arXiv subjects

Sung-Ik Lee

Publications and source records attributed to Sung-Ik Lee.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2004

Transient Infrared Photoreflectance Study of Superconducting MgB2: Evidence for Multiple Gaps and Interband Scattering

We studied the far-infrared reflectance of superconducting MgB2 in and out of equilibrium using pulsed synchrotron radiation. The equilibrium data can be described by a single energy gap at 2 Delta / hc = 43 cm-1. The fit improves slightly at lower frequencies when two gaps (at 30 cm-1 and 56 cm-1$) are assumed to exist. The non equilibrium data is obtained when excess quasiparticles are generated in the MgB2 film by a laser pulse, decreasing the energy gap(s). The temperature dependence of the number of excess quasiparticles indicates that only a single gap near 30 cm-1 controls the non-equilibrium process. Fits to the photo-induced reflectance show the presence of the two gaps but weakening of an energy gap at 30 cm-1 only. Our data can be understood if one considers the picture where excited quasiparticles created by the laser impulse relax to the lowest gap band before recombining into Cooper pairs.

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arXiv2004

Interband scattering in MgB2

The scattering process responsible for connecting the bands remains one of the last open questions on the physical properties of MgB2. Through the analysis of the equilibrium and photo-induced far-infrared properties as well as electron spin resonance of MgB2 we propose a phonon mediated energy transfer process between the bands based on the coupling of quasiparticles to an E2g phonon.

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arXiv2004

Correlation of microwave surface impedance of MgB_2 thin film with material parameters and a temperature niche for microwave applications

Two issues related to the microwave surface impedance Z_s of MgB_2 thin film are discussed in this Letter, both being significant for potential microwave applications. At first, a correlation between Zs and Alpha = Xi/l was found, where Xi is the coherence length, and l is the mean free path. The surface resistance Rs decreases with Alpha at moderate and large values of Alpha and saturates when Alpha approaches one. The values of the penetration depth at zero temperature Lamda(0) for different films could be well fitted by Lamda_L (1+Alpha)^(1/2), yielding a London penetration depth Lamda_L of 33.6 nm. The second issue is to find a temperature niche for possible microwave applications. Between 10K and 15K, our best MgB_2 films possess the lowest Rs values compared with other superconductors such as NbN, Nb3Sn and the high-temperature superconductor YBCO.

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arXiv2004

Reversible magnetization measurement of the anisotropy of the London penetration depth in MgB2 single crystals

We have studied the anisotropy of the London penetration depth, which was obtained from reversible magnetization measurements with the magnetic field both parallel and perpendicular to the c-axis. The anisotropy of the London penetration depth has a smaller magnitude than the anisotropy of the upper critical field and increases with temperature while that of the upper critical field decreases as reported earlier. This behavior is in sharp contrast with the behaviors of superconductors with one superconducting energy gap. The temperature dependence of the anisotropies of the London penetration depth and of the upper critical field can be well explained within the theory of two-gap superconductivity in MgB2.

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arXiv2004

Reversible magnetization of MgB2 single crystals with a two-gap nature

We present reversible magnetization measurements on MgB2 single crystals in magnetic fields up to 2.5 T applied parallel to the crystal's c-axis. This magnetization is analyzed in terms of the Hao-Clem model, and various superconducting parameters, such as the critical fields [Hc(0) and Hc2(0)], the characteristic lengths [xi(0) and lambda(0)], and the Ginzburg-Landau parameter, kappa, are derived. The temperature dependence of the magnetic penetration depth, lambda(T), obtained from the Hao-Clem analysis could not be explained by theories assuming a single gap. Our data are well described by using a two-gap model.

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arXiv2003

Critical flux pinning and enhanced upper-critical-field in magnesium diboride films

We have conducted pulsed transport measurements on c-axis oriented magnesium diboride films over the entire relevant ranges of magnetic field $0 \alt H \alt H_{c2}$ (where \hcu is the upper critical field) and current density $0 \alt j \alt j_{d}$ (where $j_{d}$ is the depairing current density). The intrinsic disorder of the films combined with the large coherence length and three-dimensionality, compared to cuprate superconductors, results in a six-fold enhancement of $H_{c2}$ and raises the depinning current density $j_{c}$ to within an order of magnitude of $j_{d}$. The current-voltage response is highly non-linear at all fields, resulting from a combination of depinning and pair-breaking, and has no trace of an Ohmic free-flux-flow regime. Keywords: pair, breaking, depairing, superconductor, superconductivity, flux, fluxon, vortex, mgb2

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arXiv2003

Temperature and magnetic field dependent tunneling spectroscopy of PtIr/Sr$_{0.9}$La$_{0.1}$CuO$_2$ point contact

Low barrier quasiparticle tunneling spectroscopy on Sr$_{0.9}$La$_{0.1}$CuO$_2$ has been studied with PtIr/Sr$_{0.9}$La$_{0.1}$CuO$_2$ point contacts at various temperatures and magnetic fields. No zero-bias conductance peaks are observed. By fitting tunneling conductance to Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk theory, the temperature dependent s-wave superconducting gaps are obtained. The present results exclude the possibility of d-wave symmetry for the pair gap in Sr$_{0.9}$La$_{0.1}$CuO$_2$, and do not support the conventional phonon mediated pairing in this system either.

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arXiv2003

Direct Observation of Nodal Quasiparticles in an Unconventional Superconductor: Field-angle Dependent Heat Capacity of YNi2B2C

Field-angle dependent heat capacity of the non-magnetic borocarbide superconductor YNi2B2C reveals a clear fourfold oscillation, the first observation of its kind. The observed angular variations were analyzed as a function of magnetic field angle, field intensity and temperature to provide its origin. The quantitative agreement between experiment and theory strongly suggests that we are directly observing nodal quasiparticles generated along <100> by the Doppler effect. The results demonstrate that field-angle heat capacity can be a powerful tool in probing the momentum-space gap structure in unconventional superconductors such as high Tc cuprates, heavy fermion superconductors, etc.

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arXiv2003

X-ray absorption and optical spectroscopy studies of (Mg$_{1-x}$Al$_x$)B$_2$

X-ray absorption spectroscopy and optical reflectance measurements have been carried out to elucidate the evolution of the electronic structure in (Mg$_{1-x}$Al$_{x}$)B$_{2}$ for $\emph{x}$ = 0.0,0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4. The important role of B 2$\emph{p}$ $σ$ hole states to superconductivity has been identified, and the decrease in the hole carrier number is $\emph{quantitatively}$ determined. The rate of the decrease in the hole concentration agree well with the theoretical calculations. On the other hand,while the evolution of the electronic structure is gradual through the doping range, $T_c$ suppression is most significant at $\emph{x}$ = 0.4. These results suggest that the superstructure in (Mg$_{1-x}$Al$_{x}$)B$_{2}$, in addition to the $σ$ holes, can affect the lattice dynamics and contributes to the $T_c$ suppression effect. Other possible explanations like the topological change of the $σ$ band Fermi surface are also discussed.

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arXiv2003

Bulk Evidence for s-Wave Pairing Symmetry in the n-Type Infinite-Layer Cuprate $Sr_{0.9}La_{0.1}CuO_{2}$

Low temperature specific heat of the electron-doped (n-type) infinite-layer cuprate $Sr_{0.9}La_{0.1}CuO_{2}$ has been measured. The quasiparticle density of states (DOS) in the mixed state is found to be consistent with the feature of the s-wave pairing symmetry, agreeing very well with the earlier tunnelling measurement, but being contrary to the d-wave symmetry well confirmed for the hole-doped (p-type) cuprates. Our results indicate that the electronic DOS are mainly contributed by the vortex cores in the present sample being contrast to the p-type cuprates in which the vortex cores are abnormal and contribute very limited low energy DOS as evidenced by many means.

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arXiv2003

Flux Noise in MgB2 Thin Films

We have performed flux noise and AC-susceptibility measurements on two 400 nm thick MgB$_2$ films. Both measurement techniques give information about the vortex dynamics in the sample, and hence the superconducting transition, and can be linked to each other through the fluctuation-dissipation-theorem. The transition widths for the two films are 0.3 and 0.8 K, respectively, and the transitions show a multi step-like behavior in the AC-susceptibility measurements. The same phenomenon is observed in the flux noise measurements through a change in the frequency dependence of the spectral density at each step in the transition. The results are discussed and interpreted in terms of vortices carrying an arbitrary fraction of a flux quantum as well as in terms of different macroscopic regions in the films having slightly different compositions, and hence, different critical temperatures.

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arXiv2003

An angle-resolved soft x-ray spectroscopy study of the electronic states of single crystal MgB2

Angle-resolved soft x-ray measurements made at the boron K-edge in single crystal MgB2 provide new insights into the B-2p local partial density of both unoccupied and occupied band states. The strong variation of absorption with incident angle of exciting x-rays permits the clear separation of contributions from σstates in the boron plane and πstates normal to the plane. A careful comparison with theory accurately determines the energy of selected critical $k$ points in the conduction band. Resonant inelastic x-ray emission at an incident angle of 15 degrees shows a large enhancement of the emission spectra within about 0.5 eV of the Fermi level that is absent at 45 degrees and is much reduced at 60 degrees. We conclude that momentum transferred from the resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) process couples empty and filled states across the Fermi level.

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arXiv2003

Elastic constants of borocarbides. New approach to acoustic Measurement technique

A new version of the phase method of determining the sound velocity is proposed and implemented. It utilizes the ``Nonius'' measurement technique and can give acceptable accuracy (~1%) in samples of submillimeter size. Measurements of the sound velocity are made in single-crystal samples of the borocarbides RNi2B2C (R = Y,Lu,Ho). The elastic constants and the Debye temperature are calculated.

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arXiv2002

The pair-breaking critical current density of magnesium diboride

The pair-breaking critical current density j_{d} of magnesium diboride was determined over its entire temperature range by a pulsed dc transport measurement. At fixed low values of current density j, the resistive transition temperature Tc shifts in the classic ΔT_{C}(j)/T_{C}(0) \propto -[j/j_{d}(0)]^{2/3} manner, with a projected j_{d}(0) \approx 2 \times 10^{7}$ A/cm^{2}. The directly measured j_{d}(0), from current-voltage ($I$-$V$)curves at different fixed temperatures, has a similar value and the overall temperature dependence j_{d}(T) and magnitude are consistent with Ginzburg-Landau theory. Keywords: pair, breaking, depairing, superconductor, superconductivity, flux, fluxon, vortex, mgb2

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arXiv2002

Fluctuation Study of the Specific Heat of MgB2

The specific heat of polycrystalline Mg$^{11}$B$_{2}$ has been measured with high resolution ac calorimetry from 5 to 45 K at constant magnetic fields. The excess specific heat above T$_{c}$ is discussed in terms of Gaussian fluctuations and suggests that Mg$^{11}$B$_{2}$ is a bulk superconductor with Ginzburg-Landau coherence length $ξ_{0}=26$ Å. The transition-width broadening in field is treated in terms of lowest-Landau-level (LLL) fluctuations. That analysis requires that $ξ_{0}=20$ Å. The underestimate of the coherence length in field, along with deviations from 3D LLL predictions, suggest that there is an influence from the anisotropy of B$_{c2}$ between the c-axis and the a-b plane.

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arXiv2002

Growth of superconducting MgB2 thin films via postannealing techniques

We report the effect of annealing on the superconductivity of MgB2 thin films as functions of the postannealing temperature in the range from 700 C to 950 C and of the postannealing time in the range from 30 min to 120 min. On annealing at 900 C for 30 min, we obtained the best-quality MgB2 films with a transition temperature of 39 K and a critical current density of ~ 10^7 A/cm^2. Using the scanning electron microscopy, we also investigated the film growth mechanism. The samples annealed at higher temperatures showed the larger grain sizes, well-aligned crystal structures with preferential orientations along the c-axis, and smooth surface morphologies. However, a longer annealing time prevented the alignment of grains and reduced the superconductivity, indicating a strong interfacial reaction between the substrate and the MgB2 film.

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arXiv2002

Phonon structure in I-V characteristic of MgB$_{2}$ point-contacts

The search of the phonon structure at the above-gap energies was carried out for $d^{2}V/dI^{2}(V)$ spectra of MgB$_{2}$ point contacts with a normal metal. The two-band model is assumed not only for the gap structure in $dV/dI(V)$-characteristics, but also for phonons in $d^{2}V/dI^{2}(V)$ point-contact spectra, with up to the maximum lattice vibration energy. Since the current is carried mostly by charges of 3D-band, whereas the strong electron-phonon interaction occurs in 2D-band, we observe the phonon peculiarities due to ''proximity'' effect in {\it k}-space, which depends on the variation of interband coupling through the elastic scattering.

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arXiv2002

Coherence lengths and anisotropy in MgB2 superconductor

Field and temperature microwave measurements have been carried out on MgB2 thin film grown on Al2O3 substrate. The analysis reveals the mean field coherence length xi_{MF} in the mixed state and a temperature independent anisotropy ratio gamma_{MF} = xi_{MF}^{ab} / xi_{MF}^c approximately 2. At the superconducting transition, the scaling of the fluctuation conductivity yields the Ginzburg-Landau coherence length with a different anisotropy ratio gamma_{GL} = 2.8, also temperature independent.

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