arXiv subjects

H. Hilgenkamp

Publications and source records attributed to H. Hilgenkamp.

48 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2008

Vortex trapping and expulsion in thin-film YBCO strips

A scanning SQUID microscope was used to image vortex trapping as a function of the magnetic induction during cooling in thin-film YBCO strips for strip widths W from 2 to 50 um. We found that vortices were excluded from the strips when the induction Ba was below a critical induction Bc. We present a simple model for the vortex exclusion process which takes into account the vortex - antivortex pair production energy as well as the vortex Meissner and self-energies. This model predicts that the real density n of trapped vortices is given by n=(Ba-BK)/Phi0 with BK = 1.65Phi0/W^2 and Phi0 = h/2e the superconducting flux quantum. This prediction is in good agreement with our experiments on YBCO, as well as with previous experiments on thin-film strips of niobium. We also report on the positions of the trapped vortices. We found that at low densities the vortices were trapped in a single row near the centers of the strips, with the relative intervortex spacing distribution width decreasing as the vortex density increased, a sign of longitudinal ordering. The critical induction for two rows forming in the 35 um wide strip was (2.89 + 1.91-0.93)Bc, consistent with a numerical prediction.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2007

Magnetic effects at the interface between nonmagnetic oxides

The electronic reconstruction at the interface between two insulating oxides can give rise to a highly-conductive interface. In analogy to this remarkable interface-induced conductivity we show how, additionally, magnetism can be induced at the interface between the otherwise nonmagnetic insulating perovskites SrTiO3 and LaAlO3. A large negative magnetoresistance of the interface is found, together with a logarithmic temperature dependence of the sheet resistance. At low temperatures, the sheet resistance reveals magnetic hysteresis. Magnetic ordering is a key issue in solid-state science and its underlying mechanisms are still the subject of intense research. In particular, the interplay between localized magnetic moments and the spin of itinerant conduction electrons in a solid gives rise to intriguing many-body effects such as Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interactions, the Kondo effect, and carrier-induced ferromagnetism in diluted magnetic semiconductors. The conducting oxide interface now provides a versatile system to induce and manipulate magnetic moments in otherwise nonmagnetic materials.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

Experiments using high-Tc/low-Tc Josephson contacts

Remarkably rich physics is involved in the behavior of hybrid Josephson junctions, connecting high-Tc and low-Tc superconductors. This relates in particular to the different order parameter symmetries underlying the formation of the superconducting states in these materials. Experiments on high-Tc/low-Tc contacts have also played a crucial role in settling the decade-long d-wave versus s-wave debate in cuprate superconductors. Recently, such hybrid junctions have enabled more detailed pairing symmetry tests. Furthermore, with these junctions, complex arrays of pi-rings have been realized, enabling studies on spontaneously generated fractional flux quanta and their mutual interactions. Steps toward novel superconducting electronic devices are taken, utilizing the phase-shifts inherent to the d-wave superconducting order parameter. This paper is intended to reflect the current status of experiments using high-Tc and low-Tc Josephson contacts.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

Study of Correlation Effects in the High Formal Oxidation State Compound Sr$_2$CoO$_4$

Two recent reports confirm that the newly synthesized Sr$_2$CoO$_4$ (formal oxidation state Co$^{4+}$) shows a high Curie temperature (~ 250 K), but they report different moments of 1.8 $μ_B$ and 1 $μ_B$ per Co. Using both commonly used functionals in the correlated band approach (LDA+U) as well as the local density approximation (LDA),the combined effects of correlation and hybridization with O 2p states are calculated and analyzed. Sr$_2$CoO$_2$ is already ferromagnetic within LDA (M=1.95 $μ_B$). Increasing U from zero, the two LDA+U schemes affect the moment oppositely out to a critical value $U_c$=2.5 eV, at which point they transform discontinuously from different states to the same large U state. Fixing U at $U_c$, fixed spin moment calculations show similar behavior out to a minimum at 1$μ_B$ (a half metallic state), beyond which the fully-localized-limit scheme jumps to a state with energy minimum very near 2$μ_B$ very close to the LDA moment). Although the energy minima occur very near integer values of the moment/Co (1$μ_B, 2$μ_B$), the strong 3d-2p mixing and resulting 3d orbital occupations seem to preclude any meaningful S=1/2 or S=1 assignment to the Co ion.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Observation of Andreev bound states in YBaCuO/Au/Nb ramp-type Josephson junctions

We report on Josephson and quasiparticle tunneling in YBa2Cu3O7-x(YBCO)/Au/Nb ramp junctions of several geometries. Macroscopically, tunneling occurs in the ab-plane of YBCO either in the (100) and (010) direction, or in the (110) direction. These junctions have a stable and macroscopically well defined geometry. This allows systematic investigations of both quasiparticle and Josephson tunneling over a wide range of temperature and magnetic field. With Nb superconducting, its gap appears in the quasiparticle conductance spectra as Nb coherence peaks and a dip at the center of a broadened zero-bias conductance peak (ZBCP). As we increase the temperature or an applied magnetic field both the Nb coherence peaks and the dip get suppressed and the ZBCP fully develops, while states are conserved. With Nb in the normal state the ZBCP is observed up to about 77 K and is almost unaffected by an increasing field up to 7 T. The measurements are consistent with a convolution of density of states with broadened Andreev bound states formed at the YBCO/Au/Nb junction interfaces. Since junctions with different geometries are fabricated on the same substrate under the same conditions one expects to extract reliable tunneling information that is crystallographic direction sensitive. In high contrast to Josephson tunneling, however, the quasiparticle conductance spectra are crystallographic orientation insensitive: independent whether the tunneling occurs in the (100) or (110) directions, a pronounced ZBCP is always observed, consistent with microscopic roughness of the junction interfaces. Qualitatively, all these particularities regarding quasiparticle spectra hold regardless whether the YBCO thin film is twinned or untwinned.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2005

Admixtures to d-wave gap symmetry in untwinned YBa2Cu3O7 superconducting films measured by angle-resolved electron tunneling

We report on an \textit{ab}-anisotropy of $J_{c \parallel b}/J_{c \parallel a}% \cong 1.8$ and $I_{c}R_{n \parallel b}/I_{c}R_{n \parallel a}\cong 1.2$ in ramp-edge junctions between untwinned YBa$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7}$ and $s$% -wave Nb. For these junctions, the angle $θ$ with the YBa$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7}$ crystal b-axis is varied as a single parameter. The $R_{n}$A($θ$)-dependence presents 2-fold symmetry. The minima in $I_{c}R_{n}$ at $θ\cong 50^{\circ}$ suggest a real s-wave subdominant component and negligible $d_{xy}$-wave or imaginary s-wave admixtures. The $I_{c}R_{n}$($θ$)-dependence is well-fitted by 83% $d_{x^{2}-y^{2}}$-, 15% isotropic $s$- and 2% anisotropic s-wave order parameter symmetry, consistent with $Δ_{b}/Δ_{a} \cong 1.5$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2005

Electron-hole coupling in high-Tc cuprate superconductors

From recent Hall effect measurements and angle-resolved photo-emission spectroscopy the interesting picture emerges of co-existing hole- and electron-like quasiparticle bands, both in electron- and hole-doped superconducting cuprates. We reflect on the idea that bosonic electron-hole pairs may be formed in the cuprates and on the possibility that these pairs undergo Bose-Einstein condensation. The relevance to high-Tc superconductivity in the cuprates will be discussed.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2005

Phase-sensitive order parameter symmetry test experiments utilizing Nd2-xCexCuO4-y/Nb zigzag junctions

Phase-sensitive order parameter symmetry test experiments are presented on the electron-doped high-T_c cuprate Nd2-xCexCuO4-y. These experiments have been conducted using zigzag-shaped thin film Josephson structures, in which the Nd2-xCexCuO4-y is connected to the low-T_c superconductor Nb via a Au barrier layer. For the optimally doped as well as for the overdoped Nd2-xCexCuO4-y a clear predominant dx2-y2-wave behavior is observed at T=4.2K. Both compounds were also investigated at T=1.6K, presenting no indications for a change to a predominant s-wave symmetry with decreasing temperature.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Anti-ferromagnetic ordering in arrays of superconducting pi-rings

We report experiments in which one dimensional (1D) and two dimensional (2D) arrays of YBa2Cu3O7-x-Nb pi-rings are cooled through the superconducting transition temperature of the Nb in various magnetic fields. These pi-rings have degenerate ground states with either clockwise or counter-clockwise spontaneous circulating supercurrents. The final flux state of each ring in the arrays was determined using scanning SQUID microscopy. In the 1D arrays, fabricated as a single junction with facets alternating between alignment parallel to a [100] axis of the YBCO and rotated 90 degrees to that axis, half-fluxon Josephson vortices order strongly into an arrangement with alternating signs of their magnetic flux. We demonstrate that this ordering is driven by phase coupling and model the cooling process with a numerical solution of the Sine-Gordon equation. The 2D ring arrays couple to each other through the magnetic flux generated by the spontaneous supercurrents. Using pi-rings for the 2D flux coupling experiments eliminates one source of disorder seen in similar experiments using conventional superconducting rings, since pi-rings have doubly degenerate ground states in the absence of an applied field. Although anti-ferromagnetic ordering occurs, with larger negative bond orders than previously reported for arrays of conventional rings, long-range order is never observed, even in geometries without geometric frustration. This may be due to dynamical effects. Monte-Carlo simulations of the 2D array cooling process are presented and compared with experiment.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2001

Superconducting Quantum Interference Device based on MgB2 nanobridges

The recently discovered superconductor MgB2, with a transition temperature of 39K, has significant potential for future electronics. An essential step is the achievement of Josephson circuits, of which the superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) is the most important. Here, we report Josephson quantum interference in superconducting MgB2 thin films. Modulation voltages of up to 30 microvolt are observed in an all-MgB2 SQUID, based on focused ion beam patterned nanobridges. These bridges, with a length scale < 100 nm, have outstanding critical current densities of 7 x 10^6 A/cm2 at 4.2 K.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2001

Superconducting Mg-B films by pulsed laser deposition in an in-situ two-step process using multi-component targets

Superconducting thin films have been prepared in a two-step in-situ process, using the Mg-B plasma generated by pulsed laser ablation. The target was composed of a mixture of Mg and MgB2 powders to compensate for the volatility of Mg and therefore to ensure a high Mg content in the film. The films were deposited at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 300 degrees C followed by a low-pressure in-situ annealing procedure. Various substrates have been used and diverse ways to increase the Mg content into the film were applied. The films show a sharp transition in the resistance and have a zero resistance transition temperature of 22-24 K.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2001

Superconducting thin films of MgB2 on (001)-Si by pulsed laser deposition

Superconducting thin films have been prepared on Si-substrates, using pulsed laser deposition from a target composed of a mixture of Mg and MgB2 powders. The films were deposited at room temperature and post-annealed at 600 degrees C. The zero resistance transition temperatures were 12 K, with an onset transition temperature of 27 K. Special care has been taken to avoid oxidation of Mg in the laser plasma and deposited film, by optimizing the background pressure of Ar gas in the deposition chamber. For this the optical emission in the visible range from the plasma has been used as indicator. Preventing Mg from oxidation was found to be essential to obtain superconducting films.

cond-mat.supr-con↗