Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

R. Prozorov

Publications and source records attributed to R. Prozorov.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

How robust the global measurements of London penetration depth are: the case of Fe(Te$_{1-x}$,Se$_{x}$)

We report tunnel diode resonator measurements of in-plane London penetration depth, $λ(T)$, in optimally-doped single crystals of Fe(Te$_{0.58}$Se$_{0.42}$) with $T_c\sim$ 14.8 K. Systematic measurements were carried out for six samples with different size and surface roughness. The power-law behavior, $Δλ(T) = A T^n$ was found for all samples with the average exponent $n_{avg} = 2.3 \pm 0.1$ and the pre-factor $A_{avg} = 1.0 \pm 0.2$ nm/K$^{2.3}$. The average superfluid density is well described by the self-consistent two-gap $γ$ model resulting in $Δ_{_{I}}(0)/k_B T_c$ = 1.93 and $Δ_{_{II}}(0)/k_B T_c$ = 0.9. By analyzing the data obtained on samples of different size and deliberately introduced surface roughness, it is concluded that the calibration procedure used to obtain $λ(T)$ from the measured TDR frequency shift is quite robust and the uncertainty in sample dimensions and the nature of surface roughness play only minor role. The exponent $n$, directly related to the superconducting gap structure, remains virtually unchanged. The calibration - dependent pre-factor $A$ shows some variation, but stays within reasonable margin ruling out some recent suggestions that surface conditions can significantly affect the results. Our results confirm that precision global measurements provide the most objective information regarding temperature - dependent London penetration depth.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Millimeter-wave study of London penetration depth temperature dependence in Ba(Fe0.926Co0.074)2As2 single crystal

In-plane surface Ka-band microwave impedance of optimally doped single crystals of the Fe-based superconductor Ba(Fe0.926Co0.074)2As2 (Tc= 22.8K) was measured. Sensitive sapphire disk quasi-optical resonator with high-Tc cuprate conducting endplates was developed specially for Fe-pnictide superconductors. It allowed finding temperature variation of London penetration depth in a form of power law, namely Δλ(T)~ Tn with n = 2.8 from low temperatures up to at least 0.6Tc consisted with radio-frequency measurements. This exponent points towards nodeless state with pairbreaking scattering, which can support one of the extended s-pairing symmetries. The dependence λ(T) at low temperatures is well described by one superconducting small-gap (Δ\cong 0.75 in kTc units, where k is Boltzman coefficient) exponential dependence.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Anisotropic resistivity in underdoped single crystals (Ba$_{1-x}$K$_x$)Fe$_2$As$_2$, $0 \leq x<0.35$

Temperature-dependent in-plane, $ρ_a(T)$, and inter-plane, $ρ_c(T)$, resistivities were measured for the iron-arsenide superconductor (Ba$_{1-x}$K$_x$)Fe $_2$As$_2$ over a broad doping range from parent compound to optimal doping $T_c\approx 38 K$, $0\leq x \leq 0.35$. The coupled magnetic/structural transition at $T_{SM}$ is clearly observed for samples with $T_c <$26 K ($x <0.25$), however its effect on resistivity is much weaker than in the electron-doped Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)Fe $_2$As$_2$, and the transition leads only to a decrease of resistivity. In addition to the feature at $T_{SM}$, the inter-plane resistivity shows a maximum at $T^*\sim$200 K, which moves slightly to higher temperature with doping, revealing a trend opposite to the electron-doped materials. A smeared feature at about the same temperature is seen in $ρ_a(T)$. For $T<T^*$, the temperature dependence of resistivity shows systematic evolution and is close to linear at optimal doping. This feature, being most pronounced for $ρ_c(T)$, suggests the existence of a quantum critical point close to optimal doping.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Highly anisotropic superconducting gap in underdoped Ba$_{1-x}$K$_x$Fe$_2$As$_2$

The in-plane London penetration depth, $Δλ(T)$, was measured using a tunnel diode resonator in single crystals of Ba$_{1-x}$K$_x$Fe$_2$As$_2$ for five doping levels $x$ ranging from underdoped, $T_c$=11 K ($x$=0.17), to optimally doped, $T_c=$38 K ($x_\textmd{\scriptsize opt}$= 0.35). In the optimally doped samples, $Δλ(T)$ shows exponential saturation in $T \to 0$ limit suggesting a fully gapped superconductivity. The lowest-$T_c$ samples show much stronger non-exponential variation of $Δλ(T)$. Fitting the data to a power-law, $Δλ(T)= AT^n$, reveals a monotonic decrease of the exponent $n$ with $x$ towards the underdoped edge of the superconducting dome. Comparison with $n \approx 1.2$ reported in KFe$_2$As$_2$ ($T_c$=3.5 K, $x=$ 1), suggests a dome-like variation of $n$ with $x$, implying an evolution of the topology of the superconducting gap from full and isotropic in the center of the dome towards strongly anisotropic and, eventually, nodal at the dome edges.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Systematics of the temperature-dependent inter-plane resistivity in Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$T$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ with T= Rh, Ni, and Pd

Temperature-dependent inter-plane resistivity, $ρ_c(T)$, was measured systematically as a function of transition metal substitution in the iron-arsenide superconductors Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$T$_x$)$_2$As$_2$, $T$= Ni, Pd, Rh. The data are compared with the behavior found in Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$, revealing resistive signatures of pseudogap. In all compounds we find resistivity crossover at a characteristic pseudogap temperature $T^*$ from non-metallic to metallic temperature dependence on cooling. Suppression of $T^*$ proceeds very similar in cases of Ni and Pd doping and much faster than in similar cases of Co and Rh doping. In cases of Co and Rh doping an additional minimum in the temperature-dependent $ρ_c$ emerges for high dopings, when superconductivity is completely suppressed. These features are consistent with the existence of a charge gap covering part of the Fermi surface. The part of the Fermi surface affected by this gap is notably larger for Ni and Pd doped compositions than in Co and Rh doped compounds.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Isotropic three-dimensional gap in the iron-arsenide superconductor LiFeAs from directional heat transport measurements

The thermal conductivity k of the iron-arsenide superconductor LiFeAs (Tc ~ 18K) was measured in single crystals at temperatures down to T~50mK and in magnetic fields up to H=17T, very close to the upper critical field Hc2~18T. For both directions of the heat current, parallel and perpendicular to the tetragonal c-axis, a negligible residual linear term k/T is found as T ->0, revealing that there are no zero-energy quasiparticles in the superconducting state. The increase in k with magnetic field is the same for both current directions and it follows closely the dependence expected for an isotropic superconducting gap. There is no evidence of multi-band character, whereby the gap would be different on different Fermi-surface sheets. These findings show that the superconducting gap in LiFeAs is isotropic in 3D, without nodes or deep minima anywhere on the Fermi surface. Comparison with other iron-pnictide superconductors suggests that a nodeless isotropic gap is a common feature at optimal doping (maximal Tc).

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Anisotropic magnetism, resistivity, London penetration depth and magneto-optical imaging of superconducting K0.80Fe1.76Se2 single crystals

Single crystals of K0.80Fe1.76Se2.02 were suscessfully grown from a ternary solution. We show that although crystals form when cooling a near stoichiometric melt, crystals are actually growing out of a ternary solution that remains liquid to at least 850 C. We investigated their chemical composition, anisotropic magnetic susceptibility and resistivity, specific heat, thermoelectric power, London penetration depth and flux penetration via magneto-optical imaging. Whereas the samples appear to be homogeneously superconducting at low temperatures, there appears to be a broadened transtion range close to Tc ~ 30 K that may be associated with small variations in stociometry.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

In-plane anisotropy of electrical resistivity in the strain-detwinned SrFe2As2

Intrinsic, in-plane anisotropy of electrical resistivity was studied on mechanically detwinned single crystals of SrFe$_2$As$_2$ above and below the temperature of the coupled structural/magnetic transition, $T_{\textrm{TO}}$. Resistivity is smaller for electrical current flow along the orthorhombic $a_o$ direction (direction of antiferromagnetically alternating magnetic moments) and is larger for transport along the $b_o$ direction (direction of ferromagnetic chains), which is similar to CaFe$_2$As$_2$ and BaFe$_2$As$_2$ compounds. A strongly first order structural transition in SrFe$_2$As$_2$ was confirmed by high-energy x-ray measurements, with the transition temperature, and character unaffected by moderate strain. For small strain levels, which are just sufficient to detwin the sample, we find a negligible effect on the resistivity above $T_{\textrm{TO}}$. With the increase of strain, the resistivity anisotropy starts to develop above $T_{\textrm{TO}}$, clearly showing the relation of anisotropy to an anomalously strong response to strain. Our study suggests that electronic nematicity cannot be observed in the FeAs based compounds in which the structural transition is strongly first order.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Anisotropic upper critical field and a possible Fulde-Ferrel-Larkin-Ovchinnikov state in a stoichiometric pnictide superconductor LiFeAs

Measurements of the temperature and angular dependencies of the upper critical fields $H_{c2}$ of a stoichiometric single crystal LiFeAs in pulsed magnetic fields up to 50 T were performed using a tunnel diode resonator. Full $H^{\parallel c}_{c2}(T)$ and $H^{\bot c}_{c2}(T)$ curves with $H^{\parallel c}_{c2}(0)=17 \pm 1$ T, $H^{\bot c}_{c2}(0)=26 \pm 1$ T, and the anisotropy parameter ${γ_H}(T) \equiv H_{c2}^{\bot c}/H_{c2}^{\parallel c}$ decreasing from $\approx 2.5$ at $T_c$ to 1.5 at $T\ll T_c$ were observed. The results for both orientations are in excellent agreement with a theory of $H_{c2}$ for two-band $s^\pm$ pairing in the clean limit. We show that $H^{\parallel c}_{c2}(T)$ is mostly limited by the orbital pairbreaking, whereas the shape of $H^{\bot c}_{c2}(T)$ indicates strong paramagnetic Pauli limiting and the inhomogeneous Fulde-Ferrel-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO)state below $T_F \sim 5$ K.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Anomalous Meissner effect in pnictide superconductors

The Meissner effect has been studied in Ba(Fe0.926Co0.074)2As2 and Ba0.6K0.4Fe2As2 single crystals and compared to well known, type-II superconductors LuNi2B2C and V3Si. Whereas flux penetration is mostly determined by the bulk pinning (and, perhaps, surface barrier) resulting in a large negative magnetization, the flux expulsion upon cooling in a magnetic field is very small, which could also be due to pinning and/or surface barrier effects. However, in stark contrast with the expected behavior, the amount of the expelled flux increases almost linearly with the applied magnetic field, at least up to our maximum field of 5.5 T, which far exceeds the upper limit for the surface barrier. One interpretation of the observed behavior is that there is a field-driven suppression of magnetic pair-breaking.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Nodeless two-gap superconductivity in stoichiometric iron pnictide LiFeAs

The variations of in- and inter- plane London penetration depths, $Δλ(T)$, were measured using a tunnel diode resonator in single crystals of the intrinsic pnictide superconductor LiFeAs. This compound appears to be in the clean limit with a residual resistivity of 4 ($T\to0$) to 8 ($T_c$) $μΩ\cdot$cm and $RRR$ of 65 to 35, respectively. The superfluid density, $ρ_s(T)=λ^2(0)/λ^2(T)$, is well described by the self-consistent two-gap $γ-$model. Together with the previous data, our results support the universal evolution of the superconducting gap from nodeless to nodal upon departure from optimal doping. We also conclude that pairbreaking scattering plays an important role in the deviation of the low-temperature behavior of $λ(T)$ from exponential in Fe-based compounds.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Structure and physical properties of the noncentrosymmetric superconductor Mo3Al2C

We have synthesized polycrystalline samples of the noncentrosymmetric superconductor Mo3Al2C by arc and RF melting, measured its transport, magnetic and thermodynamic properties, and computed its band structure. Experimental results indicate a bulk superconducting transition at Tc ~ 9.2 K, while the density of states at the Fermi surface is found to be dominated by Mo d-orbitals. Using the measured values for the lower critical field Hc1, upper critical field Hc2, and the specific heat C, we estimated the thermodynamic critical field Hc(0), coherence length ξ(0), penetration depth λ(0), and the Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ(0). The specific heat jump at Tc, ΔC/γTc = 2.14, suggests that Mo3Al2C is moderately-to-strongly coupled, consistent with the fast opening of the gap, as evidenced by the rapid release of entropy below Tc from our electronic specific heat measurements. Above 2K the electronic specific heat exhibits the power law behavior, suggesting that synthesis of single crystals and measurements at lower temperature are needed to establish whether the gap is anisotropic. The estimated value of the upper critical field Hc2(0) is close to the calculated Pauli limit, therefore further studies are needed to determine whether the absence of an inversion center results in a significant admixture of the triplet component of the order parameter.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Multi-gap superconductivity and Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations in single crystals of the layered boride OsB_2

Single crystals of superconducting OsB_2 [T_c = 2.10(5) K] have been grown using a Cu-B eutectic flux. We confirm that OsB_2 crystallizes in the reported orthorhombic structure (space group Pmmn) at room temperature. Both the normal and superconducting state properties of the crystals are studied using various techniques. Heat capacity versus temperature C(T) measurements yield the normal state electronic specific heat coefficient γ= 1.95(1) mJ/mol K^2 and the Debye temperature Θ_D = 539(2) K. The measured frequencies of Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations are in good agreement with those predicted by band structure calculations. Magnetic susceptibility χ(T,H), electrical resistivity ρ(T) and C(T,H) measurements (H is the magnetic field) demonstrate that OsB_2 is a bulk low-κ[κ(T_c) = 2(1)] Type-II superconductor that is intermediate between the clean and dirty limits [ξ(T=0)/\ell = 0.97)] with a small upper critical magnetic field H_c2(T = 0) = 186(4) Oe. The penetration depth is λ(T = 0) = 0.300 μm. An anomalous (not single-gap BCS) T dependence of λwas fitted by a two-gap model with Δ_1(T = 0)/k_BT_c = 1.9 and Δ_2(T = 0)/k_BT_c = 1.25, respectively. The discontinuity in the heat capacity at T_c, ΔC/γT_c = 1.32, is smaller than the weak-coupling BCS value of 1.43, consistent with the two-gap nature of the superconductivity in OsB_2. An anomalous increase in ΔC at T_c of unknown origin is found in finite H; e.g., ΔC/γT_c \approx 2.5 for H \approx 25 Oe.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

$c$-axis charge gap and its critical point in the heavily doped Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$

Temperature-dependent inter-plane resistivity, $ρ_c(T)$, was used to characterise the normal state of the iron-arsenide superconductor Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ over a broad doping range $0\leq x<0.50$. The data were compared with in-plane resistivity, $ρ_a(T)$, and magnetic susceptibility, $χ(T)$, taken in $H \bot c$, as well as Co NMR Knight shift, $^{59}K$, and spin relaxation rate, $1/T_1T$. The inter-plane resistivity data show a clear correlation with the NMR Knight shift, assigned to the formation of the pseudo-gap. Evolution of $ρ_c(T)$ with doping reveals two characteristic energy scales. The temperature of the cross-over from non-metallic, increasing on cooling, behavior of $ρ_c(T)$ at high-temperatures to metallic behavior at low temperatures, $T^*$, correlates well with an anomaly in all three magnetic measurements. This characteristic temperature, equal to approximately 200~K in the parent compound, $x$=0, decreases with doping and vanishes near $x^* \approx$0.25. For doping levels $x \geq 0.166$, an additional feature appears above $T^*$, with metallic behavior of $ρ_c (T)$ found above the low-temperature resistivity increase. The characteristic temperature of this charge-gap formation, $T_{\rm CG}$, vanishes at $x_{\rm CG} \simeq$0.30, paving the way to metallic, $T$-linear, $ρ_c (T)$ close to $x_{\rm CG}$ and super-linear $T$-dependence for $x>x_{\rm CG}$. None of these features are evident in the in-plane resistivity $ρ_a(T)$. For doping levels $x x_{\rm CG}$.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Doping evolution of the absolute value of the London penetration depth and superfluid density in single crystals of Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$

The zero temperature value of the in-plane London penetration depth, $λ_{ab}(0)$, has been measured in single crystals of Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$Co$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ as a function of the Co concentration, $x$, across both the underdoped and overdoped superconducting regions of the phase diagram. For $x\gtrsim0.047$, $λ_{ab}(0)$ has been found to have values between 120 $\pm$ 50~nm and 300 $\pm$ 50~nm. A pronounced increase in $λ_{ab}(0)$, to a value as high as 950 $\pm$ 50~nm, has been observed for $x\lesssim0.047$, corresponding to the region of the phase diagram where the itinerant antiferromagnetic and superconducting phases coexist and compete. Direct determination of the doping-dependent $λ_{ab}(0)$ has allowed us to track the evolution of the temperature-dependent superfluid density, from which we infer the development of a pronounced superconducting gap anisotropy at the edges of the superconducting dome.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Nodes in the gap structure of the iron-arsenide superconductor Ba(Fe_{1-x}Co_x)_2As_2 from c-axis heat transport measurements

The thermal conductivity k of the iron-arsenide superconductor Ba(Fe_{1-x}Co_x)_2As_2 was measured down to 50 mK for a heat current parallel (k_c) and perpendicular (k_a) to the tetragonal c axis, for seven Co concentrations from underdoped to overdoped regions of the phase diagram (0.038 < x < 0.127). A residual linear term k_c0/T is observed in the T = 0 limit when the current is along the c axis, revealing the presence of nodes in the gap. Because the nodes appear as x moves away from the concentration of maximal T_c, they must be accidental, not imposed by symmetry, and are therefore compatible with an s_{+/-} state, for example. The fact that the in-plane residual linear term k_a0/T is negligible at all x implies that the nodes are located in regions of the Fermi surface that contribute strongly to c-axis conduction and very little to in-plane conduction. Application of a moderate magnetic field (e.g. H_c2/4) excites quasiparticles that conduct heat along the a axis just as well as the nodal quasiparticles conduct along the c axis. This shows that the gap must be very small (but non-zero) in regions of the Fermi surface which contribute significantly to in-plane conduction. These findings can be understood in terms of a strong k dependence of the gap Delta(k) which produces nodes on a Fermi surface sheet with pronounced c-axis dispersion and deep minima on the remaining, quasi-two-dimensional sheets.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

London penetration depth in Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$T$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ (T=Co, Ni) superconductors irradiated with heavy ions

Irradiation with Pb ions was used to study the effect of disorder on the in-plane London penetration depth, $λ(T)$, in single crystals of Ba(Fe$_{1-x}$T$_x$)$_2$As$_2$ (T=Co, Ni). An increase of the irradiation dose results in a monotonic decrease of the superconducting transition temperature, $T_c$, without affecting much the transition width. In both Co and Ni doped systems we find a power-law behavior, $Δλ(T) \propto T^n$, with the exponent $n$ systematically decreasing with the increase of disorder. This observation, supported by the theoretical analysis, conclusively points to a nodeless $s^\pm$ state with pairbreaking impurity scattering (interband) with strength being intermediate between Born and unitary limits.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Uniaxial strain detwinning of CaFe2As2 and BaFe2As2: optical and transport study

TThe parent compounds of iron-arsenide superconductors, $A$Fe$_{2}$As$_{2}$ ($A$=Ca, Sr, Ba), undergo a tetragonal to orthorhombic structural transition at a temperature $T_{\mathrm{TO}}$ in the range 135 to 205K depending on the alkaline earth element. Below $T_{\mathrm{TO}}$ the free standing crystals split into equally populated structural domains, which mask intrinsic, in-plane, anisotropic properties of the materials. Here we demonstrate a way of mechanically detwinning CaFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$ and BaFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$. The detwinning is nearly complete, as demonstrated by polarized light imaging and synchrotron $X$-ray measurements, and reversible, with twin pattern restored after strain release. Electrical resistivity measurements in the twinned and detwinned states show that resistivity, $ρ$, decreases along the orthorhombic $a_{o}$-axis but increases along the orthorhombic $b_{o}$-axis in both compounds. Immediately below $T_{\mathrm{TO}}$ the ratio $ρ_{bo}/ ρ_{ao}$ = 1.2 and 1.5 for Ca and Ba compounds, respectively. Contrary to CaFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$, BaFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$ reveals an anisotropy in the nominally tetragonal phase, suggesting that either fluctuations play a larger role above $T_{\mathrm{TO}}$ in BaFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$ than in CaFe$_{2}$As$_{2}$, or that there is a higher temperature crossover or phase transition.

cond-mat.str-el↗