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Zenji Hiroi

Publications and source records attributed to Zenji Hiroi.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Rattling-Induced Superconductiviy in the Beta-Pyrochlore Oxides AOs2O6

The superconducting properties of two beta-pyrochlore oxides, CsOs2O6 and RbOs2O6, are studied by thermodynamic and transport measurements using high-quality single crystals. It is shown that the character of superconductivity changes systematically from weak coupling for CsOs2O6 to moderately strong coupling for RbOs2O6, and finally to extremely strong coupling with BCS-type superconductivity for KOs2O6, with increasing Tc. Strong-coupling correction analyses of the superconducting properties reveal that a low-energy rattling mode of the alkali metal ions is responsible for the mechanism of the superconductivity in each compound. The large enhancement of Tc from Cs to K is attributed to the increase in the electron-rattler coupling with decreasing characteristic energy of the rattling and with increasing anharmonicity. The existence of weak anisotropy in the superconducting gap or in the electron-rattler interactions is found for the Cs and Rb compounds.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Magnetization "Steps" on a Kagome Lattice in Volborthite

Magnetic properties of the spin-1/2 kagome-like compound volborthite are studied using a high-quality polycrystalline sample. It is evidenced from magnetization and specific heat measurements that the spins on the kagome lattice still fluctuate at low temperature, down to T = 60 mK that corresponds to 1/1500 of the nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic interaction, exhibiting neither a conventional long-range order nor a spin gap. In contrast, 51V NMR experiments revealed a sharp peak at 1 K in relaxation rate, which indicates that a certain exotic order occurs. Surprisingly, we have observed three "steps" in magnetization as a function of magnetic field, suggesting that at least four liquid-like or other quantum states exist under magnetic fields.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Vesignieite BaCu3V2O8(OH)2 as a Candidate Spin-1/2 Kagome Antiferromagnet

A polycrystalline sample of vesignieite BaCu3V2O8(OH)2 comprising a nearly ideal kagome lattice composed of Cu2+ ions carrying spin 1/2 has been synthesized and studied by magnetization and heat capacity measurements. Magnetic susceptibility shows a neither long range order, a spin glass transition nor a spin gap down to 2 K, in spite of a moderately strong antiferromagnetic interaction of J/kB = 53 K between nearest-neighbor spins. A broad peak observed at a temperature corresponding to 0.4J in intrinsic magnetic susceptibility indicates a marked development of the short-range order. The ground state of vesignieite is probably a gapless spin liquid or is accompanied by a very small gap less than J/30.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Unique Phase Transition on Spin-2 Triangular Lattice of Ag2MnO2

Ag2MnO2 is studied as a possible candidate compound for an antiferromagnetic XY spin model on a triangular lattice. In spite of the large Curie-Weiss temperature of -430 K found in magnetic susceptibi-lity, Mn3+ spins with S = 2 do not undergo a conventional long-range order down to 2 K probably owing to the geometrical frustration and two dimensionality in the system. Instead, a unique phase transition is found at 80 K, where specific heat exhibits a clear sign of a second-order phase transition, while magnetic susceptibility changes smoothly without a distinct anomaly. We think that this transition is related to the chirality degree of freedom associated with a short-range order, which has been expected for the classical XY spin model on a triangular lattice. On further cooling, spin-glass-like behavior is observed below 22 K, possibly corresponding to a quasi-long-range order.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Neutron Scattering Study of the Localized Mode in the beta-Pyrochlore Superconductors AOs2O6

Inelastic neutron scattering and neutron powder diffraction experiments were carried out to investigate a localized mode, proposed from various bulk measurements, in the beta-pyrochlore AOs2O6 (A=K, Rb, Cs). The localized mode was identified in all the three compounds as well as another beta-pyrochlore CsW2O6. The anharmonicity of the mode is weak in RbOs2O6 and CsOs2O6 but substantial in KOs2O6.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

Precise Control of Band Filling in NaxCoO2

Electronic properties of the sodium cobaltate NaxCoO2 are systematically studied through a precise control of band filling. Resistivity, magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements are carried out on a series of high-quality polycrystalline samples prepared at 200 C with Na content in a wide range of 0.35 =< x =< 0.70. It is found that dramatic changes in electronic properties take place at a critical Na concentration x* that lies between 0.58 and 0.59, which separates a Pauli paramagnetic and a Curie-Weiss metals. It is suggested that at x* the Fermi level touches the bottom of the a1g band at the gamma point, leading to a crucial change in the density of states across x* and the emergence of a small electron pocket around the gamma point for x > x*.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Chemical trends of superconducting properties in pyrochlore oxides

Chemical trends of fundamental superconducting parameters and normal-state properties are described for a family of pyrochlore oxide superconductors. Particularly, the change of Tc from 1.0 K for alpha-pyrochlore Cd2Re2O7 to 3.3 K (A = Cs), 6.3 K (Rb), and 9.6 K (K) for beta-pyrochlore AOs2O6 is discussed on the basis of the conventional BCS scheme. Enhanced Tc and anomalous features observed for KOs2O6 are ascribed to low-energy phonons probably coming from the rattling of the K cations.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Anomalous Flux Pinning in ?-Pyrochlore Oxide Superconductor KOs2O6

The superconducting transition of the ?-pyrochlore oxide KOs2O6 with Tc = 9.60 K is studied by resistivity measurements under various magnetic fields using a high-quality single crystal. The reentrant behavior of superconductivity is observed near Tc in low magnetic fields below 2 T. The recovered resistance probably due to flux flow exhibits an anomalous angle dependence, indicating that flux pinning is enhanced in magnetic fields along certain crystallographic directions such as [110], [001] and [112]. It is suggested that there is an intrinsic pinning mechanism coming from the specific crystal structure of the ?-pyrochlore oxide.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Crystal structure of the pyrochlore oxide superconductor KOs$_2$O$_6$

We report the single-crystal X-ray analysis of the structure of the pyrochlore oxide superconductor KOs$_2$O$_6$. The structure was identified as the $β$-pyrochlore structure with space group $Fd\bar{3}m$ and lattice constant $a$ = 10.089(2)~Åat 300 K: the K atom is located at the 8$b$ site, not at the 16$d$ site as in conventional pyrochlore oxides. We found an anomalously large atomic displacement parameter $U_\mathrm{iso}$ = 0.0735(8)~Å$^2$ at 300 K for the K cation, which suggests that the K cation weakly bound to an oversized Os$_{12}$O$_{18}$ cage exhibits intensive rattling, as recently observed for clathrate compounds. The rattling of A cations is a common feature in the series of $β$-pyrochlore oxide superconductors AOs$_2$O$_6$ (A = Cs, Rb and K), and is greatest for the smallest K cation.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Specific Heat of the beta-Pyrochlore Oxide Superconductors CsOs2O6 and RbOs2O6

Two beta-pyrochlore oxide superconductors, CsOs2O6 and RbOs2O6, are studied thermodynamically by measuring specific heat on polycrystalline samples. It is found that a Sommerfeld coefficient ? is nearly equal, 20 mJ/K2 mol Os, in the two oxides with different superconducting transition temperatures; Tc = 3.3 K and 6.3 K, respectively. This suggests that the density of states at the Fermi level is not a crucial parameter to determine the Tc of the beta-pyrochlore oxide superconductors, which is incompatible with the general expectation for a conventional BCS-type superconductor. Anomalous lattice contributions to specific heat at low temperature are also reported, which may come from nearly localized phonon modes associated with the rattling of the alkali metal ions weakly bound in an oversized cage formed by OsO6 octahedra.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Second Anomaly in the Specific Heat of beta-Pyrochlore Oxide Superconductor KOs2O6

Resistivity and specific heat have been measured on a single crystalline sample of the beta-pyrochlore oxide superconductor, KOs2O6. It is found that a second peak in specific heat, which may evidence an unknown phase transition, appears around Tp ~ 7.5 K below the superconducting transition temperature Tc = 9.53 K. Applying magnetic fields up to 14 T, Tc is reduced gradually down to 7.1 K, while Tp is raised a little and becomes even higher than Tc at 14 T, which implies that the second anomaly is not associated directly with the superconductivity. It is demonstrated, however, that there is significant communication between the two anomalies, suggesting that they come from the same electrons. It is also reported that the Sommerfeld coefficient ? in KOs2O6 is possibly much larger than in other members of beta-pyrochlore oxide superconductors, RbOs2O6 (Tc = 6.3 K) and CsOs2O6 (Tc = 3.3 K).

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Photocarrier Injection and Current-Voltage Characteristics of a La0.8Sr0.2MnO3/SrTiO3:Nb Heterojunction at Low Temperature

An epitaxial heterojunction made of a p-type perovskite manganite La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 film and an n-type strontium titanate SrTiO3:Nb substrate has been fabricated by the pulsed laser deposition technique. The I - V characteristics and photovoltaic properties are measured under a UV light irradiation in a wide temperature range down to 10 K. It is found that the junction works as an efficient UV photodiode with a large external quantum efficiency of 28%. It is also demonstrated that the manganite film can be doped with a certain amount of holes by the photcarrier injection. The maximum surface hole density is estimated to b 3.0 X 10^13 cm^-2.

cond-mat.str-el↗

High Pressure Effects on Superconductivity in the beta-pyrochlore Oxides AOs2O6 (A=K, Rb, Cs)

Recently new pyrochlore oxides superconductors AOs2O6 (A=K,Rb,Cs) were found and we measured the pressure dependence of magnetization up to 1.2 GPa in order to deduce the pressure effect of Tc in the three beta-pyrochlore oxides. It is found that the initial pressure dependence of Tc is positive for all the compounds. Only KOs2O6 exhibits a saturation in Tc at 0.56 GPa and the downturn at higher pressure

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Photocarrier injection and the I-V characteristics of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3/SrTiO3:Nb heterojunctions

Oxide heterojunctions made of p-type L0.8Sr0.2MnO3 (LSMO) and niobium-doped n-type SrTiO3 (STO:Nb) have been fabricated by the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique and are characterized under UV light irradiation by measuring the current-voltage, photovoltaic properties and the junction capacitance. It is shown that the heterojunctions work as an efficient UV photodiode, in which photogenerated holes in the STO:Nb substrate are injected to the LSMO film. The maximum surface hole density Q/e and external quantum efficiency gamma are estimated to be 8.3x1012 cm-2 and 11 % at room temperature, respectively. They are improved significantly in a p-i-n junction of LSMO/STO/STO:Nb, where Q/e and gamma are 3.0x1013 cm-2 and 27 %, respectively.

cond-mat.str-el↗

New beta-Pyrochlore Oxide Superconductor CsOs2O6

The discovery of a new beta-pyrochlore oxide superconductor CsOs2O6 with Tc = 3.3 K is reported. It is the third superconductor in the family of beta-pyrochlore oxides, following KOs2O6 with Tc = 9.6 K and RbOs2O6 with Tc = 6.3 K. The Tc of this series decreases with increasing the ionic radius of alkaline metal ions, imposing negative chemical pressure upon the Os pyrochlore lattice.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Ferromagnetic Ising Spin Chains Emerging from the Spin Ice under Magnetic Field

A spin-ice compound dysprosium titanate, Dy2Ti2O7, is studied by specific heat measurements in magnetic fields applied along the [110] direction of the cubic unit cell. Above a magnetic field of 0.4 T a relatively sharp peak at T = 1.1 K in the specific heat appears from a broad peak associated with spin-ice freezing at low fields. This new peak is almost independent of field up to 1.5 T, while another broad, field-dependent peak is detected at higher temperature. Under magnetic field along [110] Ising spins on the pyrochlore lattice can be considered to form two orthogonal sets of chains; parallel and perpendicular to the field direction. It is suggested that these perpendicular chains behave as unique ferromagnetic Ising spin chains without long-range order.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

Low Temperature Symmetry of Pyrochlore Oxide Cd2Re2O7

We report the X-ray study for the pyrochlore oxide Cd2Re2O7. Two symmetry-lowering structural transitions were observed at Ts1=200K and Ts2=120K. The former is of the second order from the ideal cubic pyrochlore structure with space group Fd-3m to a tetragonally distorted structure with I-4m2, while the latter is of the first order likely to another tetragonal space group I4122. We discuss the feature of the lattice deformation.

cond-mat.str-el↗