arXiv subjects

R. C. Budhani

Publications and source records attributed to R. C. Budhani.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2019

Non-linear $IV$ characteristics in two-dimensional superconductors: Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless physics vs inhomogeneity

One of the hallmarks of the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition in two-dimensional (2D) superconductors is the universal jump of the superfluid density, that can be indirectly probed via the non-linear exponent of the current-voltage $IV$ characteristics. Here, we compare the experimental measurements of $IV$ characteristics in two cases, namely NbN thin films and SrTiO$_3$-based interfaces. While the former display a paradigmatic example of BKT-like non-linear effects, the latter do not seem to justify a BKT analysis. Rather, the observed $IV$ characteristics can be well reproduced theoretically by modelling the effect of mesoscopic inhomogeneity of the superconducting state. Our results offer an alternative perspective on the spontaneous fragmentation of the superconducting background in confined 2D systems.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2019

Protected superconductivity at the boundaries of charge-density-wave domains

Solid 4He may acquire superfluid characteristics due to the frustration of the solid phase at grain boundaries. Here, we show that an analogous effect occurs in systems with competition among charge-density-waves (CDWs) and superconductivity in the presence of disorder, as cuprate or dichalcogenide superconductors. The CDWs breaks apart in domains with topologically protected filamentary superconductivity (FSC) at the interfaces. Transport experiments carried out in underdoped cuprates with the magnetic field acting as a control parameter are shown to be in excellent agreement with the theoretical expectation. At high temperature and low fields we find a transition from CDWs to fluctuating superconductivity, weakly affected by disorder, while at high field and low temperature the protected filamentary superconducting phase appears in close analogy with "glassy" supersolid phenomena in 4He.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2019

Effects of post-deposition annealing on the structure and magnetization of PLD grown Yttrium Iron Garnet films

We report on the recrystallization of 200 nm thick as-grown Yttrium Iron Garnet (Y_3.4 Fe_4.6 O_12) films on (111) face of Gadolinium Gallium Garnet (GGG) single crystals by post-deposition annealing. Epitaxial conversion of the as-grown microcrystalline YIG films was seen after annealing at 800oC for more than 30 minutes both in ambient oxygen as well as in air. The as-grown oxygen annealed samples at 800oC for 60 minutes crystallize epitaxially and show excellent figure-of-merit for saturation magnetization (MS = 3.3 μB/f.u., comparable to bulk value) and coercivity (HC ~ 1.1 Oe). The ambient air annealing at 800oC with a very slow rate of cooling (2oC/min) results in a double layer structure with a thicker unstrained epitaxial top layer having the MS and HC of 2.9 μB/f.u. and 0.12 Oe respectively. The symmetric and asymmetric Reciprocal space maps of both the samples reveal a locking of the in-plane lattice of the film to the in-plane lattice of substrate, indicating a pseudomorphic growth. The residual stress calculated by sin^2 ψ technique is compressive in nature. The lower layer in air annealed sample is highly strained, whereas, the top layer has negligible compressive stress.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2017

Observation of transient superconductivity at the LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ interface

We report the observation of a magnetic field assisted transient superconducting state in the two dimensional electron gas existing at the interface of LaAlO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ heterostructures. This metastable state depends critically on the density of charge carriers in the system. It appears concomitantly with a Lifshitz transition as a consequence of the interplay between ferromagnetism and superconductivity and the finite relaxation time of the in-plane magnetization. Our results clearly demonstrate the inherently metastable nature of the superconducting state competing with a magnetic order in these systems. The co-existence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism in the conducting electronic layer formed at the interface of insulating oxides has thrown up several intriguing and as yet unanswered questions. An open question in this field is the energetics of the interplay between these two competing orders and the present observation goes a long way in understanding the underlying mechanism.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Signature of enhanced spin-orbit interaction in the magnetoresistance of LaTiO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ interfaces on $δ$-doping

We present a study of modulation of spin-orbit interaction (SOI) at the interface of LaTiO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ by $δ$-doping with an iso-structural ferromagnetic perovskite LaCoO$_3$. The sheet carrier density at the interface decreases exponentially with $δ$-doping thickness. We have explored that the spin-orbit scattering time ($τ_{so}$) can be decreased by nearly 3 orders of magnitude, whereas the inelastic scattering time ($τ_{i}$) remains almost constant with $δ$-doping thickness. We have also observed that the $τ_{i}$ varies almost inversely proportional to temperature and $τ_{so}$ remains insensitive to temperature, which suggest that the spin relaxation in these interfaces follows D'yakonov-Perel mechanism. The observed in-plane anisotropic magnetoresistance is attributed to the mixing of the spin up and spin down states of d-band at Fermi level due to SOI.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Crossover from magnetostatic to exchange coupling in La0.67Ca0.33MnO3/YBa2Cu3O7/La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 heterostructures

The influence of YBa2Cu3O4 (YBCO) superconductor layer (S-layer) with varying thickness d-YBCO = 20 to 50 nm on the magnetic coupling between two La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 (LCMO) ferromagnet layers (F-layer, thickness d-LCMO = 50 nm) in F/S/F heterostructures (HSs) was investigated by measuring global magnetization (M) in a temperature (T) range = 2 - 300 K and magnetic field (H) range = 0 - 10 kOe. All the HSs were superconducting with critical temperature (Tc) decreasing from = 78 to 36 K with decrease in d-YBCO, whereas the ferromagnetic ordering temperature Tm = 250 K did not change much. Systematically measured M-H loops of all HSs at both T > Tc and T < Tc show three main results- (a) the two step magnetic reversal above Tc converts into a four step reversal below Tc in HSs with d-YBCO >= 30 nm, (b) the magnetic field corresponding to the additional two switching steps and their magnitude show characteristic evolution with T and d-YBCO and (c) the HS with d-YBCO = 20 nm shows radically different behaviour, where the two step magnetic reversal above Tc continues to persist below Tc and converts into a single step reversal at T << Tc. The first two results indicate magnetostatic coupling between the magnetic domains and the vortices across the two F/S interfaces resulting in reversal dynamics different from that deep within the LCMO layers. Whereas, the result c reveals indirect exchange coupling between LCMO layers through the superconducting YBCO layer, which is a clear experimental evidence of coexistence of ferromagnetism and superconductivity in nm scale F/S/F HSs expected theoretically by C.A.R. Sa de Melo (Physica C 387, 17-25 (2003)).

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2015

Defect-induced photoluminescence of strontium titanate and its modulation by electrostatic gating

The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of Ar-ion irradiated single crystals of SrTiO3 (STO) excited by the 325 nm line of a He-Cd laser are compared with those of pristine crystals, epitaxial films, and amorphous layers of STO at several temperatures down to 20 K. The 550 eV Ar-beam irradiation activates three distinctly visible PL peaks: blue (~430 nm), green (~550 nm), and infrared (~820 nm) at room temperature, making the photoluminescence multicolored. The abrupt changes in PL properties below ~100 K are discussed in relation with the antiferrodistortive structural phase transition in SrTiO3 from cubic to tetragonal symmetry, which makes it a direct bandgap semiconductor. The photoluminescence spectra are also tuned by an electrostatic gate field in a field-effect transistor geometry. At 20 K, we observed a maximum increase of ~20% in PL intensity under back gating of SrTiO3.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2015

Density driven fluctuations in a two-dimensional superconductor

In the vicinity of a phase transition, the order parameter starts fluctuating before vanishing at the critical point. The fluctuation regime, i.e. the way the ordered phase disappears, is a characteristics of a transition, and determines the universality class it belongs to. This is valid for thermal transitions, but also for zero temperature Quantum Phase Transitions (QPT). In the case of superconductivity, the order parameter has an amplitude and a phase, which can both fluctuate according to well identified scenarios. The Ginzburg-Landau theory and its extensions describe the fluctuating regime of regular metallic superconductors, and the associated dynamics of the pair amplitude and the phase. When the system is two-dimensional and/or very disordered, phase fluctuations dominate. Here, we address the possibility that a new type of fluctuations occurs in superconductors with an anomalous dynamics. In particular we show that the superconducting to metal QPT that occurs upon changing the gate voltage in two-dimensional electron gases at LAO/STO and LTO/STO interfaces displays anomalous scaling properties, which can be explained by density driven superconducting critical fluctuations. A Finite Size Scaling (FSS) analysis reveals that the product z.nu (nu is the correlation length exponent and z the dynamical critical one) is z.nu = 3/2. We argue that critical superconducting fluctuations acquire an anomalous dynamics with z=3, since they couple to density ones in the vicinity of a spontaneous electronic phase separation, and that nu=1/2 corresponds to the mean-field value. This approach strongly departs from the conventional z=1 scenario in disordered 2D systems based on long-range Coulomb interactions with dominant phase fluctuations. This scenario can explain recent data in LSCO ultra-thin films, and apply to a whole class of two-dimensional superconductors.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2015

Dynamics of photo-generated non-equilibrium electronic states in Ar$^+$ ion irradiated SrTiO$_3$

A metallic surface is realized on stoichiometric and insulating (100) SrTiO$_3$ by Ar$^+$ - ion irradiation. The sheet carrier density and Hall mobility of the layer are $\sim$$4.0$ $\times$ $10^{14}$ $/cm^2$ and $\sim$$2$ $\times$ $10^3$ $cm^2/Vs$ respectively at 15 K for the irradiation dose of $\sim$4.2 $\times 10^{18}$ $ions/cm^2$. These samples display ultraviolet light sensitive photoconductivity (PC) which is enhanced abruptly below the temperature ($\approx$100 K) where SrTiO$_3$ crystal undergoes an antiferrodistortive cubic-to-tetragonal ($O_h^1$ $\rightarrow$ $D_{4h}^{18}$) structural phase transition. This behaviour of PC maps well with the temperature dependence of dielectric function and electric field induced conductivity. The longevity of the PC-state also shows a distinct change below $\approx$100 K. At $T > 100$ K its decay is thermally activated with energy barrier of $\approx$36 meV, whereas at $T < 100$ K it becomes independent of temperature. We have examined the effect of electrostatic gating on the lifetime of the PC state. One non-trivial result is the ambient temperature quenching of the photo-conducting state by the negative gate field. This observation opens avenues for designing a solid state photo-electric switch. The origin and lifetime of the PC-state are understood in the light of field effect induced band bending, defect dynamics and thermal relaxation processes.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Enhanced spin-orbit coupling and charge carrier density suppression in LaAl1-xCrxO3/SrTiO3 heterointerfaces

We report a gradual suppression of the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface on substitution of chromium at the Al sites. The sheet carrier density at the interface (ns) drops monotonically from 2.2x10(14) cm-2 to 2.5x10(13) cm-2 on replacing nearly 60 percent of Al sites by Cr and the sheet resistance (Rs) exceeds the quantum limit for localization (h/2e2) in the concentrating range 40 to 60 percent of Cr.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Magnetothermopower of $δ$-doped LaTiO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ interfaces in the Kondo regime

Measurements of magneto-thermopower (S(H, T)) of interfacial delta doped LaTiO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ (LTO/STO) heterostructure by an iso-structural antiferromagnetic perovskite LaCrO$_3$ are reported. The thermoelectric power of the pure LTO/STO interface at 300 K is $\approx$ 118 $μ$V/K, but increases dramatically on $δ$-doping. The observed linear temperature dependence of S(T) over the temperature range 100 K to 300 K is in agreement with the theory of diffusion thermopower of a two-dimensional electron gas. The S(T) displays a distinct enhancement in the temperature range (T $<$ 100 K) where the sheet resistance shows a Kondo-type minimum. We attributed this maximum in S(T) to Kondo scattering of conduction electron by localized impurity spins at the interface. The suppression of S by a magnetic field, and the isotropic nature of the suppression in out-of-plane and in-plane field geometries further strengthen the Kondo model based interpretation of S(H, T).

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Enhanced spin-orbit interaction and Kondo scattering in $δ$-doped LaTiO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ interfaces

We present a study of delta ($δ$) doping at LaTiO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ (LTO/STO) interface with iso-structural antiferromagnetic perovskite LaCrO$_3$ (LCO) that dramatically alters the properties of the two dimensional electron gas (2-DEG) at the interface. The effects include a reduction in sheet-carrier density, prominence of the low temperature resistivity minimum, enhancement of weak antilocalization below 10 K and observation of a strong anisotropic magnetoresistance (MR). The positive and negative MR for out-of-plane and in-plane field respectively and the field and temperature dependencies of MR suggest Kondo scattering by localized Ti$^{3+}$ moments renormalized by spin-orbit interaction at T $<$ 10 K, with the increased $δ$-layer thickness. Electron energy loss spectroscopy and density functional calculations provide convincing evidence for blocking of electron transfer from LTO to STO by the $δ$-layer.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2014

Enhanced persistent photoconductivity in $δ$-doped LaAlO$_{3}$/SrTiO$_{3}$ heterostructures

We report the effect of $δ$-doping at LaAlO$_{3}$/SrTiO$_{3}$ interface with LaMnO$_{3}$ monolayers on the photoconducting (PC) state. The PC is realized by exposing the samples to broad band optical radiation of a quartz lamp and 325 and 441 nm lines of a He-Cd laser. Along with the significant modification in electrical transport which drives the pure LaAlO$_{3}$/SrTiO$_{3}$ interface from metal-to-insulator with increasing LaMnO$_{3}$ sub-monolayer thickness, we also observe an enhancement in the photo-response and relaxation time constant. Possible scenario for the PC based on defect-clusters, random potential fluctuations and large lattice relaxation models have been discussed. For pure LaAlO$_{3}$/SrTiO$_{3}$, the photoconductivity appears to originate from inter-band transitions between Ti-derived $3d$ bands which are $e_{g}$ in character and O 2p - Ti $t_{2g}$ hybridized bands. The band structure changes significantly when fractional layers of LaMnO$_{3}$ are introduced. Here the Mn $e_{g}$ bands ($\approx1.5$ eV above the Fermi energy) within the photo-conducting gap lead to a reduction in the photo-excitation energy and a gain in overall photoconductivity.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Two-dimensional electron-gas-like charge transport at magnetic Heusler alloy-SrTiO$_3$ interface

We report remarkably low residual resistivity, giant residual resistivity ratio, free-electron-like Hall resistivity and high mobility ($\approx$ 10$^4$ cm$^2$V$^{-1}$s$^{-1}$) charge transport in epitaxial films of Co$_2$MnSi and Co$_2$FeSi grown on (001) SrTiO$_3$. This unusual behavior is not observed in films deposited on other cubic oxide substrates of comparable lattice parameters. The scaling of the resistivity with thickness of the films allow extraction of interface conductance, which can be attributed to a layer of oxygen vacancies confined within 1.9 nm of the interface as revealed by atomically resolved electron microscopy and spectroscopy. The high mobility transport observed here at the interface of a fully spin polarized metal is potentially important for spintronics applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Giant coercivity enhancement and dimensional crossover of superconductivity in Co2FeSi-NbN nanoscale bilayers

Proximity coupling and magnetic switching dynamics are shown to be correlated in bilayers (B) of fully spin polarized ferromagnet (F) Co2FeSi and superconductor (S) NbN. The upper critical field derived from resistivity measurements shows a dimensional crossover with a reduced effective thickness of the S layer. At temperatures (T) << superconducting Tc, the measured M-H loops show two step switching; one at T-independent value ~ 7 Oe and other at strongly T-dependent value becoming very large ~ 1 kOe at 2 K. These results reveal induced ferromagnetism in S-layer at the S/F interface with vortex pinning influenced dynamics.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2013

Magnetoelastic coupling induced magnetic anisotropy in Co$_2$(Fe/Mn)Si thin films

The influence of epitaxial strain on uniaxial magnetic anisotropy of Co$_{2}$FeSi (CFS) and Co$_{2}$MnSi (CMS) Heusler alloy thin films grown on (001) SrTiO$_3$ (STO) and MgO is reported. The in-plane biaxial strain is susceptible to tune by varying the thickness of the films on STO, while on MgO the films show in-plane easy axis for magnetization (\overrightarrow{M}) irrespective of their thickness. A variational analysis of magnetic free energy functional within the Stoner-Wohlfarth coherent rotation model with out-of-plane uniaxial anisotropy for the films on STO showed the presence of magnetoelastic anisotropy with magnetostriction constant $\approx$ (12.22$\pm$0.07)$\times 10^{-6}$ and (2.02$\pm$0.06)$\times 10^{-6}$, in addition to intrinsic magnetocrystalline anisotropy $\approx$ -1.72$\times 10^{6}$ erg/cm$^{3}$ and -3.94$\times 10^{6}$ erg/cm$^{3}$ for CFS and CMS, respectively. The single-domain phase diagram reveals a gradual transition from in-plane to out-of-plane orientation of magnetization with the decreasing film thickness. A maximum canting angle of 41.5$^{\circ}$ with respect to film plane is predicted for the magnetization of the thinnest (12 nm) CFS film on STO. The distinct behaviour of \overrightarrow{M} in the films with lower thickness on STO is attributed to strain-induced tetragonal distortion.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

δ-doped LaAlO3-SrTiO3 interface: Electrical transport and characterization of the interface potential

Here we investigate LaAlO_3-SrTiO_3 heterostructure withδ-doping of the interface by LaMnO_3 at less than one monolayer. This doping strongly inhibits the formation of mobile electron layer at the interface. This results in giant increase of the resistance and the thermopower of the heterostructure. Several aspects of this phenomena are investigated. A model to calculate the carrier concentration is presented and effect of doping and detailed temperature dependence is analyzed in terms of model parameters and the weak-scattering theory. The large enhancement of thermopower is attributed to the increased spin and orbital entropy originating from the LaMnO_3 mono-layer.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Double criticality in the magnetic field-driven transition of a high-TC superconductor

Driving a two-dimensional superconductor normal by applying a high magnetic field may lead to Cooper pair localization. In this case, there should be a quantum critical point associated with specific scaling laws. Such a transition has been evidenced in a number of low critical temperature superconducting thin films and has been suggested to occur also in high temperature cuprate superconductors. Here we show experimental evidence for two distinct quantum critical regimes when applying perpendicular magnetic fields to underdoped La2-xSrxCuO4 thin films. At intermediate values of the magnetic field (18T-20T), a "ghost" QCP is observed, for which the values of the related critical exponents point towards a fermionic -as opposed to bosonic- scenario. At higher (about 37 T) magnetic field, another QCP is observed, which suggests the existence of either a 2D/3D or a clean/dirty temperature crossover.

cond-mat.supr-con↗