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S. Sarti

Publications and source records attributed to S. Sarti.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Measurement of fundamental physical quantities in the framework of the Lab2Go project

To establish a closer contact between school and experimental sciences, Sapienza Università di Roma and the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) launched the Lab2Go project. Lab2Go has the goal of spreading laboratory practice among students and teachers in high schools. In this article, it is presented a measurement, carried out in the framework of the Lab2Go project, of the ratio hc/e where h, c and e are respectively the Planck constant, the speed of light in the vacuum, and the electric charge.

physics.ed-ph

Graphene Aerogels for Ultrabroadband Thermoacoustics

Sound is usually generated in a medium by an electromechanical vibrating structure. The geometrical size and inertia of the structure set the frequency cutoff in the sound-transduction mechanism and, often, different vibrating structures are necessary to cover the whole range from infrasound to ultrasound. An alternative mechanism without any physical movement of the emitter is the thermoacoustic effect, where sound is produced by Joule heating in a conductive material. Here we show that a single thermoacoustic transducer based on a graphene aerogel can emit ultrabroadband sound from infrasound (1 Hz) to ultrasound (20 MHz), with no harmonic distortion. Since conventional acoustic transducers are frequency band limited due to their transduction mechanism, ultrabroadband graphene aerogels may offer a valid alternative to conventional hi-fi loudspeakers, and infrasound and ultrasound transducers.

physics.app-ph

Molybdenum sputtering film characterization for high gradient accelerating structures

Technological advancements are strongly required to fulfill the demands of new accelerator devices with the highest accelerating gradients and operation reliability for the future colliders. To this purpose an extensive R&D regarding molybdenum coatings on copper is in progress. In this contribution we describe chemical composition, deposition quality and resistivity properties of different molybdenum coatings obtained via sputtering. The deposited films are thick metallic disorder layers with different resistivity values above and below the molibdenum dioxide reference value. Chemical and electrical properties of these sputtered coatings have been characterized by Rutherford backscattering, XANES and photoemission spectroscopy. We will also present a three cells standing wave section coated by a molybdenum layer $\sim$ 500 nm thick designed to improve the performance of X-Band accelerating systems.

physics.acc-ph

Superconducting and structural properties of Nb/PdNi/Nb trilayers

The superconducting and structural properties of S/F/S (Superconductor/Ferromagnet/Superconductor) heterostructures have been studied by means of microwave measurements (1-20 GHz) and x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy. Nb/PdNi/Nb trilayers have been studied as a function of F layer thicness. With respect to pure Nb, XAFS analysis shows that the heterostructures exhibit larger structural disorder in the S layers. Microwave measurements show evidence for a progressively weaker vortex pinning with increasing F thickness. However, no clear correlation is found with the local disorder in Nb: the weakest pinning is not in the most disordered trilayer. Therefore the structural disorder in the superconducting material cannot explain on its own the changes in vortex pinning. We argue that the F layer acts on the superconducting state itself. We propose possible explanations for the observed behavior.

cond-mat.supr-con

Microwave properties of Nb/PdNi/Nb trilayers. Observation of flux flow in excess of Bardeen-Stephen theory

We combine wideband (1-20 GHz) Corbino disk and dielectric resonator (8.2 GHz) techniques to study the microwave properties in Nb/PdNi/Nb trilayers, grown by UHV dc magnetron sputtering, composed by Nb layers of nominal thickness $d_S$=15 nm, and a ferromagnetic PdNi layer of thickness $d_F$= 1, 2, 8 and 9 nm. We focus on the vortex state. Magnetic fields up to $H_{c2}$ were applied. The microwave resistivity at fixed $H/H_{c2}$ increases with $d_F$, eventually exceeding the Bardeen Stephen flux flow value.

cond-mat.supr-con

Vortex motion in Nb/PdNi/Nb trilayers: new aspects in the flux flow state

We study the dynamics of vortex lines in Supercondutor/Ferromagnet/Superconductor (SFS) heterostructures at microwave frequencies. We have employed swept-frequency, Corbino-disk and resonant, dielectric-resonator techniques to obtain the field and temperature dependence of the vortex-state parameters. We concentrate here on the genuine flux-flow resistivity $ρ_{ff}$, that we access at subcritical currents using a sufficiently high driving frequency. We find that $ρ_{ff}$ does not follow the well-known Bardeen-Stephen model. Instead, it is well described by a full time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau expression at very thin F layer thickness, but changes to a previously unreported field-dependence when the F layer exceeds a few nm.

cond-mat.supr-con

Wideband microwave measurements in Nb/Pd$_{84}$Ni$_{16}$/Nb structures and comparison with thin Nb films

We present wideband microwave measurements (1-22 GHz) taken on Superconductor/Ferromagnet heterostructures with the Corbino disk technique. We apply the technique to Nb/PdNi/Nb trilayers in the vortex state and we compare the results to data taken with the same technique on a Nb thin film. We show that it is possible to directly extract the genuine flux-flow resistivity from our frequency-dependent measurements without overcoming the (depinning) critical current. The characteristic frequency for vortex relaxation can also be estimated, without resorting to a specific model. We find that the F layer determines a weakening of pinning and an enhancement of the flux-flow resistivity with respect to the Nb film.

cond-mat.supr-con

New aspects of microwave properties of Nb in the mixed state

We present a study of the frequency dependence of the vortex dynamics in a conventional superconductor. We have employed a swept-frequency, Corbino-disk technique to investigate the temperature (3.6K-Tc) and high-field (from Hc2/2 to Hc2) microwave complex resistivity in Nb thin (20-40 nm) films as a function of the frequency (1-20 GHz). We have found several previously unnoticed features: (i) a field-dependent depinning frequency in the GHz range; (ii) deviations from the accepted frequency dependence, that can be ascribed to some kind of vortex creep; (iii) the presence of switching phenomena, reminiscent of vortex instabilities. We discuss the possible origin of the features here reported.

cond-mat.supr-con

Tunnel and thermal c-axis transport in BSCCO in the normal and pseudogap state

We consider the problem of c-axis transport in double-layered cuprates, in particular with reference to Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$CaCu$_{2}$O$_{8+δ}$ compounds. We exploit the effect of the two barriers on the thermal and tunnel transport. The resulting model is able to describe accurately the normal state c-axis resistivity in Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$CaCu$_{2}$O$_{8+δ}$, from the underdoped side up to the strongly overdoped. We extend the model, without introducing additional parameters, in order to allow for the decrease of the barrier when an external voltage bias is applied. The extended model is found to describe properly the c-axis resistivity for small voltage bias above the pseudogap temperature $T^{*}$, the c-axis resistivity for large voltage bias even below $T_c$, and the differential $dI/dV$ curves taken in mesa structures.

cond-mat.supr-con

Scaling of the microwave magneto-impedance in Tl$_2$Ba$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+δ}$ thin films

We present measurements of the magnetic field-induced microwave complex resistivity changes at 47 GHz in Tl$_2$Ba$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+δ}$ (TBCCO) thin films, in the ranges 58 K$<T<T_{c}$ and 0$<μ_{0}H<$0.8 T. The large imaginary part $Δρ_{2}(H)$ points to strong elastic response, but the data are not easily reconciled with a rigid vortex model. We find that, over a wide range of temperatures, all the pairs of curves $Δρ_{1}(H)$ and $Δρ_{2}(H)$ can be collapsed on a pair of scaling curves $Δρ_{1}[H/H^{*}(T)]$, $Δρ_{2}[H/H^{*}(T)]$, with the same scaling field $H^{*}(T)$. We argue that $H^{*}(T)$ is related to the loss of vortex rigidity due to a vortex transformation.

cond-mat.supr-con

Vortex state microwave response in superconducting cuprates and MgB$_2$

We investigate the physics of the microwave response in YBa$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7-δ}$, SmBa$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7-δ}$ and MgB$_{2}$ in the vortex state. We first recall the theoretical basics of vortex-state microwave response in the London limit. We then present a wide set of measurements of the field, temperature, and frequency dependences of the vortex state microwave complex resistivity in superconducting thin films, measured by a resonant cavity and by swept-frequency Corbino disk. The combination of these techniques allows for a comprehensive description of the microwave response in the vortex state in these innovative superconductors. In all materials investigated we show that flux motion alone cannot take into account all the observed experimental features, neither in the frequency nor in the field dependence. The discrepancy can be resolved by considering the (usually neglected) contribution of quasiparticles to the response in the vortex state. The peculiar, albeit different, physics of the superconducting materials here considered, namely two-band superconductivity in MgB$_{2}$ and superconducting gap with lines of nodes in cuprates, give rise to a substantially increased contribution of quasiparticles to the field-dependent microwave response. With careful combined analysis of the data it is possible to extract or infer many interesting quantities related to the vortex state, such as the temperature-dependent characteristic vortex frequency and vortex viscosity, the field dependence of the quasiparticle density, the temperature dependence of the $σ$-band superfluid density in MgB$_{2}$

cond-mat.supr-con

Vortex state microwave resistivity in Tl-2212 thin films

We present measurements of the field induced changes in the 47 GHz complex resistivity, $Δ\tilde ρ(H,T)$, in Tl$_{2}$Ba$_{2}$CaCu$_{2}$O$_{8+x}$ (TBCCO) thin films with $T_{c}\simeq$ 105 K, prepared on CeO$_{2}$ buffered sapphire substrates. At low fields ($μ_{0}H<$10 mT) a very small irreversible feature is present, suggesting a little role of intergranular phenomena. Above that level $Δ\tilde ρ(H,T)$ exhibits a superlinear dependence with the field, as opposed to the expected (at high frequencies) quasilinear behaviour. We observe a crossover between predominantly imaginary to predominantly real (dissipative) response with increasing temperature and/or field. In addition, we find the clear scaling property $Δ\tilde ρ(H,T)=Δ\tilde ρ[H/H^{*}(T)]$, where the scaling field $H^{*}(T)$ maps closely the melting field measured in single crystals. We discuss our microwave results in terms of loss of flux lines rigidity.

cond-mat.supr-con

Mixed-state microwave response in superconducting cuprates

We report measurements of the magnetic-field induced microwave complex resistivity in REBa$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7-δ}$ thin films, with RE = Y, Sm. Measurements are performed at 48 GHz by means of a resonant cavity in the end-wall-replacement configuration. The magnetic field dependence is investigated by applying a moderate (0.8 T) magnetic field along the c-axis. The measured vortex state complex resistivity in YBa$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7-δ}$ and SmBa$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7-δ}$ is analyzed within the well-known models for vortex dynamics. It is shown that attributing the observed response to vortex motion alone leads to inconsistencies in the as-determined vortex parameters (such as the vortex viscosity and the pinning constant). By contrast, attributing the entire response to field-induced pair breaking leads to a nearly quantitative description of the data.

cond-mat.supr-con

Mixed state microwave resistivity of cuprate superconductors

We present a compared experimental investigation of the (a,b) plane vortex-state complex resistivity at 48 GHz in YBaCuO, SmBaCuO and BiSrCaCuO (2212). In YBaCuO and SmBaCuO the field dependence of the response can be consistently described by a combination of flux flow and strong pair breaking due to the presence of lines of nodes in the gap. In BiSrCaCuO (2212), by contrast, the data might be described by the pair breaking alone.

cond-mat.supr-con

c-axis transport and phenomenology of the pseudo-gap state in $Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_{8+δ}$

We measure and analyze the resistivity of $Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_{8+δ}$ crystals for different doping $δ$. We obtain the fraction of carrier $η(T,δ) = n_g/n_{TOT}$ that do not participate to the c-axis conductivity. All the curves $η(T,δ)$ collapse onto a universal curve when plotted against a reduced temperature $x=[T-Θ(δ)]/Δ^{*}(δ)$. We find that at the superconducting transition $n_g$ is doping independent. We also show that a magnetic field up to 14 T does not affect the degree of localization in the (a,b) planes but widens the temperature range of the x-scaling by suppressing the superconducting phase coherence.

cond-mat.supr-con

Measurements of surface impedance of superconductors as a function of frequency in microwave range

We report measurements of the complex resistivity in YBCO and MgB$_2$ thin films over a continuous frequency spectrum in the microwave range, making use of a Corbino disk geometry. The paper mainly focuses on the extraction of the resistivity from raw data, displaying data analysis procedure and its limits of validity. We obtain and show resistivity curves as a function of frequency and temperature denoting a frequency dependent widening of the superconducting transition.

cond-mat.supr-con

Field dependence of the microwave resistivity in SmBaCuO thin films

We report measurements of the microwave complex resistivity at 48 GHz in SmBaCuO thin films. Measurements are performed with a moderate magnetic field, $μ_{0}H<$ 0.8T, applied along the c-axis. We find that the complex resistivity presents clear sublinear field dependences, and that the imaginary part is remarkably sensitive to the moderate magnetic field. Interpretation considering an unusually strong pinning leads to very anomalous field dependences of the single-vortex viscosity and of the pinning constant. By contrast, allowing for a significant effect of the magnetic field on the depletion of the condensate, the data are quantitatively described by simple free-flux flow model, supplemented with two-fluid conductivity. In this frame, we obtain the vortex viscosity from the data. We compare vortex viscosity in SmBaCuO and in YBaCuO.

cond-mat.supr-con

Microwave fluctuational conductivity in YBa$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7-δ}$

We present measurements of the microwave complex conductivity at 23.9 and 48.2 GHz in YBa$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7-δ}$ films, in the fluctuational region above $T_{c}$. With increasing temperature, the fluctuational excess conductivity drops much faster than the well-known calculations within the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory [H. Schmidt {\em Z. Phys.} {\bf 216}, 336]. Approaching the transition temperature, slowing down of the fluctuations is observed. We discuss the results in terms of a modified gaussian theory for finite-frequency fluctuational conductivity, where renormalization is introduced in order to account for the $T\to T_{c}$ regime, and a spectral cutoff is inserted in order to discard high-momentum modes. The data are in excellent agreement with the modified theory, when formulated for three-dimensional, anisotropic superconductors, in the whole experimentally accessible temperature range, and for both frequencies.

cond-mat.supr-con