arXiv subjects

J. Karpinski

Publications and source records attributed to J. Karpinski.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2006

High-pressure synthesis and superconductivity of Ca2-xNaxCuO2Cl2

Ca2-xNaxCuO2Cl2 is a structural analogue to the La2-xSrxCuO4 superconductor. By substituting Na+ for Ca2+ mobile holes are introduced into the CuO2 planes. A series of experiments shows that the Na content x depends not only on the pressure during synthesis but also on the synthesis temperature and time. Ca2-xNaxCuO2Cl2 crystals (x=0.10 and Tc,on=13.5 K) up to 1x1x0.05 mm3 have been grown by a flux method at 35 kbar and the temperature was slowly ramped from 1250 C to 1050 C within 8 h. Applying higher synthesis pressure (up to 55 kbar) and temperature (up to 1700 C) results in polycrystalline samples with highest Tc,on=28.0 K at x=0.20. Further experiments are under way to optimize conditions to grow crystals with extended concentration of Na and Tc characteristic for optomally doped and overdoped regions.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

Effect of field dependent core size on reversible magnetization of high-$κ$ superconductors

The field dependence of the vortex core size $ξ(B)$ is incorporated in the London model, in order to describe reversible magnetization $M(B,T)$ for a number of materials with large Ginzburg-Landau parameter $κ$. The dependence $ξ(B)$ is directly related to deviations in $M(\ln B)$ from linear behavior prescribed by the standard London model. A simple method to extract $ξ(B)$ from the magnetization data is proposed. For most materials examined, $ξ(B)$ so obtained decreases with increasing field and is in qualitative agreement both with behavior extracted from $μ$SR and small angle neutron scattering data and with that predicted theoretically.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

Quenching of the Haldane gap in LiVSi2O6 and related compounds

We report results of susceptibility chi and 7Li NMR measurements on LiVSi2O6. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility chi(T) exhibits a broad maximum, typical for low-dimensional magnetic systems. Quantitatively it is in agreement with the expectation for an S=1 spin chain, represented by the structural arrangement of V ions. The NMR results indicate antiferromagnetic ordering below T_N=24 K. The intra- and interchain coupling J and J_p for LiVSi2O6, and also for its sister compounds LiVGe2O6, NaVSi2O6 and NaVGe2O6, are obtained via a modified random phase approximation which takes into account results of quantum Monte Carlo calculations. While J_p is almost constant across the series, J varies by a factor of 5, decreasing with increasing lattice constant along the chain direction. The comparison between experimental and theoretical susceptibility data suggests the presence of an easy-axis magnetic anisotropy, which explains the formation of an energy gap in the magnetic excitation spectrum below T_N, indicated by the variation of the NMR spin-lattice relaxation rate at T << T_N.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

Local Tunneling Study of Three-Dimensional Order Parameter in the $π$-band of Al-doped MgB$_2$ Single Crystals

We have performed local tunneling spectroscopy on high quality Mg$_{1-x}$Al$_x$B$_2$ single crystals by means of Variable Temperature Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy (STS) in magnetic field up to 3 Tesla. Single gap conductance spectra due to c-axis tunneling were extensively measured, probing different amplitudes of the three-dimensional $Δ_π$ as a function of Al content. Temperature and magnetic field dependences of the conductance spectra were studied in S-I-N configuration: the effect of the doping resulted in a monotonous reduction of the locally measured $T_C$ down to 24K for x=0.2. On the other hand, we have found that the gap amplitude shows a maximum value $Δ_π= 2.3$ meV for x=0.1, while the $Δ_π/ T_C$ ratio increases monotonously with doping. The locally measured upper critical field was found to be strongly related to the gap amplitude, showing the maximum value $H_{c2}\simeq3T$ for x=0.1 substituted samples. For this Al concentration the data revealed some spatial inhomogeneity in the distribution of $Δ_π$ on nanometer scale.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

The effect of magnetic impurities in a two-band superconductor: A point-contact study of Mn-substituted MgB2 single crystals

We present the first results of directional point-contact measurements in Mg_{1-x}Mn_{x}B_2 single crystals, with x up to 0.015 and bulk T_c down to 13.3 K. The order parameters Delta_{sigma} and Delta_{pi} were obtained by fitting the conductance curves with the two-band Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk (BTK) model. Both Delta_{pi} and Delta_{sigma} decrease with the critical temperature of the junctions T_c^A, but remain clearly distinct up to the highest Mn content. Once analyzed within the Eliashberg theory, the results indicate that spin-flip scattering is dominant in the sigma band, as also confirmed by first-principle band structure calculations.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

Mass enhancement, correlations, and strong coupling superconductivity in the beta-pyrochlore KOs2O6

To assess electron correlation and electron-phonon coupling in the recently discovered beta-pyrochlores KOs2O6 and RbOs2O6, we have performed specific heat measurements in magnetic fields up to 14 T. We present data from high quality single crystalline KOs2O6, showing that KOs2O6 is a strong coupling superconductor with a coupling parameter lambda_ep \approx 1.0 to 1.6 (RbOs2O6: lambda_ep \approx 1). The estimated Sommerfeld coefficient of KOs2O6, gamma=76 to 110 mJ/(mol K^2), is twice that of RbOs2O6 [gamma=44 mJ/(mol K^2)]. Using strong-coupling corrections, we extract useful thermodynamic parameters of KOs2O6. Quantifying lambda_ep allows us to determine the mass enhancement over the calculated band electronic density of states. A significant contribution in addition to the electron-phonon term of lambda_c=1.7 to 4.3 is deduced. In an effort to understand the origin of the enhancement mechanism, we also investigate an unusual energetically low-lying phonon. There are three phonon modes per RbOs2O6, suggestive of the phonon source being the rattling motion of the alkali ion. This dynamic instability of the alkali ions causes large scattering of the charge carriers which shows up in an unusual temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

Magnetic Phase Transition at 88 K in Na0.5CoO2 revealed by 23Na-NMR investigations

Na0.5CoO2 exhibits a metal-insulator transition at 53 K upon cooling. The nature of another transition at 88 K has not been fully clarified yet. We report the results of measurements of the electrical conductivity, the magnetic susceptibility and 23Na NMR on a powder sample of Na0.5CoO2, including the mapping of NMR spectra, as well as probing the spin-lattice relaxation rate and the spin-spin relaxation rate, in the temperature range between 30 K and 305 K. The NMR data reflect the transition at T_X very well but provide less evidence for the metal-insulator transition at T_MI. The temperature evolution of the shape of the spectra implies the formation of a staggered internal field below T_X, not accompained by a rearrangement of the electric charge distribution. Our results thus indicate that in Na0.5CoO2, an unusual type of magnetic ordering in the metallic phase precedes the onset of charge ordering, which finally induces an insulating ground state.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

Measuring the Penetration Depth Anisotropy in MgB$_2$ using Small-Angle Neutron Scattering

Using small-angle neutron scattering we have measured the misalignment between an applied field of 4 kOe and the flux-line lattice in MgB$_2$, as the field is rotated away from the c axis by an angle $θ$. The measurements, performed at 4.9 K, showed the vortices canting towards the c axis for all field orientations. Using a two-band/two-gap model to calculate the magnetization we are able to fit our results yielding a penetration depth anisotropy, $\glam = 1.1 \pm 0.1$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

Infrared properties of Mg$_{1-x}$Al$_x($B$_{1-y}$C$_{y}$)$_2$ single crystals in the normal and superconducting state

The reflectivity $R (ω)$ of $ab$-oriented Mg$_{1-x}$Al$_x$(B$_{1-y }$C$_y$)$_2$ single crystals has been measured by means of infrared microspectroscopy for $1300<ω<17000$ cm$^{-1}$. An increase with doping of the scattering rates in the $π$ and $σ$ bands is observed, being more pronounced in the C doped crystals. The $σ$-band plasma frequency also changes with doping due to the electron doping, while the $π$-band one is almost unchanged. Moreover, a $σ\toσ$ interband excitation, predicted by theory, is observed at $ω_{IB} \simeq 0.47$ eV in the undoped sample, and shifts to lower energies with doping. By performing theoretical calculation of the doping dependence $ω_{IB}$, the experimental observations can be explained with the increase with electron doping of the Fermi energy of the holes in the $σ$-band. On the other hand, the $σ$ band density of states seems not to change substantially. This points towards a $T_c$ reduction driven mainly by disorder, at least for the doping level studied here. The superconducting state has been also probed by infrared synchrotron radiation for $30<ω<150$ cm$^{-1}$ in one pure and one C-doped sample. In the undoped sample ($T_c$ = 38.5 K) a signature of the $π$-gap only is observed. At $y$ = 0.08 ($T_c$ = 31.9 K), the presence of the contribution of the $σ$-gap indicates dirty-limit superconductivity in both bands.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

Large mass enhancement in RbOs2O6

Heat capacity measurements on the recently discovered geometrically frustrated beta-pyrochlore superconductor RbOs2O6 (Tc=6.4 K) yield a Sommerfeld coefficient of 44 mJ/(molf.u. K^2). This is about 4 times larger than the one found in band structure calculations. In order to specify the enhancement due to electron-electron interactions, we have measured the electron-phonon enhancement. By a suitable analysis, an electron-phonon coupling constant lambda_ep = 1 +/- 0.1 is derived from the specific heat jump at Tc. This leaves a significant additional lambda_add = 2.1 +/- 0.3 for enhancement due to other mechanisms, possibly related to the triangular lattice. To arrive at these results, an appropriate analysis method for bulk thermodynamic data based on the condensation energy was applied.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2006

NaxCoO2: Enhanced low-energy excitations of electrons on a 2D triangular lattice

To elucidate the low-energy excitation spectrum of correlated electrons on a 2D triangular lattice, we have studied the electrical resistance and specific heat down to 0.5 K and in magnetic fields up to 14 T, in NaxCoO2 samples with a Na content ranging from x \approx 0.5 to 0.82. Two distinct regimes are observed: for x from about 0.6 to x \approx 0.75 the specific heat is strongly enhanced, with a pronounced upturn of C/T below about 10 K, reaching 47 mJ/(mol K^2). This enhancement is suppressed in a magnetic field indicative of strong low-energy spin fluctuations. At higher Na content the fluctuations are reduced and mu-SR data confirm the SDW ground state below 22 K and the much reduced heat capacity is field independent.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2006

Crystal growth, structural studies and superconducting properties of beta-pyrochlore KOs2O6

Single crystals of KOs2O6 have been grown in a sealed quartz ampoule. Detailed single crystal X-ray diffraction studies at room temperature show Bragg peaks that violate Fd-3m symmetry. With a comparative structure refinement the structure is identified as non-centrosymmetric (F-43m). Compared to the ideal beta-pyrochlore lattice (Fd-3m), both Os tetrahedral and O octahedral network exhibit breathing mode like volume changes accompanied by strong anisotropic character of the K channels. The crystals show metallic conductivity and a sharp transition to the superconducting state at Tc = 9.65 K. Superconducting properties have been investigated by magnetization measurements performed in a temperature range from 2 to 12 K and in magnetic fields from 0 to 60 kOe. The temperature dependence of the upper critical field Hc2(T) has been determined and the initial slope (dHc2/dT)Tc = -33.3 kOe/K has been obtained near Tc. The upper critical field at zero temperature was estimated to be Hc2(0) \cong 230 kOe, which is a value close to the Pauli paramagnetic limiting field Hp(0)\cong 250 kOe. Then, the Ginzburg-Landau (GL) coherence length xi GL(0) \approx 3.8 nm was calculated, and the Maki parameter alpha \approx \sqrt 2 was obtained, suggesting the possibility that KOs2O6 might behave unconventionally at low temperatures and high magnetic fields.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2005

Localized versus itinerant magnetic moments in Na0.72CoO2

Based on experimental 59Co-NMR data in the temperature range between 0.1 and 300 K, we address the problem of the character of the Co 3d-electron based magnetism in Na0.7CoO2. Temperature dependent 59Co-NMR spectra reveal different Co environments below 300 K and their differentiation increases with decreasing temperature. We show that the 23Na- and 59Co-NMR data may consistently be interpreted by assuming that below room temperature the Co 3d-electrons are itinerant. Their magnetic interaction appears to favor an antiferromagnetic coupling, and we identify a substantial orbital contribution corb to the d-electron susceptibility. At low temperatures corb seems to acquire some temperature dependence, suggesting an increasing influence of spin-orbit coupling. The temperature dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation rate T1-1(T) confirms significant variations in the dynamics of this electronic subsystem between 200 and 300K, as previously suggested. Below 200 K, Na0.7CoO2 may be viewed as a weak antiferromagnet with TN below 1 K but this scenario still leaves a number of open questions.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2005

Strong magnetic pair breaking in Mn substituted MgB_2 single crystals

Magnetic ions (Mn) were substituted in MgB_2 single crystals resulting in a strong pair-breaking effect. The superconducting transition temperature, T_c, in Mg_{1-x}Mn_xB_2 has been found to be rapidly suppressed at an initial rate of 10 K/%Mn, leading to a complete suppression of superconductivity at about 2% Mn substitution. This reflects the strong coupling between the conduction electrons and the 3d local moments, predominantly of magnetic character, since the nonmagnetic ion substitutions, e.g. with Al or C, suppress T_c much less effectively (e.g. 0.5 K/%Al). The magnitude of the magnetic moment, derived from normal state susceptibility measurements, uniquely identifies the Mn ions to be divalent, and to be in the low-spin state (S = 1/2). This has been found also in X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements. Isovalent Mn^{2+} substitution for Mg^{2+} mainly affects superconductivity through spin-flip scattering reducing T_c rapidly and lowering the upper critical field anisotropy H_{c2}^{ab}/H_{c2}^c at T = 0 from 6 to 3.3 (x = 0.88% Mn), while leaving the initial slope dH_{c2}/dT near T_c unchanged for both field orientations.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2005

NMR and dc-susceptibility studies of NaVGe2O6

We report the results of measurements of the dc magnetic susceptibility chi(T) and of the 23Na nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) response of NaVGe2O6, a material in which the V ions form a network of interacting one-dimensional spin S=1 chains. The experiments were made at temperatures between 2.5 and 300 K. The chi(T) data suggest that the formation of the expected low-temperature Haldane phase is intercepted by an antiferromagnetic phase transition at 18 K. The transition is also reflected in the 23Na NMR spectra and the corresponding spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T1(T). In the ordered phase, 1/T1(T) decreases by orders of magnitude with decreasing temperature, indicating the formation of a gap of the order of 12 K in the magnetic excitation spectrum.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2005

The two colors of MgB2

We present the anisotropic optical conductivity of MgB$_{2}$ between 0.1 and 3.7 eV at room temperature obtained on single crystals of different purity by the spectroscopic ellipsometry and reflectance measurements. The bare (unscreened) plasma frequency $ω_{p}$ is almost isotropic and equal to 6.3 eV, which contrasts some earlier reports of a very small value of $ω_{p}$. The data suggests that the $σ$-bands are characterized by a stronger electron-phonon coupling $λ_ {tr}$ but smaller impurity scattering $γ_{imp}$, compared to the $π$-bands. The optical response along the boron planes is marked by an intense interband transition at 2.6 eV, due to which the reflectivity plasma edges along the a- and c-axes are shifted with respect to each other. As a result, the sample spectacularly changes color from a blueish-silver to the yellow as the polarization is rotated from the in-plane direction towards the c-axis. The optical spectra are in good agreement with the published {\it ab initio} calculations. The remaining discrepancies can be explained by the relative shift of $σ$-bands and $π$-bands by about 0.2 eV compared to the theoretical band structure, in agreement with the de Haas-van Alphen experiments. The widths of the Drude and the interband peaks are both very sensitive to the sample purity.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2005

de Haas-van Alphen effect investigation of the electronic structure of Al substituted MgB_2

We report a de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) study of the electronic structure of Al doped crystals of MgB$_2$. We have measured crystals with $\sim 7.5$% Al which have a $T_c$ of 33.6 K, ($\sim 14$% lower than pure MgB$_2$). dHvA frequencies for the $σ$ tube orbits in the doped samples are lower than in pure MgB$_2$, implying a $16\pm2%$ reduction in the number of holes in this sheet of Fermi surface. The mass of the quasiparticles on the larger $σ$ orbit is lighter than the pure case indicating a reduction in electron-phonon coupling constant $λ$. These observations are compared with band structure calculations, and found to be in excellent agreement.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2005

Superconducting vortex profile from fixed point measurements The Lazy Fisherman tunnelling microscopy method

We introduce a mode of operation for studying the vortex phase in superconductors using scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). While in the conventional STM method, the tip is scanned over a sample in which a fixed vortex pattern is prepared, in our "Lazy Fisherman" method the STM tip is kept fixed at a selected location while the vortices are being moved by varying the applied magnetic field. By continuously acquiring the local tunnelling conductance spectra, dI/dV(V), we detect the changes in the local density of states under the tip due to the vortex motion. With no need for scanning, the method permits one to extend the study of vortices to samples in which scanning is difficult or even impossible due to surface nonuniformity and allows one to study vortex dynamics. Using a statistical analysis of the spectra, we reconstruct the single vortex zero bias conductance profile. We apply the method to the c-axis face of an MgB$_2$ single crystal sample and obtain a vortex profile with a coherence length, xi of 57+-2 nm.

cond-mat.supr-con↗