity (HTS) and has provided immense excitement in HTS science and technology in the ensuing decades till now. Alex has not been resting on his laurels and has continued to search for the origin of the unusual high temperature superconductivity in cuprates.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2017

Extremely large non-saturating magnetoresistance and ultrahigh mobility due to topological surface states in metallic Bi2Te3 topological insulator

Weak antilocalization (WAL) effects in Bi2Te3 single crystals have been investigated at high and low bulk charge carrier concentrations. At low charge carrier density the WAL curves scale with the normal component of the magnetic field, demonstrating the dominance of topological surface states in magnetoconductivity. At high charge carrier density the WAL curves scale with neither the applied field nor its normal component, implying a mixture of bulk and surface conduction. WAL due to topological surface states shows no dependence on the nature (electrons or holes) of the bulk charge carriers. The observations of an extremely large, non-saturating magnetoresistance, and ultrahigh mobility in the samples with lower carrier density further support the presence of surface states. The physical parameters characterizing the WAL effects are calculated using the Hikami-Larkin-Nagaoka formula. At high charge carrier concentrations, there is a greater number of conduction channels and a decrease in the phase coherence length compared to low charge carrier concentrations. The extremely large magnetoresistance and high mobility of topological insulators have great technological value and can be exploited in magneto-electric sensors and memory devices.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2017

Quantum oscillations in metallic Sb2Te2Se topological insulator

We have studied the magnetotransport properties of the metallic, p-type Sb2Te2Se which is a topological insulator. Magnetoresistance shows Shubnikov de Haas oscillations in fields above B=15 T. The maxima/minima positions of oscillations measured at different tilt angles with respect to the B direction align with the normal component of field Bcosine, implying the existence of a 2D Fermi surface in Sb2Te2Se. The value of the Berry phase determined from a Landau level fan diagram is very close to 0.5, further suggesting that the oscillations result from topological surface states. From Lifshitz-Kosevich analyses, the position of the Fermi level is found to be EF =250 meV, above the Dirac point. This value of EF is almost 3 times as large as that in our previous study on the Bi2Se2:1Te0:9 topological insulator; however, it still touches the tip of the bulk valence band. This explains the metallic behavior and hole-like bulk charge carriers in the Sb2Te2Se compound.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗
arXiv2016

Nearly ferromagnetic metal state in the collapsed tetragonal phase of YFe$_2$(Ge,Si)$_2$

The surprising discovery of tripling the superconducting critical temperature of KFe$_2$As$_2$ at high pressures issued an intriguing question of how the superconductivity in the collapsed tetragonal phase differs from that in the non-collapsed phases of Fe-based superconductors. Here we report $^{89}$Y nuclear magnetic resonance study of YFe$_2$Ge$_{x}$Si$_{2-x}$ compounds whose electronic structure is similar to that of iron-pnictide collapsed tetragonal phases already at ambient pressure. Fe(Ge,Si) layers show strong ferromagnetic spin fluctuations whereas layers are coupled antiferromagnetically -- both positioning the studied family close to a quantum critical point. Next, localized moments attributed either to Fe interstitial or antisite defects may account for magnetic impurity pair-breaking effects thus explaining the substantial variation of superconductivity among different YFe$_2$Ge$_2$ samples.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2016

Pressure effects on magnetic ground states in cobalt doped multiferroic Mn$_{1-x}$Co$_{x}$WO$_4$

Using ambient pressure x-ray and high pressure neutron diffraction, we studied the pressure effect on structural and magnetic properties of multiferroic Mn$_{1-x}$Co$_x$WO$_4$ single crystals ($x=0, 0.05, 0.135$ and $0.17$), and compared it with the effects of doping. Both Co doping and pressure stretch the Mn-Mn chain along the $c$~direction. At high doping level ($x=0.135$ and $0.17$), pressure and Co doping drive the system in a similar way and induce a spin-flop transition for the $x=0.135$ compound. In contrast, magnetic ground states at lower doping level ($x=0$ and $0.05$) are robust against pressure but experience a pronounced change upon Co substitution. As Co introduces both chemical pressure and magnetic anisotropy into the frustrated magnetic system, our results suggest the magnetic anisotropy is the main driving force for the Co induced phase transitions at low doping level, and chemical pressure plays a more significant role at higher Co concentrations.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2016

Evidence for Defect-induced Superconductivity up to 49 K in (Ca1-xRx)Fe2As2

To explore the origin of the unusual non-bulk superconductivity with a Tc up to 49 K reported in the rare-earth-doped CaFe2As2 , the chemical composition, magnetization, specific heat, resistivity, and annealing effect are systematically investigated on nominal (Ca1-xRx)Fe2As2 single crystals with different x's and R = La, Ce, Pr, and Nd. All display a doping-independent Tc once superconductivity is induced, a doping-dependent low field superconducting volume fraction f, and a large magnetic anisotropy η in the superconducting state, suggesting a rather inhomogeneous superconducting state in an otherwise microscale-homogenous superconductor. The wavelength dispersive spectroscopy and specific heat show the presence of defects which are closely related to f, regardless of the R involved. The magnetism further reveals that the defects are mainly superparamagnetic clusters for R = Ce, Pr, and Nd with strong intercluster interactions, implying that defects are locally self-organized. Annealing at 500 °C, without varying the doping level x, suppresses f profoundly but not the Tc. The above observations provide evidence for the crucial role of defects in the occurrence of the unusually high Tc ~ 49 K in (Ca1-xRx)Fe2As2 and are consistent with the interface-enhanced superconductivity recently proposed.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2015

Chemical doping and high pressure studies of layered beta-PdBi2 single crystals

We have systematically grown large single crystals of layered compound beta-PdBi2, both the hole-doped PdBi2-xPbx and the electron-doped NaxPdBi2, and studied their magnetic and transport properties. Hall-effect measurement on PdBi2, PdBi1.8Pb0.2, and Na0.057PdBi2 shows that the charge transport is dominated by electrons in all of the samples. The electron concentration is substantially reduced upon Pb-doping in PdBi2-xPbx and increased upon Na-intercalation in NaxPdBi2, indicating the effective hole-doping by Pb and electron-doping by Na. We observed a monotonic decrease of superconducting transition temperature (Tc) from 5.4K in undoped PdBi2 to less than 2K for x > 0.35 in hole-doped PdBi2-xPbx. Meanwhile, a rapid decrease of Tc with the Na intercalation is also observed in the electron-doped NaxPdBi2, which is in disagreement with the theoretical expectation. In addition, both the magnetoresistance and Hall resistance further reveal evidence for a possible spin density wave (SDW)-like transition below 50K in the Na-intercalated PdBi2 sample. The complete phase diagram is thus established from hole-doping to electron-doping. Meanwhile, high pressure study of the undoped PdBi2 shows that the Tc is linearly suppressed under pressure with a dTc/dP coefficient of -0.28K/GPa.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2015

Hole-Doped Cuprate High Temperature Superconductors

Hole-doped cuprate high temperature superconductors have ushered in the modern era of high temperature superconductivity (HTS) and have continued to be at center stage in the field. Extensive studies have been made, many compounds discovered, voluminous data compiled, numerous models proposed, many review articles written, and various prototype devices made and tested with better performance than their nonsuperconducting counterparts. The field is indeed vast. We have therefore decided to focus on the major cuprate materials systems that have laid the foundation of HTS science and technology and present several simple scaling laws that show the systematic and universal simplicity amid the complexity of these material systems, while referring readers interested in the HTS physics and devices to the review articles. Developments in the field are mostly presented in chronological order, sometimes with anecdotes, in an attempt to share some of the moments of excitement and despair in the history of HTS with readers, especially the younger ones.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2014

Magnetic field-induced spontaneous polarization reversal in multiferroic Mn$_{0.85}$Co$_{0.15}$WO$_4$

The magnetic and ferroelectric properties of the multiferroic system Mn$_{1-x}$Co$_x$WO$_4$ (x=0.135, 0.15, and 0.17) are studied in magnetic fields $H_c$ oriented along the monoclinic $c$-axis. Mn$_{0.85}$Co$_{0.15}$WO$_4$, which is right at the phase boundary between two helical spin structures, exhibits a spontaneous sign change of the ferroelectric polarization when cooled in fields $H_c>$ 25 kOe. The origin of the ferroelectric polarization is studied and two magnetic exchange interactions contributing to the polarization are identified. In Mn$_{0.85}$Co$_{0.15}$WO$_4$ domains of the characteristic helical spin structures, known for x$<$0.15 and x$>$0.15, coexist and form domain boundaries. The contributions of the different domains to the global polarization are determined. The polarization reversal in Mn$_{0.85}$Co$_{0.15}$WO$_4$ can be explained by a combination of various contributions to the polarization and a strong correlation between magnetic domains of different helical spin orders resulting in a smooth transition across the domain walls which preserves the chirality of the spin spiral.

cond-mat.str-el↗
arXiv2013

The Meissner and Mesoscopic Superconducting States in 1-4 Unit-Cell FeSe-Films up to 80 K

Recent reports of interface-induced superconductivity in the unit-cell films of FeSe on SrTiO3 with a Tc up to ~ 65+-5 K, highest among the Fe-based superconductors and second only to that of the cuprates, have generated great excitement. Here we show results of the first magnetic and resistive investigation on the 1-4 unit-cell FeSe-films on SrTiO3. The samples display the Meissner state below ~ 20 K with a penetration field as low as 0.1 Oe due to large edge effect at 2 K, a mesoscopic superconducting state comprising patches of dimension < 1 micrometer up to 45~55 K and an unusual relaxation of the diamagnetic signal up to 80 K, suggesting possible superconductivity at this high temperature. The observations demonstrate the heterogeneous nature of the superconducting state in these films and offer new insights into the role of interfaces in high temperature superconductivity proposed and future superconducting electronics fabricated.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2013

Magnetic Properties of RFe2Si2 and R(Fe1-xMx)2Si2 Systems (R=La, Y and Lu, M= Ni, Mn and Cu)

Due to the similarity to BaFe2As2 and SrFe2As2 the RFe2Si2 (R=La, Y and Lu) system has been proposed as a potential candidate for a new superconducting family containing Fe-Si layers as a structural unit. Various R(Fe1-xMx)2Si2 M=Ni, Mn and Cu) materials were synthesized and measured for their magnetic properties. None of these materials is superconducting down to 5 K. Fe in RFe2Si2 is paramagnetic. A pronounced peak at 232 K was observed in the magnetization curve of YFe2Si2. 57Fe Mössbauer studies confirm the absence of any magnetic ordering at low temperatures. Similar peaks at various temperatures also appear in R(Fe1-xMx)2Si2 samples. Four independent factors affect the peak position and shift it to lower temperatures: (i) the lattice parameters, (ii) the concentration of x, (iii) the applied magnetic field, and (iv) the magnetic nature of M. The peak position is dramatically affected by the magnetic Mn dopants. It is propose that the magnetic peaks observed in RFe2Si2 and in R(Fe1-xMx)2Si2 represent a new nearly ferromagnetic Fermi liquid (NFFL) system and their nature is yet to be determined.

cond-mat.supr-con↗
arXiv2013

Why is the superconducting Tc so high in rare-earth-doped CaFe2As2?

In rare-earth doped single crystalline CaFe2As2, the mysterious small volume fraction which superconducts up to 49 K, much higher than the bulk Tc ~ 30s K, has prompted a long search for a hidden variable that could enhance the Tc by more than 30% in iron-based superconductors of the same structure. Here we report a chemical, structural, and magnetic study of CaFe2As2 systematically doped with La, Ce, Pr, and Nd. Coincident with the high Tc phase, we find extreme magnetic anisotropy, accompanied by an unexpected doping-independent Tc and equally unexpected superparamagnetic clusters associated with As vacancies. These observations lead us to conjecture that the tantalizing Tc enhancement may be associated with naturally occurring chemical interfaces and may thus provide a new paradigm in the search for superconductors with higher Tc.

cond-mat.supr-con↗