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Y. Yeshurun

Publications and source records attributed to Y. Yeshurun.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Quantum Fluctuations and Long-Range Order in Molecular Magnets

We review our studies of the effect of transverse fields on the susceptibility and magnetization of single crystals of the prototype single molecule magnet (SMM), Mn$_{12}$-acetate, and of a new high-symmetry variant, Mn$_{12}$-acetate-MeOH. SMM single crystals can exhibit long range ferromagnetic order associated with intermolecular dipole interactions. Transverse fields increase quantum spin fluctuation and quantum tunneling of the magnetization suppressing long range order. However, we have found that suppression of the Curie temperature by a transverse field in Mn$_{12}$-acetate is far more rapid than predicted by the Transverse-Field Ising Ferromagnetic Model (TFIFM). It appears that solvent disorder in Mn$_{12}$-acetate that results in an intrinsic distribution of small discrete tilts of the molecular magnetic easy axis from the global easy axis of the crystal ($\approx \pm 1^\circ$) gives rise to a distribution of random-fields that further suppresses long-range order. Semiquantitative agreement with the predictions of a Random-Field Ising Ferromagnet Model is found. Subsequent susceptibility studies we have conducted of the high symmetry Mn$_{12}$ variant, Mn$_{12}$-acetate-MeOH, with the same spin structure and similar lattice constants but without the same solvent disorder as Mn$_{12}$-acetate, agrees with the TFIFM. An important implication of our studies is that long-range order in these two chemically very similar SMMs are described by distinct physical models.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Transverse Field Ising Ferromagnetism in Mn$_{12}$-acetate-MeOH

We report measurements of the magnetic susceptibility of single crystals of Mn$_{12}$-acetate-MeOH, a new high-symmetry variant of the original single molecule magnet Mn$_{12}$-acetate. A comparison of these data to theory and to data for the Mn$_{12}$ acetate material shows that Mn$_{12}$-acetate-MeOH is a realization of a transverse-field Ising ferromagnet in contrast to the original Mn$_{12}$ acetate material, in which solvent disorder leads to effects attributed to random field Ising ferromagnetism.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Experimental determination of the Weiss temperature of Mn$_{12}$-ac and Mn$_{12}$-ac-MeOH

We report measurements of the susceptibility in the temperature range from $3.5$ K to $6.0$ K of a series of Mn$_{12}$-ac and Mn$_{12}$-ac-MeOH samples in the shape of rectangular prisms of length $l_c$ and square cross-section of side $l_a$. The susceptibility obeys a Curie-Weiss Law, $χ=C/(T-θ)$, where $θ$ varies systematically with sample aspect ratio. Using published demagnetization factors, we obtain $θ$ for an infinitely long sample corresponding to intrinsic ordering temperatures $T_c \approx 0.85$ K and $\approx 0.74$ K for Mn$_{12}$-ac and Mn$_{12}$-ac-MeOH, respectively. The difference in $T_c$ for two materials that have nearly identical unit cell volumes and lattice constant ratios suggests that, in addition to dipolar interactions, there is a non-dipolar (exchange) contribution to the Weiss temperature that differs in the two materials because of the difference in ligand molecules.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Realization of random-field dipolar Ising ferromagnetism in a molecular magnet

The longitudinal magnetic susceptibility of single crystals of the molecular magnet Mn$_{12}$-acetate obeys a Curie-Weiss law, indicating a transition to a ferromagnetic phase due to dipolar interactions. With increasing magnetic field applied transverse to the easy axis, the transition temperature decreases considerably more rapidly than predicted by mean field theory to a T=0 quantum critical point. Our results are consistent with an effective Hamiltonian for a random-field Ising ferromagnet in a transverse field, where the randomness is induced by an external field applied to Mn$_{12}$-acetate crystals that are known to have an intrinsic distribution of locally tilted magnetic easy axes.

cond-mat.mes-hall

Effect of columnar defects on the pinning properties of NdFeAsO0.85 conglomerate particles

Oxypnictide superconductor NdFeAsO0.85 sample was irradiated with 2 GeV Ta ions at a fluence of 5x10^10 ions/cm2. High resolution transmission electron microscopy study revealed that the irradiation produced columnar-like defects. The effect of these defects on the irreversible magnetisation in polycrystalline randomly oriented fragments was studied as a function of field angle and field sweep rate. We find that the critical current density is enhanced at fields below the matching field (~1 Tesla) but only marginally. The pinning enhancement is anisotropic and maximum along the defect direction at high temperatures but the pinning then becomes more isotropic at low temperatures. The creep rate is suppressed at high temperatures and at fields below the matching field, indicating the columnar defects are efficient pinning sites at these H and T conditions.

cond-mat.supr-con

Flux-flow resistivity anisotropy in the instability regime in the a-b plane of epitaxial YBCO thin films

Measurements of the nonlinear flux-flow resistivity $ρ$ and the critical vortex velocity $\rm v^*_ϕ$ at high voltage bias close to the instability regime predicted by Larkin and Ovchinnikov \cite{LO} are reported along the node and antinode directions of the d-wave order parameter in the \textit{a-b} plane of epitaxial $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-δ}$ films. In this pinning-free regime, $ρ$ and $\rm v^*_ϕ$ are found to be anisotropic with values in the node direction larger on average by 10% than in the antinode direction. The anisotropy of $ρ$ is almost independent of temperature and field. We attribute the observed results to the anisotropic quasiparticle distribution on the Fermi surface of $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-δ}$.

cond-mat.supr-con

Dynamics of transient disordered vortex states in BSCCO

The dynamics of transient disordered vortex states in BSCCO was magneto-optically traced in three experiments: (i) during continuous injection of transient vortex states while ramping up the external magnetic field, (ii) during annealing of injected transient states while keeping the external field constant, and (iii) during annealing of transient 'supercooled' disordered states while ramping down the external field. The results reveal front-like propagation (experiment i) or retreat (experiments ii and iii) of the transient vortex states, at a rate governed by the rate of change of the external field, the annealing time tau of the transient states and the creep rate. The experimental results are theoretically analyzed in terms of competition between generation and annealing of transient disordered vortex states. Extraction of the annealing time tau from the above three experiments, yields the same results for tau as a function of the induction, B, and temperature T. Knowledge of tau(B,T) allows for correct determination of the thermodynamic order-disorder vortex phase transition line.

cond-mat.supr-con

Unified order-disorder vortex phase transition in high-Tc superconductors

The diversity of vortex melting and solid-solid transition lines measured in different high-T$_{c}$ superconductors is explained, postulating a unified order-disorder phase transition driven by both thermally- and disorder-induced fluctuations. The temperature dependence of the transition line and the nature of the disordered phase (solid, liquid, or pinned liquid) are determined by the relative contributions of these fluctuations and by the pinning mechanism. By varying the pinning mechanism and the pinning strength one obtains a spectrum of monotonic and non-monotonic transition lines similar to those measured in Bi$_{2}$Sr$_{2}$CaCu$_{2}$O$%_{8}$, YBa$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7-δ}$, Nd$_{1.85}$Ce$_{0.15}$CuO$%_{4-δ}$, Bi$_{1.6}$Pb$_{0.4}$Sr$_{2}$CaCu$_{2}$O$_{8+δ}$ and (La$% _{0.937}$Sr$_{0.063}$)$_{2}$CuO$_{4}$

cond-mat.supr-con

Disorder and thermally driven vortex-lattice melting in La{2-x}Sr{x}CuO{4} crystals

Magnetization measurements in La{2-x}Sr{x}CuO{4} crystals indicate vortex order-disorder transition manifested by a sharp kink in the second magnetization peak. The transition field exhibits unique temperature dependence, namely a strong decrease with temperature in the entire measured range. This behavior rules out the conventional interpretation of a disorder-driven transition into an entangled vortex solid phase. It is shown that the transition in La{2-x}Sr{x}CuO{4} is driven by both thermally- and disorder-induced fluctuations, resulting in a pinned liquid state. We conclude that vortex solid-liquid, solid-solid and solid to pinned-liquid transitions are different manifestations of the same thermodynamic order-disorder transition, distinguished by the relative contributions of thermal and disorder-induced fluctuations.

cond-mat.supr-con

Possibility of Kauzmann points in the vortex matter phase diagram of single crystal YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-δ}$

We highlight interesting thermomagnetic history effects across the transition line between the (quasi) ordered and disordered vortex states in single crystal YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-δ}$, and argue that these features are indicative of the first order nature of the transition line. We suggest that the destruction of the ordered vortex state in YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-δ}$ leading to vortex liquid (at high temperatures and low fields) and amorphous vortex solid (at low temperatures and high fields), takes place along a unified first-order transition line. The nonmonotonic behavior of this first order transition line gives rise to the possibility of more than one Kauzmann point where the entropies of the ordered and disordered vortex states are equal. In the high temperature region, one may order the vortex lattice by warming it, giving rise to an inverse melting effect.

cond-mat.supr-con

Crystallization of the ordered vortex phase in high temperature superconductors

The Landau-Khalatnikov time-dependent equation is applied to describe the crystallization process of the ordered vortex lattice in high temperature superconductors after a sudden application of a magnetic field. Dynamic coexistence of a stable ordered phase and an unstable disordered phase, with a sharp interface between them, is demonstrated. The transformation to the equilibrium ordered state proceeds by movement of this interface from the sample center toward its edge. The theoretical analysis dictates specific conditions for the creation of a propagating interface, and provides the time scale for this process.

cond-mat.supr-con

Fluctuations in $YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{6.5}$ single crystal: an evidence for 2D->3D crossover

Magnetization measurements as a function of temperature are reported for $YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{6.5}$ crystal (T_{c}=45.2 K) for fields between 0.2 to $3.5\ Tesla$. All isochamps for H>1 Tesla intersect at $T_{2D}^{\star}\simeq 42.8\ K$, implying fluctuations contribution to the magnetization. These curves collapse into a single curve when magnetization and temperature are scaled according to the predicted ''2D scaling'' in the fluctuation regime. Surprisingly, the low field curves also intersect, at $T_{3D}^{\star}\simeq 43.4 K$, and they obey a 3D scaling. We provide a theoretical picture of the magnetization in the fluctuation regime based on the Lawrence-Doniach model. Within this model we calculate the field and temperature dependence of the magnetization. The two intersection points and the $2D\to 3D$ crossover are consistent with the experimental observation.

cond-mat.supr-con

Magnetic irreversibility and relaxation in assembly of ferromagnetic nanoparticles

Measurements of the magnetic irreversibility line and time-logarithmic decay of the magnetization are described for three $Fe_{2}O_{3}$ samples composed of regular amorphous, acicular amorphous and crystalline nanoparticles. The relaxation rate is the largest and the irreversibility temperature is the lowest for the regular amorphous nanoparticles. The crystalline material exhibits the lowest relaxation rate and the largest irreversibility temperature. We develop a phenomenological model to explain the details of the experimental results. The main new aspect of the model is the dependence of the barrier for magnetic relaxation on the instantaneous magnetization and therefore on time. The time dependent barrier yields a natural explanation to the time-logarithmic decay of the magnetization. Interactions between particles as well as shape and crystalline magnetic anisotropies define a new energy scale that controls the magnetic irreversibility. Introducing this energy scale yields a self-consistent explanation of the experimental data.

cond-mat

Current density inhomogeneity throughout the thickness of superconducting films and its effect on their irreversible magnetic properties

We calculate the distribution of the current density $j$ in superconducting films along the direction of an external field applied perpendicular to the film plane. Our analysis reveals that in the presence of bulk pinning $j$ is inhomogeneous on a length scale of order the inter vortex distance. This inhomogeneity is significantly enhanced in the presence of surface pinning. We introduce new critical state model, which takes into account the current density variations throughout the film thickness, and show how these variations give rise to the experimentally observed thickness dependence of $% j$ and magnetic relaxation rate.

cond-mat.supr-con

On the origin of the irreversibility line in thin YBaCuO7 films with and without columnar defects

We report on measurements of the angular dependence of the irreversibility temperature $T_{irr}(θ) $ in $YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-δ}$ thin films, defined by the onset of a third harmonic signal and measured by a miniature Hall probe. From the functional form of $T_{irr}(θ)$ we conclude that the origin of the irreversibility line in unirradiated films is a dynamic crossover from an unpinned to a pinned vortex liquid. In irradiated films the irreversibility temperature is determined by the trapping angle.

supr-con

Plastic vortex-creep in YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-x}$ crystals

Local magnetic relaxation measurements in YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-x}$ crystals show evidence for plastic vortex-creep associated with the motion of dislocations in the vortex lattice. This creep mechanism governs the vortex dynamics in a wide range of temperatures and fields below the melting line and above the field corresponding to the peak in the ''fishtail'' magnetization. In this range the activation energy $U_{pl}$, which decreases with field, drops below the elastic (collective) creep activation energy, $U_{el}$, which increases with field. A crossover in flux dynamics from elastic to plastic creep is shown to be the origin of the fishtail in YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-x}$.

supr-con

Irreversible magnetization in thin YBCO films rotated in external magnetic field

The magnetization M of a thin YBaCuO film is measured as a function of the angle $θ$ between the applied field H and the c-axis. For fields above the first critical field, but below the Bean's field for first penetration H*, M is symmetric with respect to $θ=π$ and the magnetization curves for forward and backward rotation coincide. For H>H* the curves are asymmetric and they do not coincide. These phenomena have a simple explanation in the framework of the Bean critical state model.

supr-con