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S. Ramakrishnan

Publications and source records attributed to S. Ramakrishnan.

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Critical points in the Bragg glass phase of a weakly pinned crystal of Ca$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$

New experimental data are presented on the scan rate dependence of the magnetization hysteresis width $ΔM(H)$ ($\propto$ critical current density $J_c(H)$) in isothermal $M-H$ scans in a weakly pinned single crystal of Ca$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$, which displays second magnetization peak (SMP) anomaly as distinct from the peak effect (PE). We observe an interesting modulation in the field dependence of a parameter which purports to measure the dynamical annealing of the disordered bundles of vortices injected through the sample edges towards the destined equilibrium vortex state at a given $H$. These data, in conjunction with the earlier observations made while studying the thermomagnetic history dependence in $J_c(H)$ in the tracing of the minor hysteresis loops, imply that the partially disordered state heals towards the more ordered state between the peak field of the SMP anomaly and the onset field of the PE. The vortex phase diagram in the given crystal of Ca$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$ has been updated in the context of the notion of the phase coexistence of the ordered and disordered regions between the onset field of the SMP anomaly and the spinodal line located just prior to the irreversibility line. A multi-critical point and a critical point in the ($H,T$) region of the Bragg glass phase have been marked in this phase diagram and the observed behaviour is discussed in the light of recent data on multi-critical point in the vortex phase diagram in a single crystal of Nb.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Effect of pinning and driving force on the metastability effects in weakly pinned superconductors and the determination of spinodal line pertaining to order-disorder transition

We explore the effect of varying drive on metastability features exhibited by the vortex matter in single crystals of 2H-NbSe$_2$ and CeRu$_2$ with varying degree of random pinning. An optimal balance between the pinning and driving force is needed to view the metastability effects in typically weakly pinned specimen of low temperature superconductors. As one uses samples with larger pinning in order to differentiate the response of different metastable vortex states, one encounters a new phenomena, viz., the second magnetization peak (SMP) anomaly prior to the PE. Interplay between the path dependence in the critical current density and the non-linearity in the electromagnetic response determine the metastability effects seen in first and the third harmonic response of the ac susceptibility across the temperature regions of the SMP and the PE. The limiting temperature above which metastability effects cease can be conveniently located in the third harmonic data, and the observed behavior can be rationalized within the Beans Critical State model. A vortex phase diagram showing the different vortex phases for a typically weakly pinned specimen has been constructed via the ac susceptibility data in a crystal of 2H-NbSe$_2$ which shows the SMP and the PE anomalies. The phase space of coexisting weaker and stronger pinned regions has been identified. It can be bifurcated into two parts, where the order and disorder dominate, respectively. The former part continuously connects to the reentrant disordered vortex phase pertaining to the small bundle pinning regime, where the vortices are far apart, interaction effects are weak and the polycrystalline form of flux line lattice prevails.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Low temperature properties of a new Kondo Lattice compound Yb$_2$Ir$_3$Sn$_5$

We report the preparation and results of our magnetic and transport measurements on a new Yb-based ternary compound Yb$_2$Ir$_3$Sn$_5$. This compound forms in the orthorhombic Cmc21 structure. DC magnetic susceptibility between 1.8 K and 300 K reveal that Yb is in its magnetic trivalent state in this compound. Electrical resistivity measurements down to 1. 5K show a behavior typical of Kondo lattice compounds with a minimum in resistivity around 8K and a coherence peak near 3K. AC magnetic susceptibility down to 100mK reveals an anti-ferromagnetic transition below 1.35 K.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Exploring metastability via the third harmonic measurements in single crystals of $2H$-$NbSe_2$ showing anomalous Peak effect

We explore the metastability effects across the order-disorder transition pertaining to the peak effect phenomenonon in critical current density ($J_c$) via the first and the third harmonic ac susceptibility measurements in the weakly pinned single crystals of $2H$-$NbSe_2$. An analysis of our data suggests that an imprint of the limiting (spinodal) temperature above which $J_c$ is path independent can be conveniently located in the third harmonic data ($χ_{3ω}^{\prime}$).

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Competition between Superconductivity and Charge Density Wave Ordering in the Lu$_5$Ir$_4$(Si$_{1-x}$Ge$_x$)$_{10}$ Alloy System

We have performed bulk measurements such as dc magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity and heat capacity on the pseudo-ternary alloys Lu$_5$Ir$_4$(Si$_{1-x}$Ge$_x$)$_{10}$ to study the interplay and competition between superconductivity and the charge density wave (CDW) ordering transition. We track the evolution of the superconducting transition temperature T$_{SC}$ and the CDW ordering temperature T$_{CDW}$ as a function of x (concentration of Ge) ($0.0 \leq x\leq~1.0$). We find that increasing x (increasing disorder) suppresses the T$_{CDW}$ rapidly with the concomitant increase in T$_{SC}$. We present a temperature-concentration (or volume) phase diagram for this system and compare our results with earlier work on substitution at the Lu or Ir site to show how dilution at the Si site presents a different situation from these other works. The heat capacity data in the vicinity of the CDW transition has been analyzed using a model of critical fluctuations in addition to a mean-field contribution and a smooth lattice background. We find that the critical exponents change appreciably with increasing disorder. This analysis suggests that the strong-coupling and non mean-field like CDW transition in the parent compound Lu$_5$Ir$_4$Si$_{10}$ changes to a mean-field like transition with increasing Ge concentration.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Evidence of gap anisotropy in superconducting YNi2B2C using directional point contact spectroscopy

We present a study of the anisotropy in the superconducting energy gap in a single crystal of YNi2B2C (Tc~14.6K) using directional point contact spectroscopy. The superconducting energy gap at 2.7K, when measured for I||c, is 4.5 times larger than that for I||a. The energy gaps in the two directions also have different temperature dependences. Our results support a scenario with s+g like symmetry.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Evolution of Superconductivity and Charge Density Wave Ordering in the Lu$_5$Ir$_4$(Si$_{1-x}$Ge$_x$)$_{10}$ Alloy System

The compounds Lu$_5$Ir$_4$Si$_{10}$ and Lu$_5$Ir$_4$Ge$_{10}$ crystallize in the tetragonal Sc$_5$Co$_4$Si$_{10}$ type structure. Lu$_5$Ir$_4$Si$_{10}$ is known to superconduct below 3.9 K and it also exhibits a strongly coupled charge density wave (CDW) transition below 83 K. Lu$_5$Ir$_4$Ge$_{10}$ undergoes a transition into the superconducting state below about 2.4 K without any CDW transition at higher temperatures. Recent Si NMR measurements on polycrystalline samples of Lu$_5$Ir$_4$Si$_{10}$ suggest that there is no energy gap at the Si site across the CDW transition. Thus it is of interest to study the evolution of the superconductivity and the CDW transition when we dope at the Si site with small quantities of Ge. Here we present the evolution of T$_C$ and T$_{CDW}$ with concentration x of Ge in the alloy system Lu$_5$Ir$_4$(Si$_{1-x}$Ge$_x$)$_{10}$ (x=0.0, 0.005, 0.01, 0.02, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 1.0) as estimated from dc susceptibility measurements. We find that the CDW is strongly suppressed with increasing x and there is a simultaneous enhancement of the superconducting transition temperature T$_C$ from 3.9 K for the undoped sample to almost 6.6 K for only 10% concentration of Ge in the alloy.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Effect of Hydrostatic Pressure on the Kondo Effect in the Heavy Fermion System Yb$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$

We report the effect of hydrostatic pressure on the resistivity of the heavy fermion Kondo lattice compound Yb$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$ in the temperature range 2-300 K and in pressures upto 10 Kbar. At ambient pressure the resistivity shows a prominent Kondo effect. The Kondo minimum shifts from 22.5 K at ambient pressure to 19.2 K at a pressure of 10 Kbar. The depth of the Kondo minimum also progressively decreases with pressure. These results suggest a possible weakening of the Kondo effect with the application of pressure.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Antiferromagnetic ordering in the Kondo lattice system Yb$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$

Compounds belonging to the R$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$ series exhibit unusual superconducting and magnetic properties. Although a number of studies have been made on the first reentrant antiferromagnet superconductor Tm$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$, the physical properties of Yb$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$ are largely unexplored. In this work, we attempt to provide a comprehensive study of bulk properties such as, resistivity, susceptibility and heat-capacity of a well characterized polycrystalline Yb$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$. Our measurements indicate that Yb$^{3+}$ moments order antiferromagnetically below 1.7 K. Moreover, the system behaves as a Kondo lattice with large Sommerfeld coefficient ($γ$) of 0.5~J/Yb mol K$^{2}$ at 0.3 K, which is well below T$_N$. The absence of superconductivity in Yb$_2$Fe$_3$Si$_5$ down to 0.3 K at ambient pressure is attributed to the presence of the Kondo effect.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Unusual Ground State Properties of the Kondo-Lattice Compound Yb2Ir3Ge5

We report sample preparation, structure, electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity studies of a new compound Yb$_2$Ir$_3$Ge$_5$. We find that this compound crystallizes in an orthorhombic structure with a space group PMMN unlike the compound Ce$_2$Ir$_3$Ge$_5$ which crystallizes in the tetragonal IBAM (U$_2$Co$_3$Si$_5$ type) structure. Our resistivity measurements indicate that the compound Yb$_2$Ir$_3$Ge$_5$ behaves like a typical Kondo lattice system with no ordering down to 0.4 K. However, a Curie-Weiss fit of the inverse magnetic susceptibility above 100 K gives an effective moment of only 3.66 $μ$$_B$ which is considerably less than the theoretical value of 4.54 $μ$$_B$ for magnetic Yb$^3+$ ions. The value of $θ_{P}$ = -15.19 K is also considerably higher indicating the presence of strong hybridization. An upturn in the low temperature heat capacity gives an indication that the system may order magnetically just below the lowest temperature of our heat capacity measurements (0.4 K). The structure contains two sites for Yb ions and the present investigation suggests that Yb may be trivalent in one site while it may be significantly lower (close to divalent) in the other.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Comparison of History Effects in Magnetization in Weakly pinned Crystals of high-$T_c$ and low-T$_c$ Superconductors

A comparison of the history effects in weakly pinned single crystals of a high $T_c$ YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7 - δ}$ (for H $\parallel$ c) and a low $T_c$ Ca$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$, which show anomalous variations in critical current density $J_c(H)$ are presented via tracings of the minor magnetization hysteresis loops using a vibrating sample magnetometer. The sample histories focussed are, (i) the field cooled (FC), (ii) the zero field cooled (ZFC) and (iii) an isothermal reversal of field from the normal state. An understanding of the results in terms of the modulation in the plastic deformation of the elastic vortex solid and supercooling across order-disorder transition is sought.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Vortex Phase Diagram of weakly pinned YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-δ}$ for H $\parallel$ c

Vortex phase diagram in a weakly pinned crystal of YBCO for H $\parallel$ c is reviewed in the light of a recent elucidation of the process of `inverse melting' in a Bismuth cuprate system and the imaging of an interface between the ordered and the disordered regions across the peak effect in 2H-NbSe$_2$. In the given YBCO crystal, a clear distinction can be made between the second magnetization peak (SMP) and the peak effect (PE) between 65 K and 75 K. The field region between the peak fields of the SMP (H$^m_{smp}$) and the onset fields of the PE (H$^{on}_{pe}$)is not only continuously connected to the Bragg glass phase at lower fields but it is also sandwiched between the higher temperature vortex liquid phase and the lower temperature vortex glass phase. Thus, an ordered vortex state between H$^m_{smp}$ and H$^{on}_{pe}$ can get transformed to the (disordered) vortex liquid state on heating as well as to the (disordered) vortex glass state on cooling, a situation analogous to the thermal melting and the inverse melting phenomenon seen in a Bismuth cuprate.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Magnetic properties of hexagonal YMnO$_3$, LuMnO$_3$ and ScMnO$_3$ Magnetic susceptibility, specific heat and dielectric constant of hexagonal YMnO_3, LuMnO_3 and ScMnO_3

We report the magnetic susceptibility, specific heat and dielectric constant on high purity polycrystalline samples of three hexagonal manganites: YMnO_3, LuMnO_3 and ScMnO_3. These materials can exhibit a ferroelectric transition at very high temperatures (T_{FE} > 700K). At lower temperatures there is magnetic ordering of the frustrated Mn^{3+} spins (S=2) on a triangular Mn lattice (YMnO_3:T_N=71K; LuMnO$_3:T_N=90K and ScMnO_3:T_N=130K). The transition is characterized by a sharp kink in the magnetic susceptibility at T_N below which it continues to increase due to the frustration on the triangular lattice. The specific heat shows one clear continuous phase transition at T_N, which is independent of external magnetic field up to 9T with an entropy content as expected for Mn^{3+} ions. The temperature dependent dielectric constant displays a distinct anomaly at T_N.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

Establishment of a stable vortex state in the peak effect region in a weakly pinned superconductor CeRu_2

We present magnetization data on a weakly pinned CeRu_2 single crystal showing the existence of a stable state of the vortex lattice in the peak effect region. The stable state is achieved by cycling the magnetic field by small amplitude. This stable state is characterized by a unique value of critical current density (J_c), independent of the magnetic history of the sample. The results support the recent model proposed by Ravikumar et al \cite{r39} on the history dependence of the J_c.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Disordered Type-II Superconductors: A Universal Phase Diagram for Low-T$_c$ Systems

A universal phase diagram for weakly pinned low-T$_c$ type-II superconductors is revisited and extended with new proposals. The low-temperature ``Bragg glass'' phase is argued to transform first into a disordered, glassy phase upon heating. This glassy phase, a continuation of the high-field equilibrium vortex glass phase, then melts at higher temperatures into a liquid. This proposal provides an explanation for the anomalies observed in the peak effect regime of 2H-NbSe$_2$ and several other low-T$_c$ materials which is independent of the microscopic mechanisms of superconductivity in these systems.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Stable and Metastable vortex states and the first order transition across the peak effect region in weakly pinned 2H-NbSe_2

The peak effect in weakly pinned superconductors is accompanied by metastable vortex states. Each metastable vortex configuration is characterized by a different critical current density J_c, which mainly depends on the past thermomagnetic history of the superconductor. A recent model [G. Ravikumar, et al, Phys. Rev. B 61, R6479 (2000)] proposed to explain the history dependent J_c postulates a stable state of vortex lattice with a critical current density J_c^{st}, determined uniquely by the field and temperature. In this paper, we present evidence for the existence of the stable state of the vortex lattice in the peak effect region of 2H-NbSe_2. It is shown that this stable state can be reached from any metastable vortex state by cycling the applied field by a small amplitude. The minor magnetization loops obtained by repeated field cycling allow us to determine the pinning and "equilibrium" properties of the stable state of the vortex lattice at a given field and temperature unambiguously. The data imply the occurence of a first order phase transition from an ordered phase to a disordered vortex phase across the peak effect.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Amorphization of Vortex Matter and Reentrant Peak Effect in YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-δ}$

The peak effect (PE) has been observed in a twinned crystal of YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-δ}$ for H$\parallel$c in the low field range, close to the zero field superconducting transition temperature (T$_c$(0)) . A sharp depinning transition succeeds the peak temperature T$_p$ of the PE. The PE phenomenon broadens and its internal structure smoothens out as the field is increased or decreased beyond the interval between 250 Oe and 1000 Oe. Moreover, the PE could not be observed above 10 kOe and below 20 Oe. The locus of the T$_p$(H) values shows a reentrant characteristic with a nose like feature located at T$_p$(H)/T$_c$(0)$\approx$0.99 and H$\approx$100 Oe (where the FLL constant a$_0$$\approx$penetration depth $λ$). The upper part of the PE curve (0.5 kOe$<$H$<$10 kOe) can be fitted to a melting scenario with the Lindemann number c$_L$$\approx$0.25. The vortex phase diagram near T$_c$(0) determined from the characteristic features of the PE in YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-δ}$(H$\parallel$c) bears close resemblance to that in the 2H-NbSe$_2$ system, in which a reentrant PE had been observed earlier.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Peak Effect in Ca$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$ : Vortex Phase Diagram and Evidences for Stepwise Amorphization of Flux Line Lattice

The Peak Effect (PE) regime in a single crystal of Ca$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$ has been investigated in detail via ac susceptibility as well as dc magnetization measurements. The PE region comprises two discontinuous first order like transitions, located near its onset and peak positions and reflects a stepwise fracturing of the flux line lattice (FLL). This scenario can be construed as an alternative to a scheme involving the appearance of Generalized Fulde-Ferrel-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (GFFLO) state as considered in the case of PE phenomenon in isostructural Yb$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$ system. The procedure of thermal cycling across the onset position of PE produces an open hysteresis loop, which is consistent with the notion of the fracturing of the FLL. A study of thermomagnetic history dependence of different metastable vortex states shows the path dependence in the critical current density J_c(H,T) over a large part of the (H,T) parameter space. The path dependence in J_c ceases above the peak position of the PE, suggesting a complete amorphization and the loss of long range correlations of the FLL at (T_p, H_p) line. A plausible vortex phase diagram has been illustrated for Ca$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$n and phases like an elastic solid, a plastic solid, a pinned amorphous and an unpinned amorphous states have been identified.

cond-mat.supr-con↗