Competitions of magnetism and superconductivity in FeAs-based materials

Using the numerical unrestricted Hartree-Fock approach, we study the ground state of a two-orbital model describing newly discovered FeAs-based superconductors. We observe the competition of a (0, π) mode spin-density wave and the superconductivity as the doping concentration changes. There might be a small region in the electron-doping side where the magnetism and superconductivity coexist. The superconducting pairing is found to be spin singlet,orbital even, and coexisting sxy + dx~2-y~2 wave (even parity).

Measurements of Electromagnetic Shielding Effect Using Htsc Materials

A simple experimental set-up is described to measure the electromagnetic shielding property of high Tc superconducting samples. Measurements were performed using HTSC materials in the form of laser ablated thin films, powders and sintered pellets. Samples used were Gd-123 in pure and doped form as well as a few Bi-based superconducting ceramics. For comparison, similar measurements were carried out on metals like aluminium, copper and μ metal. Very effective shielding was observed for HTSC materials compared to the conventional materials mentioned above. However it also depended on the sample types and poor shielding was observed for powdered HTSC material in comparison to thin films prepared by laser ablation.

Topological magnetic irreversibility in superconducting Pb samples of various shapes

The magnetic-field dependence of the magnetization of cylinders, disks, and spheres of pure type-I superconducting lead was investigated by means of isothermal measurements of first magnetization curves and hysteresis cycles. Depending on the geometry of the sample and the direction and intensity of the applied magnetic field, the intermediate state exhibits different irreversible features that become particularly highlighted in minor hysteresis cycles. The irreversibility is noticeably observed in cylinders and disks only when the magnetic field is parallel to the axis of revolution and is very subtle in spheres. When the magnetic field decreases from the normal state, the irreversibility appears at a temperature-dependent value whose distance to the thermodynamic critical field depends on the sample geometry. The irreversible features in the disks are altered when they are submitted to an annealing process. These results agree well with very recent high-resolution magneto-optical experiments in similar materials that were interpreted in terms of transitions between different topological structures for the flux configuration in the intermediate state. A discussion of the relative role of geometrical barriers for flux entry and exit and pinning effects as responsible for the magnetic irreversibility is given.

Anelastic characterization and superconducting properties of RuSr2GdCu2O8+delta

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Superconducting boundary conditions for mesoscopic circular samples

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Magnetic response of superconducting mesoscopic-size YBCO powder

In this work it is reported the magnetic behavior of submicron and mesoscopic-size superconducting YBCO powders, prepared by a modified polymeric precursors method. The grain size and microstructure were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy ( SEM). Measurements of magnetization and AC-susceptibility as a function of temperature were performed with a quantum design SQUID magnetometer. Our results indicated significant differences on the magnetic propreties, in connection with the calcination temperature and the pressure used to pelletize the samples. This contribution is part of an effort to study vortex dynamics and magnetic properties of submicron and mesoscopic-size superconducting samples. (C) 2008 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Heat-treatment effects on the magnetic response of superconducting mesoscopic samples

The use of chemical methods in the synthesis of high-quality and small-size polycrystalline samples has been increased in recent years. In this work, a chemical route based on an aqueous precursor solution of metals followed by the addition of a water-soluble polymer formed by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and ethylene glycol (EG) was tested to produce superconducting mesoscopic YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-gamma) samples. Different conditions of heat treatments and the effects of argon and oxygen atmospheres during the calcination steps were traced using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and magnetic measurements. (C) 2008 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Chelating agent effects in the synthesis of mesoscopic-size superconducting particles

Several routes and procedures have been used in these last years as an effort to achieve single-phase mesoscopic-size superconducting samples. In this paper, the effects of using citric acid (CA), tartaric acid (TA) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as chelating agents and ethylene-glycol (EG) as polyhydroxy alcohol were studied in order to establish conditions to avoid the occurrence of BaCO(3) undesirable secondary phase in YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-delta) (YBCO). Thermal evolution of intermediate compounds formed during the calcinations process by the use of different chelating agents was traced using thermogravimetric and spectroscopic methods. The obtained results indicated that the polymer breakdown of samples prepared using EDTA occurs at higher temperatures than others chelating agents and also reduces the occurrence of BaCO(3) secondary phase as studied by X-ray diffraction measurements. Furthermore, the magnetic response of the mesoscopic-size YBCO specimens obtained was verified showing that samples present different superconducting response.

Vortex lattice and matching fields for a long superconducting wire

We investigate the flux penetration patterns and matching fields of a long cylindrical wire of circular cross section in the presence of an external magnetic field. For this study we write the London theory for a long cylinder both for the mixed and Meissner states, with boundary conditions appropriate for this geometry. Using the Monte Carlo simulated annealing method, the free energy of the mixed state is minimized with respect to the vortex position and we obtain the ground state of the vortex lattice for N=3 up to 18 vortices. The free energy of the Meissner and mixed states provides expressions for the matching fields. We find that, as in the case of samples of different geometry, the finite-size effect provokes a delay on the vortex penetration and a vortex accumulation in the center of the sample. The vortex patterns obtained are in good agreement with experimental results.

Matching fields of a long superconducting film

We obtain the vortex configurations, the matching fields, and the magnetization of a superconducting film with a finite cross section. The applied magnetic field is normal to this cross section, and we use the London theory to calculate many of its properties, such as the local magnetic field, the free energy, and the induction for the mixed state. Thus previous similar theoretical works, done for an infinitely long superconducting film, are recovered here, in the special limit of a very long cross section. ©1999 The American Physical Society.

Effect of thermal treatment under oxygen atmosphere on the superconducting properties of RuSr2GdCu2O8

The discovery of the spatial uniform coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism in rutheno-cuprates, RuSr2GdCu2O8 (Ru-1212), has spurred an extraordinary development in the study of the competition between magnetism and superconductivity. However, several points of their preparation process and characterization that determine their superconductive behavior are still obscure. The improvement of sample preparation conditions involves some thermal treatments in inert atmosphere. The first treatment results in the immediate formation of Sr2GdRuO 6. Using the CuO composition as a precursor, we produced Ru-1212. To turn it metallic and superconductor, besides the previous treatment, a final sinterization is carried out in oxygen flow for several days. Three Ru-1212 samples were produced by varying the last sinterization time (two, four, and six days under oxygen flow). Through measurements of x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, differential thermal analysis, magnetic susceptibility and mechanical spectroscopy, it was studied the influence of the treatments under oxygen atmosphere on the structural and superconducting properties of the material.

Anelastic characterization and superconducting properties of RuSr2GdCu2O8+δ

Since the discovery of the high Tc superconductors, many researches have been carried out on the different properties of these materials, especially on the transition temperature into the superconducting state. The rutheno-cuprates belong to a new class of composites, which were synthesized for the first time by Bauernfeind in 1995. Bernhard and collaborators discovered, in 1999, the coexistence of the ferromagnetism and the superconductivity in this phase, which is known as antagonistic phenomenon in the electromagnetism due to spin-charge interactions established in these states. However, the physical nature of the superconducting and magnetic states is still very obscure. The non-stoichiometric (interstitial) oxygen is considered as a possible cause for the non-uniformity of the sample properties. In this paper, results of mechanical spectroscopy in Ru-1212 samples are presented showing complex anelastic spectra, which were attributed to the mobility of the interstitial oxygen atoms in the Ru-1212 lattice.

Visualizing the ac magnetic susceptibility of superconducting films via magneto-optical imaging

We have established a link between the global ac response and the local flux distribution of superconducting films by combining magnetic ac susceptibility, dc magnetization, and magneto-optical measurements. The investigated samples are three Nb films: a plain specimen, used as a reference sample, and other two films patterned with square arrays of antidots. At low temperatures and small ac amplitudes of the excitation field, the Meissner screening prevents penetration of flux into the sample. Above a certain ac drive threshold, flux avalanches are triggered during the first cycle of the ac excitation. The subsequent periodic removal, inversion, and rise of flux occurs essentially through the already-created dendrites, giving rise to an ac susceptibility signal weakly dependent on the applied field. The intradendrite flux oscillation is followed, at higher values of the excitation field, by a more drastic process consisting of creation of new dendrites and antidendrites. In this more invasive regime, the ac susceptibility shows a clear field dependence. At higher temperatures a smooth penetration occurs, and the flux profile is characteristic of a critical state. We have also shown that the regime dominated by vortex avalanches can be reliably identified by ac susceptibility measurements. © 2011 American Physical Society.

Electrical and Superconducting Properties in Lap Joints for YBCO Tapes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)