arXiv subjects

J. Jun

Publications and source records attributed to J. Jun.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2002

Direct evidence for two-band superconductivity in MgB_2 single crystals from directional point-contact spectroscopy in magnetic fields

We present the results of the first directional point-contact spectroscopy experiments in high-quality MgB_2 single crystals. Due to the directionality of the current injection into the samples, the application of a magnetic field allowed us to separate the contributions of the sigma and pi bands to the total conductance of our point contacts. By using this technique, we were able to obtain the temperature dependency of each gap independent of the other. The consequent, strong reduction of the error on the value of the gap amplitude as function of temperature allows a stricter test of the predictions of the two-band model for MgB_2.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2002

Point-contact spectroscopy in MgB2 single crystals in magnetic field

We present the results of a spectroscopic study of state-of-the-art MgB2 single crystals, carried out by using a modified point-contact technique. The use of single crystals allowed us to obtain point contacts with current injection either parallel or perpendicular to the ab planes. The effect of magnetic fields up to 9 T on the conductance spectra of these contacts is here thoroughly studied, for both B parallel and perpendicular to the ab planes. The complete thermal evolution of the upper critical field of the "pi" band is determined for the first time, and quantitative information about the upper critical field of the "sigma" band and its anisotropy is obtained. Finally, by exploiting the different effect of a magnetic field applied parallel to the ab planes on the two band systems, the partial contributions of the "sigma" and "pi" bands to the total conductance are obtained separately. Fitting each of them with the standard BTK model yields a great reduction of the uncertainty on Delta_sigma and Delta_pi, whose complete temperature dependence is obtained with the greatest accuracy.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2002

Observation of vortex structure in MgB$_2$ single crystals by Bitter decoration technique

We report the observation of superconducting vortices in pure and lightly Al doped MgB$_2$ single crystals. Low field experiments allow for the estimation of the London penetration depth, lambda ~ 1900 $Å$ for T$\sim$6 K. Experiments in higher fields (e.g. 200 Oe) clearly show a triangular vortex lattice in both real space (13 $μ$m by 13 $μ$m Bitter decoration image of over 1000 vortices) and reciprocal space.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2002

Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy on Single Crystal MgB2

We report on the results of scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements on single crystals of Mg2. Tunneling was performed both parallel and perpendicular to the crystalline c-axis. In the first case, a single superconducting gap (Delta_pi = 2.2 meV) associated with the pi-band is observed. Tunneling parallel to the ab-plane reveals an additional, larger gap (Delta_sigma ~ 7 meV) originating in the highly two-dimensional sigma-band. Vortex imaging in the pi-band was performed with the field and tunnel current parallel to the c-axis. The vortices have a large core size compared to estimates based on Hc2, and show an absence of localized states in the core. Furthermore, superconductivity between the vortices is rapidly suppressed by an applied field. A comparison to specific heat measurements is performed.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2002

Vortex Imaging in the pi-Band of Magnesium Diboride

We report scanning tunneling spectroscopy imaging of the vortex lattice in single crystalline MgB2. By tunneling parallel to the c-axis, a single superconducting gap (Delta = 2.2 meV) associated with the pi-band is observed. The vortices in the pi-band have a large core size compared to estimates based on Hc2, and show an absence of localized states in the core. Furthermore, superconductivity between the vortices is rapidly suppressed by an applied field. These results suggest that superconductivity in the pi-band is, at least partially, induced by the intrinsically superconducting sigma-band.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2002

MgB2 single crystals: high pressure growth and anisotropic properties

Single crystals of MgB2 with a size up to 1.5x0.9x0.2 mm3 have been grown with a high pressure cubic anvil technique. The crystal growth process is very peculiar and involves an intermediate nitride, namely MgNB9. Single crystals of BN and MgB2 grow simultaneously by a peritectic decomposition of MgNB9. Magnetic measurements in fields of 1-5 Oe show sharp transitions to the superconducting state at 37-38.6 K with width of ~0.5 K. The high quality of the crystals allowed the accurate determination of magnetic, transport and optical properties as well as scanning tunnelling spectroscopy (STS) and decoration studies. Investigations of crystals with torque magnetometry show that Hc2//c is very low (24 kOe at 15 K), while Hc2//ab increases up to 140 kOe at 15 K. The upper critical field anisotropy gamma = Hc2//ab/ Hc2//c was found to be temperature dependent (decreasing from 6 at 15 K to 2.8 at 35 K). The effective anisotropy gamma_eff, as calculated from reversible torque data near Tc, is field dependent (increasing roughly linearly from 2 in zero field to 3.7 in 10 kOe). The temperature and field dependence of the anisotropy can be related to the double gap structure of MgB2 with a large two-dimensional gap and small three-dimensional gap, the latter being rapidly suppressed in a magnetic field. Torque magnetometry investigations show a pronounced peak effect, indicating an order-disorder transition of vortex matter. Decoration experiments and STS visualise a hexagonal vortex lattice. STS spectra evidence two gaps (3 meV/6 meV) with direction dependent weight. Magneto-optic investigations with H//c show a clear signature of the smaller of the two gaps, disappearing in fields higher than Hc2//c.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2002

Thermal conductivity of single crystalline MgB_2

The ab-plane thermal conductivity $κ$ of single-crystalline hexagonal MgB_2 has been measured as a function of magnetic field H with orientations both parallel and perpendicular to the c-axis and at temperatures between 0.5 and 300 K. In the mixed state, $κ(H)$ measured at constant temperatures reveals features that are not typical for common type-II superconductors. The observed behavior may be associated with the field-induced reduction of two superconducting energy gaps, significantly different in magnitude. A nonlinear temperature dependence of the electronic thermal conductivity is observed in the field-induced normal state at low temperatures. This behavior is at variance with the Wiedemann-Franz law, and suggests an unexpected instability of the electronic subsystem in the normal state at T ~ 1 K.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2002

Magneto-optical reflectivity of superconducting MgB2 single crystals

We present magneto-optical reflectivity results in the basal-plane of the hexagonal $MgB_2$. The data were collected on a mosaic of $MgB_2$ single crystals with $T_{c}=38 ~K$ from the ultraviolet down to the far infrared as a function of temperature and magnetic field oriented along the c-axis. In the far infrared there is a clear signature of the superconducting gap with a gap-ratio $2Δ/k_{B}T_{c}\sim 1.2$, well below the weak-coupling value. The gap is suppressed in an external magnetic field, which is a function of temperature. We extract the upper critical field $H_{c2}$ along the c-axis. The temperature dependence of $H_{c2}$ is compatible with the Helfand-Werthamer behaviour.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2002

Super-conducting critical fields and anisotropy of a MgB2 single crystal

Despite the intense activity in the year since the discovery of superconductivity in MgB2, key parameters, in particular the upper and lower critical fields Hc2 and Hc1 and their anisotropies, are not well-established, largely because of the difficulty of growing MgB2 crystals. Attempts have been made to deduce these parameters from experiments on polycrystalline material, but they have substantial uncertainties. Hc2 is particularly important for applications, as it is the field which quenches bulk super-conductivity. In terms of understanding MgB2, it is now clear that the conventional electron-phonon interaction is strong enough to account for the high transition temperature Tc, but the consequences of the double super-conducting gap for the anisotropy and its dependence on temperature, are uncertain. Here we describe detailed direct measurements of Hc1(T) and Hc2(T) for the two principal crystallographic directions in a clean single crystal of MgB2. For fields in the c-direction, $μ_0 H^c_{c1}(0)$ = $0.28 +- 0.01T$ and $μ_0 H^c_{c2}(0)$ is $3 +- 0.5T$; this ratio of critical fields is rather low and implies that MgB2 is only just a Type II super-conductor. The anisotropies of both critical fields are close to 2.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2002

Mixed state properties of superconducting MgB2 single crystals

We report on measurements of the magnetic moment in superconducting MgB2 single crystals. We find μ_0H_{c2}^c(0) = 3.2 T, μ_0H_{c2}^{ab}(0) = 14.5 T, γ= 4.6, μ_0H_c(0) = 0.28 T, and κ(T_c) = 4.7. The standard Ginzburg-Landau and London model relations lead to a consistent data set and indicate that MgB2 is a clean limit superconductor of intermediate coupling strength with very pronounced anisotropy effects.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2002

Temperature and field dependence of the anisotropy of MgB2

The anisotropy gamma of the superconducting state of high quality single-crystals of MgB2 was determined, using torque magnetometry with two different methods. The anisotropy of the upper critical field was found to be temperature dependent, decreasing from gamma = 6 at 15 K to 2.8 at 35 K. Reversible torque data near Tc reveal a field dependent anisotropy, increasing nearly linearly from gamma = 2 in zero field to 3.7 in 10 kOe. The unusual temperature dependence is a true bulk property and can be explained by non-local effects of anisotropic pairing and/or the wave vector dependence of the effective mass tensor.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2002

Temperature dependence and anisotropy of the bulk upper critical field H_c2 of MgB_2

The bulk upper critical field H_{c2}(T) of superconducting MgB_2 and its anisotropy are established by analyzing experimental data on the temperature and magnetic field dependences of the ab-plane thermal conductivity of a single-crystalline sample in external magnetic fields oriented both parallel (H_{c2}^c) and perpendicular (H_{c2}^{ab}) to the c axis of the hexagonal lattice. From numerical fits we deduce the anisotropy ratio γ_0 = H_{c2}^{ab}(0) / H_{c2}^c(0)=4.2 at T=0 K. Both the values and the temperature dependences of H_{c2}^c and H_{c2}^{ab} are distinctly different from previous claims based on measurements of the electrical resistivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2001

Thermal and electrical transport in single crystalline MgB_2

We present the results of measurements of the thermal and electrical conductivity in the basal plane of single-crystalline MgB_2 between 2 and 300 K. The analysis of the temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity gives supporting evidence for two different gaps on different sheets of the Fermi surface in the superconducting state. The zero-temperature values of the two gaps are D_1 (0) = 5.3 meV and D_2 (0) = 1.65 meV.

cond-mat.supr-con↗