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P. C. Canfield

Publications and source records attributed to P. C. Canfield.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources

Field-Induced Quantum Critical Point in CeCoIn5

The resistivity of the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn5 was measured as a function of temperature, down to 25 mK and in magnetic fields of up to 16 T applied perpendicular to the basal plane. With increasing field, we observe a suppression of the non-Fermi liquid behavior, rho ~ T, and the development of a Fermi liquid state, with its characteristic rho = rho_0 + AT^2 dependence. The field dependence of the T^2 coefficient shows critical behavior with an exponent of 1.37. This is evidence for a field-induced quantum critical point (QCP), occuring at a critical field which coincides, within experimental accuracy, with the superconducting critical field H_c2. We discuss the relation of this field-tuned QCP to a change in the magnetic state, seen as a change in magnetoresistance from positive to negative, at a crossover line that has a common border with the superconducting region below ~ 1 K.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Systematic effects of carbon doping on the superconducting properties of Mg(B$_{1-x}$C$_x$)$_2$

The upper critical field, $H_{c2}$, of Mg(B$_{1-x}$C$_x$)$_2$ has been measured in order to probe the maximum magnetic field range for superconductivity that can be attained by C doping. Carbon doped boron filaments are prepared by CVD techniques, and then these fibers are then exposed to Mg vapor to form the superconducting compound. The transition temperatures are depressed about $1 K/%$ C and $H_{c2}(T=0)$ rises at about $5 T/%$ C. This means that 3.5% C will depress $T_c$ from $39.2 K$ to $36.2 K$ and raise $H_{c2}(T=0)$ from $16.0 T$ to $32.5 T$. Higher fields are probably attainable in the region of 5% C to 7% C. These rises in $H_{c2}$ are accompanied by a rise in resistivity at $40 K$ from about $0.5 μΩcm$ to about $10 μΩcm$. Given that the samples are polycrystalline wire segments, the experimentally determined $H_{c2}(T)$ curves represent the upper $H_{c2}(T)$ manifold associated with $H\perp c$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Magnetotransport in Single Crystal Half-Heusler Compounds

We present the results of electrical resistivity and Hall effect measurements on single crystals of HfNiSn, TiPtSn, and TiNiSn. Semiconducting behavior is observed in each case, involving the transport of a small number of highly compensated carriers. Magnetization measurements suggest that impurities and site disorder create both localized magnetic moments and extended paramagnetic states, with the susceptibility of the latter increasing strongly with reduced temperature. The magnetoresistance is sublinear or linear in fields ranging from 0.01 - 9 Tesla at the lowest temperatures. As the temperature increases, the normal quadratic magnetoresistance is regained, initially at low fields, and at the highest temperatures extending over the complete range of fields. The origin of the vanishingly small field scale implied by these measurements remains unknown, presenting a challenge to existing classical and quantum mechanical theories of magnetoresistance.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Anomalous temperature-dependent transport in YbNi2B2C and its correlation to microstructural features

We address the nature of the ligandal disorder leading to local redistributions of Kondo temperatures, manifested as annealing-induced changes in the transport behavior of the heavy fermion system YbNi2B2C. The anomalous transport behavior was fully characterized by temperature dependent resistivity measurements in an extended range of 0.4 < T < 1000 K for as-grown and optimally annealed single crystals, and microstructural changes between these two types of samples were investigated by single-crystal x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Our results point to lattice dislocations as the most likely candidate to be affecting the surrounding Yb ions, leading to a distribution of Kondo temperatures. This effect combined with the ability to control defect density with annealing offers the possibility of further understanding of the more general problem of the enhanced sensitivity of hybridized Kondo states to disorder, particularly above the coherence temperature.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Thermodynamic and transport properties of RAgGe (R=Tb-Lu) single crystals

Single crystals of the title compounds were grown out of an AgGe-rich ternary solution. Powder x-ray diffraction data confirmed the hexagonal AlNiZr-type structure ($P\bar{6}2m$ space group), an ordered variant of the Fe$_2$P structure type. Antiferromagnetic ordering can be inferred from magnetization, resistance and specific heat measurements, with values of T$_N$ between 28.5 K for TbAgGe, and 1.0 K for YbAgGe, which scale roughly with the de Gennes factor. Anisotropic $M(H)$ measurements indicate one or more metamagnetic transitions when the external field is applied along the c-axis (for R=Tb) or perpendicular to it (R = Ho, Er, Tm), or even in both orientations as in the case of DyAgGe. Furthermore, the extreme anisotropy of the magnetization in TmAgGe, where magnetic moments lie in the $ab$-plane, provides the possibility of studying the angular dependence of metamagnetism in hexagonal compounds with the rare earth in orthorhombic point symmetry. YbAgGe has distinct properties from the rest of the series: an enhanced electronic specific heat coefficient ($γ\approx$(154.2$\pm$2.5)mJ/mol*K$^2$), and apparently small moment magnetic ordering below 1.0 K. This compound appears to be close to a quantum critical point.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Magnetic Field Induced Non-Fermi-Liquid Behavior in YbAgGe Single Crystal

Detailed anisotropic resistivity and heat capacity measurements down to ~0.4 K and up to 140 kOe are reported for a single crystalline YbAgGe. Based on these data YbAgGe, a member of the hexagonal RAgGe series, can be classified as new, stoichiometric heavy fermion compound with two magnetic ordering temperatures below 1 K and field-induced non-Fermi-liquid behavior above 45-70 kOe and 80-110 kOe for $H || (ab) and H || c respectively.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Lock-in transitions in ErNi2B2C and TbNi2B2C

High resolution x-ray magnetic scattering has been used to determine the variation with temperature of the magnetic modulation vector, tau, in ErNi2B2C and TbNi2B2C to study the interplay between the weakly ferromagnetic (WFM) phase and proposed lock-in transitions in these materials. At temperatures below the WFM transitions, the modulation wave vectors are within the resolution limit of the commensurate values 11/20 and 6/11 for ErNi2B2C and TbNi2B2C, respectively.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Anisotropic magnetization, specific heat and resistivity of RFe2Ge2 single crystals

We have grown RFe2Ge2 single crystals for R = Y and ten members of the lanthanide series (Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd-Tm, Lu) using Sn flux as the solvent. The method yields clean, high quality crystal plates as evidenced by residual resistivities and RRR values in the range of 3-12 uOhm cm and 20-90 respectively. The crystals are also virtually free of magnetic impurities or secondary phases, allowing the study of the intrinsic anisotropic magnetic behavior of each compound. Characterization was made with X-Ray diffraction, and temperature and field dependent magnetization, specific heat and resistivity. Very strong anisotropies arising mostly from CEF effects were observed for all magnetic rare earths except Gd. Antiferromagnetic ordering occurred at temperatures between 16.5 K (Nd) and 1.1 K (Ho) that roughly scale with the de Gennes factor for the heavy rare earths. For some members there is also a lower temperature transition associated with changes in the magnetic structure. Tm did not order down to 0.4 K, and appears to be a van Vleck paramagnet. All members which ordered above 2 K showed a metamagnetic transition at 2 K for fields below 70 kOe. The calculated effective moments per rare earth atom are close to the expected free ion values of R^3+ except for Sm which displays anomalous behavior in the paramagnetic state. The non-magnetic members of this series (Y, Lu) are characterized by an unusually large electronic specific heat coefficient (gamma ~ 60 mJ/mol K^2) and temperature-independent susceptibility term (chi_0 ~ 0.003 emu/mol), indicative of a relatively large density of states at the Fermi surface.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Field-induced quantum critical point in CeCoIn_5

The resistivity of CeCoIn_5 was measured down to 20 mK in magnetic fields of up to 16 T. With increasing field, we observe a suppression of the non-Fermi liquid behavior, rho~T, and the development of a Fermi liquid state, with its characteristic rho=rho_0+AT^2 dependence. The field dependence of the T^2 coefficient shows critical behavior with an exponent of ~4/3. This is evidence for a new field-induced quantum critical point, occuring in this case at a critical field which coincides with the superconducting upper critical field H_c2.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Two band/two gap superconductivity in carbon-substituted MgB2 evidenced by point-contact spectroscopy

The Andreev reflection measurements of the superconducting energy gap in the carbon-substituted MgB$_2$ are presented. Despite the strong suppression of the transition temperature by 17 K in comparison with the pure MgB$_2$, the same reduced value of the small superconducting energy gap with $2Δ/kT_c \approx$ 1.7 has been systematically observed. This indicates that the two band/two gap superconductivity is still preserved here.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Magnetic Field Induced Density of States in Superconducting MgB$_{2}$: Measurement of Conduction Electron Spin-Susceptibility

The magnetic field dependence of the spin-susceptibility, $χ_{s}$ was measured in the superconducting state of high purity MgB$_{2}$ fine powders below 1.3 T. $χ_{s}$ was determined from the intensity of the conduction electron spin resonance spectra at 3.8, 9.4, and 35 GHz. At the lowest magnetic fields (0.14 T), a gap opens in the density of states at the Fermi energy and, accordingly, $χ_{s}(T)$ is small at low temperatures. Fields above 0.2 T (about 15 % of $H^{c}_{c2}$, the minimum upper critical field), destroy the gap. The field induced $χ_{s}$ is much larger than expected from current superconductor models of MgB$_{2}$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Study of low-energy magnetic excitations in single-crystalline CeIn3 by inelastic neutron scattering

Inelastic neutron scattering experiments were performed on single crystals of the heavy-fermion compound CeIn$_{3}$ for temperatures below and above the Néel temperature, $T_N$. In the antiferromagnetically ordered phase, well-defined spin-wave excitations with a bandwidth of 2 meV are observed. The spin waves coexist with quasielastic (QE) Kondo-type spin-fluctuations and broadened crystal-field (CF) excitations below $T_N$. Above $T_N$, only the QE and CF excitations persist, with a weak temperature dependence.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Intra-granular Ti precipitates in MgB2

Superconducting magnesium diboride has been prepared with intra-granular TiB precipitates that have appropriate size and spacing for the pinning of superconducting vortices. The TiB particles have a size ranging from 1 nm to 20 nm and a spacing about 5 times as large. By co-depositing Ti and B on a commercial carbon coated silicon carbide substrate with chemical vapor deposition methods, it was possible to obtain a starting fiber with Ti well dispersed in the B. Reacting these fibers in a Mg vapor then transformed the fiber into a superconductor capable of carrying 10,000 A/cm^2 at 25K and 1 T. The Ti-B bonds are strong enough that there is relatively little migration of the Ti as the MgB2 grains form around the TiB precipitates. TiB2 precipitates, if they are present, can not be seen in the selected area diffraction pictures that show the TiB precipitates.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

CVD routes to MgB2 conductors

Processing methods are described for the development of magnesium diboride wire using the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to produce long lengths of suitably doped starting boron fiber. It is found that titanium can be co-deposited with the boron to make long lengths of doped fiber that contain both TiB and TiB2. When this fiber is reacted in Mg vapor to transform boron into MgB2, the resulting conductor has a superconducting critical current density of about 5 times 10^6 A/cm^2 at 5K and self field. The critical current density at 25K and 1 Tesla is 10,000 A/cm^2. Using optical methods to define grain boundaries and energy dispersive X-rays to determine Ti and Mg concentration, these samples show a fine dispersion of $Ti$ through out the grains and no conspicuous precipitation of TiB2 on the MgB2 grain boundaries. This is to be contrasted with the precipitation of TiB2 on MgB2 grain boundaries observed for samples prepared by solid state reaction of Ti, Mg, and B powders. Introducing Ti impurities into the B during the CVD deposition of the B gives a distribution of TiB2 in the resulting MgB2 different from solid state reaction of powders.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Titanium additions to MgB2 conductors

A series of doping experiments are reported for MgB2 conductors that have been synthesized using doped boron fibers prepared by chemical vapor deposition(CVD) methods. Undoped MgB2 samples prepared from CVD prepared fibers consistently give critical current densities, Jc, in the range of 500,000 A/cm^2 in low field at 5K. These values fall by a factor of about 100 as the magnetic field increases to 3T. For heavily Ti-doped boron fibers where the B/Ti ratio is comparable to 1, there is a substantial suppression of both Tc, superconducting volume fraction, and Jc values. If, however, a sample with a few percent Ti in B is deposited on a carbon coated SiC substrate and reacted at 1100 degrees C for 15 min, then Tc is suppressed only a couple of degrees Kelvin and critical current densities are found to be approximately 2-5 x 10^6 A/cm^2 for superconducting layers ranging from 4-10 micrometers thick. These materials show Jc values over 10,000 A/cm^2 at 25K and 1.3 T.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

The magnetic state of Yb in Kondo-lattice YbNi2B2C

We report neutron scattering experiments performed to investigate the dynamic magnetic properties of the Kondo-lattice compound YbNi2B2C. The spectrum of magnetic excitations is found to be broad, extending up to at least 150 meV, and contains inelastic peaks centred near 18 meV and 43 meV. At low energies we observe quasielastic scattering with a width Gamma = 2.1 meV. The results suggest a Yb3+ ground state with predominantly localized 4f electrons subject to (i) a crystalline electric field (CEF) potential, and (ii) a Kondo interaction, which at low temperatures is about an order of magnitude smaller than the CEF interaction. From an analysis of the dynamic magnetic response we conclude that the crystalline electric field acting on the Yb ions has a similar anisotropy to that in other RNi2B2C compounds, but is uniformly enhanced by almost a factor of 2. The static and dynamic magnetic properties of YbNi2B2C are found to be reconciled quite well by means of an approximation scheme to the Anderson impurity model, and this procedure also indicates that the effective Kondo interaction varies with temperature due to the crystal field splitting. We discuss the nature of the correlated-electron ground state of YbNi2B2C based on these and other experimental results, and suggest that this compound might be close to a quantum critical point on the non-magnetic side.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Crystal Chemistry of Carbon-Substituted MgB2

Neutron powder diffraction has been used to characterize a sample of C-substituted MgB2 synthesized from Mg and B4C (with isotopically enriched 11B). The sample is multiphase, with the major phase [73.4(1) wt.%] being Mg(B1-xCx)2 with x=0.10(2). Minor phases include MgB2C2, Mg, and MgO. The major Mg(B1-xCx)2 phase displays diffraction peak widths as sharp as for pure MgB2, indicating good C homogeneity. There is no evidence for ordering of the substituted C atoms or distortion of the host structure other than contraction of the a axis and slight expansion of the c axis. The observed changes in lattice parameters vs. C concentration provide a means for estimating the C concentration in other Mg(B1-xCx)2 samples. The reduction in Tc resulting from 10% C substitution is much larger than previously reported, suggesting that previous reports of the C concentration in Mg(B1-xCx)2 are overestimated. The Mg site occupancy is determined to be 0.990(4) which is consistent with full Mg occupancy. Given these results, the stoichiometry Mg(B0.9C0.1)2 should be used by future attempts (band structural or otherwise) to explain (i) the dramatic suppression of Tc (Tc ~ = 22 K) and (ii) the persistence of the two-superconducting-gap feature in the specific heat data.

cond-mat.supr-con↗