This thesis describes experimental and theoretical study of static and dynamic aspects of the irreversible magnetic behavior of high-Tc superconductors. Experimentally, conventional magnetometry and novel Hall-probe array techniques are employed. Using both techniques extends significantly the experimental possibilities and yields a wealth of new experimental results.
Reversible and irreversible magnetocaloric effect in the NdBa_2Cu_3O_7 superconductor in relation with specific heat and magnetization
本文应用新近发展起来的等温磁热系数（$M_T$）测量技术，对超导NdBa $_2$ Cu $_3$ O $_7$单晶进行了研究。将结果与磁化强度（$M$）和比热（$C$）进行比较。在可逆区域中，$C$和$M_T$都遵循3D-xy普适类的标度律。在$M_T(B)$曲线上可以看到与磁通线晶格熔化有关的异常，如峰和台阶，类似于$C(T)$曲线，但具有小得多的背景。在较低温度下，在不可逆区域中，$M_T(B)$的行为更类似于$M(B)$，表现出“鱼尾”效应。我们的研究结果证实，从高温超导体YBa $_2$ Cu $_3$ O $_7$已知的相图的特性，例如涡旋熔化，临界波动的主导地位和$B_{c2}$临界场线的情况下，是RE-123系统的共同属性。
It is argued that most of the RTSC hydrides are intrinsic hard type-II superconductors with strong pinning effects. The pinning centers are long columnar-like defects, with the radius of the order of the superconducting coherence length. The core and electromagnetic pinning are both equally operative, thus giving maximal pinning potential when vortices are oriented along the columnar axis. The theory predicts: (i) large critical currents, (ii) huge decrease of the temperature broadening of the resistance in magnetic field compared with standard superconductors, (iii) large magnetization hyster…
We calculate the surface resistance of s-wave superconductors under a static external field on the basis of the quasiclassical approximation. The numerical calculations are performed both for the dirty and relatively clean cases, and the difference in the absorption spectrum between them is investigated. The amplitude mode in the dirty case, which has been previously studied in the local response function, appears also in the nonlocal response. In the clean case, there is a large discrepancy between the excitation energy of the amplitude mode and the energy of the gap edge where the coupling b…
We study fluctuation conductivity in a single crystal of BaFe$_{1.9}$Ni$_{0.1}$As$_2$ superconductor ($T_c$ = 20 K) as a function of temperature and applied magnetic field. Magneto-conductivity curves, $Δσ$ vs. $T$, were analyzed in terms of -1/(dln($Δσ$)/d$T$) vs. $T$ plots, which allow to study different fluctuations regimes and to estimate exponent values and temperature widths of each regime. The analysis of magneto-conductivity curves evidence the existence of only two fluctuations regimes, a possible critical one (of glass-like type) going from the irreversible temperature to above $T_c(…
We report experimental evidence of the effect of an applied magnetic field on the non-thermal magnetic relaxation in a disk-shaped type-I lead superconductor. The time evolution of the irreversible magnetization proves to be logarithmic for a wide range of temperatures and magnetic field values along the descending branch of the hysteresis cycle. When the intensity of the magnetic field increases, the crossover temperature separating the thermal and non-thermal regimes of magnetic relaxation is found to decrease, whereas the rate at which such relaxation occurs is observed to increase. These r…
The formalism for analysing the magnetic field distribution in Pauli limited superconductors developed earlier is applied to the field dependence of the vortex lattice static linewidth measured in Muon Spin Rotation ($μ$SR) experiments. In addition to writing analytical formulae for the static linewidth for the vortex structure in the limit of independent vortices (i.e. moderate magnetic fields), we use Abrikosov's analysis to describe the field variations of the static linewidth at the approach of the superconductor to metal transition in the limit where the critical field is determined by Pa…
We introduce a mechanism in which coupling between fluctuating spin magnetic dipole moments and polar optical phonons leads to a non-zero ferroic ordering of quasi-static magnetoelectric multipoles. Using first-principles calculations within the LSDA$+U$ method of density functional theory, we calculate the magnitude of the effect for the prototypical cuprate superconductor, HgBa$_2$CuO$_4$. We show that our proposed mechanism is consistent, to our knowledge, with all experimental data for the onset of the pseudo-gap phase and therefore propose the quasi-static magnetoelectric multipole as a p…
A theory of dissipative nonlinear conductivity, $σ_1(ω,H)$, of s-wave superconductors under strong electromagnetic fields at low temperatures is proposed. Closed-form expressions for $σ_1(H)$ and the surface resistance $R_s(ω,H)$ are obtained in the nonequilibrium dirty limit for which $σ_1(H)$ has a significant minimum as a function of a low-frequency $(\hbarω\ll k_BT)$ magnetic field $H$. The calculated microwave suppression of $R_s(H)$ is in good agreement with recent experiments on alloyed Nb resonator cavities. It is shown that superimposed dc and ac fields, $H=H_0+H_a\cosωt$, can be used…
We present detailed neutron scattering studies of the static and dynamic stripes in an optimally doped high-temperature superconductor, La$_2$CuO$_{4+y}$. We find that the dynamic stripes do not disperse towards the static stripes in the limit of vanishing energy transfer. We conclude that the dynamic stripes observed in neutron scattering experiments are not the Goldstone modes associated with the broken symmetry of the simultaneously observed static stripes, but rather that the signals originate from different domains in the sample. These domains may be related by structural twinning, or may…
The formalism for analyzing the magnetic field distribution in the vortex lattice of Pauli limited heavy electron superconductors is applied to the evaluation of the vortex lattice static linewidth relevant to Muon Spin Rotation ($μ$SR) experiment. On the basis of the Ginzburg-Landau expansion for the superconductor free energy we study the evolution with respect to external field of the static linewidth both in the limit of independent vortices (low magnetic field) and in the near $H_\mathrm{c2}^\mathrm{p}(T)$ regime by using an extension of the Abrikosov analysis to Pauli limited superconduc…
Screening phonon-mediated superconductors from static orbital Hamiltonians
Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research（高压科学实验中心）；Renmin University of China（中国人民大学）；Field Quantum Research Institute（场量子研究所）；Ningbo University（宁波大学）；Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院物理研究所）
We provide the detailed calculation of a general form for Maxwell and London equations that takes into account gravitational corrections in linear approximation. We determine the possible alteration of a static gravitational field in a superconductor making use of the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equations, providing also an analytic solution in the weak field condition. Finally, we compare the behavior of a high-Tc superconductor with a classical low-Tc superconductor, analyzing the values of the parameters that can enhance the reduction of the gravitational field.
Solving phenomenological macroscopic equations instead of microscopic Ginzburg-Landau equations for superconductors is much easier and can be advantageous in a variety of applications. However, till now, only Bean's critical state model is available for the description of irreversible properties. Here we propose a plausible overall macroscopic model for both reversible and irreversible properties, combining London theory and Bean's model together based on superposition principle. First, a simple case where there is no pinning is discussed, from which a microscopic basis for Bean's model is exp…
The magnetic response of irreversible type-II superconductor slabs subjected to in-plane rotating magnetic field is investigated by applying the circular, elliptic, extended-elliptic, and rectangular flux-line-cutting critical-state models. Specifically, the models have been applied to explain experiments on a PbBi rotating disk in a fixed magnetic field ${\bm H}_a$, parallel to the flat surfaces. Here, we have exploited the equivalency of the experimental situation with that of a fixed disk under the action of a parallel magnetic field, rotating in the opposite sense. The effect of both the m…
We have studied the vortex dynamics in the PrFeAsO$_{0.60}$F$_{0.12}$ superconducting sample by dc magnetization and dynamic magnetization-relaxation rate $(Q)$ measurements. The field dependence of the superconducting irreversible magnetization $M_s$ reveals a second magnetization peak or fishtail effect. The large value of $Q$ is an indication of moderate vortex motion and relatively weak pinning energy. Data analysis based on the generalized inversion scheme suggests that the vortex dynamics can be described by the collective pinning model. The temperature dependence of the critical current…
The self-energy of a moving vortex is shown do decrease with increasing velocity. The interaction energy of two parallel slowly moving vortices differs from the static case by a small term $\propto v^2$; the "slow" motion is defined as having the velocity $v<v_c =c^2/4πσλ$, where $σ(T)$ is conductivity of the normal excitations and $λ(T)$ is London penetration depth. For higher velocities, $v>v_c(T)$, the interaction energy of two vortices situated along the velocity direction is enhanced and along the perpendicular direction is suppressed compared to the static case.
The transition from the superconducting to the normal state in a magnetic field was considered as a irreversible thermodynamic process before 1933 because of Joule heating. But all physicists became to consider this transition as reversible after 1933 because of the obvious contradiction of the Meissner effect with the second law of thermodynamics if this transition is considered as a irreversible process. This radical change of the opinion contradicted logic since the dissipation of the kinetic energy of the surface screening current into Joule heat in the normal state cannot depend on how th…
We have developed a new superconducting digital technology, Reciprocal Quantum Logic, that uses AC power carried on a transmission line, which also serves as a clock. Using simple experiments we have demonstrated zero static power dissipation, thermally limited dynamic power dissipation, high clock stability, high operating margins and low BER. These features indicate that the technology is scalable to far more complex circuits at a significant level of integration. On the system level, Reciprocal Quantum Logic combines the high speed and low-power signal levels of Single-Flux- Quantum signals…
We report $^{63, 65}$Cu-NMR spectroscopy and Knight shift measurements on a single crystal of the electron-doped high-$T_{c}$ superconductor Pr$_{1.85}$Ce$_{0.15}$CuO$_{4-y}$ (PCCO) with an applied magnetic field ($H$) up to 26.42 T. A very small NQR frequency is obtained with the observation of the spectrum, which shows an extremely wide continuous distribution of it that becomes significant narrower below 20 K at $H$ $\parallel$ $c$ where the superconductivity is completely suppressed, indicating a significant change in the charge distribution at the Cu site, while the corresponding changes …
We study finite-size effects at the onset of the irreversible magnetic behaviour of micron-sized Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+δ}$ single crystals by using silicon micro-oscillators. We find an irreversibility line appearing well below the thermodynamic Bragg-glass melting line at a magnetic field which increases both with increasing the sample radius and with decreasing the temperature. We show that this size-dependent irreversibility line can be identified with the crossover between the Larkin and the random manifold regimes of the vortex lattice transverse roughness. Our method allows to determ…
Superconducting screening on different length scales in high-quality bulk MgB2 superconductor
高质量的块体MgB 2在不同的长度尺度上表现出空洞和晶体团聚的结构。正因为如此，超导电流在随后的结构中的空隙之间渗透。磁测量表明，超导电流至少在三个不同的长度尺度上循环，~1微米，~10微米和整个样品（~毫米）。这些屏蔽中的每一个都有助于测量的不可逆磁矩（Dm）。随后减小尺寸的样品的Dm的场依赖性的分析表明，使用简单的临界状态模型获得的临界电流是错误的。这导致样品尺寸依赖的临界电流和不可逆性场的假象。我们的数据分析能够分离每个屏蔽电流对Dm的贡献。每个电流的场依赖性遵循拉伸指数形式。在中间场（1 T < H <4 T，20 K）中，样品周围的电流对Dm的贡献占主导地位，它们可以用来从临界态模型中获得Jc值，这对应于输运Jc。
We estimate the conjectured interaction between the Earth gravitational field and a superconductor immersed in external, static electric and magnetic field. The latter is close to the sample upper critical field and generates the presence of a vortex lattice. The proposed interaction could lead to multiple, measurable effects. First of all, a local affection of the gravitational field inside the superconductor could take place. Second, a new component of a generalized electric field parallel to the superconductor surface is generated inside the sample. The analysis is performed by using the ti…
In this letter we demonstrate the development of ternary Nb3Sn multifilamentary conductors with artificial pinning centers (APC) which achieve high critical fields. These recently-developed conductors were tested in a 31 T magnet, and the results showed that their upper critical field (Bc2) values at 4.2 K are 27-28 T, and irreversible field (Birr) values are above 26 T, values similar to or higher than those of best RRP conductors. The non-Cu Jc has been brought to nearly 1200 A/mm2 at 16 T and 4.2 K, comparable to RRP, in spite of the fact that the fine-grain Nb3Sn fractions in filaments are…
Local structure of SmFe$_{1-x}$Ru$_x$AsO$_{0.85}$F$_{0.15}$ ($x$ = 0.0, 0.05, 0.25 and 0.5) superconductors has been investigated by temperature dependent As $K$-edge extended x-ray absorption fine structure. The effect of Ru substitution remains confined to the iron-arsenide layer but neither the static disorder nor the Fe-As bond strength suffers any change for $x \le$ 0.25. With further Ru substitution the static disorder increases while the Fe-As bond strength remains unchanged. Also, the Ru-As distance ($\sim$2.42 Å), different from the Fe-As distance ($\sim$2.39 Å), does not show any cha…
In this communication we report the interplay of the normal electron-phonon (EP) interaction, dynamic Jahn-Teller (DJT) distortion and superconductivity in high temperature superconductors in presence of a static lattice strain. This model consists of a degenerate two orbital band separated by Jahn-Teller (JT) energy modified by the DJT interaction in the conduction band. The superconductivity is assumed to be s-wave type present in the same band. The interaction Hamiltonian is solved by Green's function method and a modified BCS gap equation is obtained with a modified conduction band energy …
The appearance of static magnetism, nanoscopically coexisting with superconductivity, is shown to be a general feature of optimally electron-doped LnFe(1-x)Ru(x)AsO(1-y)F(y) superconductor (Ln - lanthanide ion) upon isovalent substitution of Fe by Ru. The magnetic ordering temperature T_N and the magnitude of the internal field display a dome-like dependence on x, peaked around x=1/4, with higher T_N values for those materials characterized by a larger z cell coordinate of As. Remarkably, the latter are also those with the highest superconducting transition temperature (T_c) for x=0. The reduc…
Motivated by recent neutron scattering experiments in Fe-based superconductors, we study how the magnetic resonance in the superconducting state is affected by the simultaneous presence of either static or fluctuating magnetic orders using the random phase approximation. We find that for the underdoped materials with coexisting superconducting and antiferromagnetic orders, spin rotational symmetry is explicitly broken at the ordering momentum $Q_1 = (π,0)$. Only the longitudinal susceptibility exhibits the resonance mode, whereas a spin-wave Goldstone mode develops in the transverse component.…
Being motivated by intriguing phenomena such as the breakdown of conventional bulk boundary correspondence and emergence of skin modes in the context of non-Hermitian (NH) topological insulators, we here propose a NH second-order topological superconductor (SOTSC) model that hosts Majorana zero modes (MZMs). Employing the non-Bloch form of NH Hamiltonian, we topologically characterize the above modes by biorthogonal nested polarization and resolve the apparent breakdown of the bulk boundary correspondence. Unlike the Hermitian SOTSC, we notice that the MZMs inhabit only one corner out of four …
We study the effect of proton irradiation on Ba(Fe$_{0.96}$Co$_{0.04}$)$_2$As$_2$ superconducting single crystals from combined magnetisation and magnetoresistivity measurements. The study allows the extraction of the values of the apparent pinning energy $U_0$ of the samples prior to and after irradiation, as well as comparison of the values of $U_0$ obtained from the flux-flow reversible region with those from the flux-creep irreversible region. Irradiation reduces $T_c$ modestly, but significantly reduces $U_0$ in both regimes: the critical current density $J_c$ is modified, most strikingly…
