High-T c superconductors: New insights from angle-resolved photoemission

Recent angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) studies of the high-T _c superconductors by the Argonne group are briefly reviewed. First we discuss sum rules to establish a spectral function interpretation of the data, and the use of ARPES to obtain the momentum distribution. We then apply these ideas to the normal and superconducting state spectra for B₂Sr₂Cu₂O₈. Among the topics discussed are the Fermi surface, polarization selection rules, bilayer splitting, and the superconducting gap.     

Effect of interlayer interaction in high-Tc cuprate superconductors

We have studied the role of interlayer attractive interaction in a high-T _c system having two layers per unit cell. The single band two-layer tight binding model Hamiltonian is considered and the double time Green's function technique is applied within the mean field approximation. The expressions for the hole density, transition temperature, and intra- and interlayer order parameters are obtained which are found to be dependent on the interlayer interaction and other parameters appearing in the Hamiltonian. The numerical analysis shows that the coupling of the charge carriers (holes) between the layers provides better conditions for the stabilization of long-range order and high superconducting transition temperature in layered superconductors. It is also observed that superconductivity is confined to a narrow region of hole concentration and the single particle tunneling suppresses the transition temperature.     

Spin-glass state in high-Tc superconductors

The high-temperature superconductor glass state in the Josephson weak-link model is studied. Reversibility phenomena in weak magnetic fields are outlined.     

Ruthenate and Cuprate High-Tc Superconductivity

The onset of superconductivity is 49 K in Cu-doped (but cuprate-plane-free) Sr₂YRuO₆, almost the same as the 45 K onsets in GdSr₂Cu₂RuO₈ and in R_{2 – z} Ce _z Sr₂Cu₂RuO₁₀ (for R = Gd or Eu), implying that the superconductivity in all four compounds originates in the SrO layers, not in the cuprate-planes. Muon studies show that the superconducting condensate in YBa₂Cu₃O₇ is either s-wave or extended s-wave, not d-wave, confirming earlier work.     

Phonon Mechanism of High-Tc Superconductivity

For a long time the majority view has been that phonons are irrelevant to the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity. However, recent experimental results, including the neutron inelastic scattering measurements reviewed here, seriously challenge this view. We point out that the electron–phonon coupling in the cuprates can be substantially different from that in simple metals because of the covalency and strong electron correlation. In particular certain phonon branches induce substantial intersite charge transfer that can result in a negative electronic dielectric susceptibility. Such a strong electron–phonon coupling of certain modes could form the basis for the phonon mechanism of superconductivity in the cuprates.     

Effect of Interlayer Interaction on the Specific Heat of High-Tc Superconductors

The effect of interlayer interactions on the electronic specific heat of high-T _c layered superconductors has been studied within the framework of the Hirsch model. In the present paper we extend our previous work in order to evaluate the expression for specific heat. It is shown that the inclusion of interlayer interactions suppresses the height of the jump in the specific heat at T _c.     

The Study on AC Susceptibility and Magnetization of High-Tc Superconductor Bi-2223 Using a Critical-State Model

The Anderson–Kim model for a granular superconductor was employed to calculate both temperature and magnetic field dependencies of the AC susceptibility of a Bi-2223 superconductor. Moreover, similar calculations were performed for the magnetization. The prediction of the model, including the intergranular and intragranular contribution, for susceptibilities and magnetizations was consistent with experimental data very well by considering the temperature-dependent effective volume fraction. The temperature-dependence of fitting parameters was shown to obey almost quadratic power relation (1–T/T _c) with 2.     

Bulk Josephson energies in multi-gap models of highTc superconductors

Multi-gap models of high temperature ceramic superconductors have been of considerable recent interest. For the case of a two-gap model (₁, and ₂), there exist two separate electron pair condensate reservoirs, and a bulk Josephson free energy can be associated with electron pair transitions from one reservoir to the other. Thus, a Josephson effect can exist in two-gap models without the requirement of a weak link separating the two electron pair reservoirs in space. A single bulk sample Josephson electron pair free energy is here derived from the conventional BCS model of the superconducting state.     

Magnetic Levitation With High-Tc Superconducting Thin Films

The levitation force between a permanent magnet and a superconducting thin film was investigated experimentally. The configuration consisted of a cylindrical NdFeB permanent magnet placed above a circular YBa₂Cu₃O_7– disk with common cylinder axis. Precise measurements were made of the vertical force F _z and the magnetic stiffness _z as a function of the magnet–superconductor separation at 77 K. Several features contrasting the levitation force produced using bulk superconductors were observed. Thin films produced very high values for F _z and _z per unit volume of superconducting material. The hysteretic behavior of F _z during decreasing and increasing separation resulted in loops of nearly symmetrical shape, which also contain a peak in the repulsive force branch. The observations are analyzed and explained with good quantitative agreement using recent theories for flux penetration in thin superconductors in transverse magnetic fields.     

Reduced-Gap Ratio of High-Tc Cuprates Within the d-Wave Two-Dimensional Van Hove Scenario

The gap-to-T _c ratio (R) of high-temperature superconductors is calculated in the context of d symmetry of the superconducting order parameter and a two-dimensional Van Hove singularity in the density of states, using the BCS theory for weak coupling. Exact numerical calculation and an analytic formula for R are given. The ratios are found to be substantially larger than the BCS weak coupling limit of 3.53. The overall dependence of R on _D /T _c, where _D is the cutoff frequency, is given.     

Percolation, Fractal Behavior, and High-Tc Superconductivity

Hole suppliers like Sr in doped La₂CuO₄ are mainly randomly distributed. Assuming that the holes are dislocated over a few lattice constants away from the Sr atom, the conducting areas form randomly distributed circles in the CuO₂ layer planes. Conductivity and also superconductivity can occur only when these circles touch each other and form percolation clusters. Mobile holes are accompanied by diffusing d-electrons. Their spin direction is no longer localized on distinct places, and antiferromagnetism breaks down. The phase diagram of high-T _c superconductors is discussed on the basis of a modified continuum percolation model for which the centers of each circle are located on lattice points. The inhomogeneities due to the random hole distributions lead to broad peaks instead of sharp singularities in the static and dynamic response functions.     

Thin-film processing of high-Tc superconductors

This review of high-T _c superconducting thin-film processing focuses on the developments in thin-film deposition technologies since 1987. The common deposition processes are described with reference to their effects on superconductor film performance. A comparative evaluation of the potential of the technologies is also given. The development of multilayers and heterostructures is an important requirement for future device applications and is also described. The latest results of the deposition of novel superconducting materials and deposition on uncommon substrates are discussed. The outlook on some imminent topics of future development in process technologies for high-T _c superconducting thin films is discussed.     

Metallic stripes in high-temperature superconductors

A phenomenological approach is applied to explore signatures of disordered charge stripes and antiphase spin domains in single-particle properties of the high-temperature superconductors. Stripe phases are shown to explain many experimentally observed unusual features measured in angle-resolved photoemission and optical spectroscopy. It is argued that disordered and fluctuating stripe phases are a common feature of high-temperature superconductors, supported by the additional evidence from neutron scattering and NMR.     

Critical Behavior in the Low-Energy Spin Fluctuations in High-Tc Superconductors

We study the spin fluctuations of pure and Zn-substituted La_{2 – x} Sr _x CuO₄ using the muon spin relaxation technique. Superconductivity is found to coexist with low-frequency spin fluctuations over a large region of the superconducting phase diagram. The characteristic temperature of spin fluctuations detected by SR decreases with increasing x and vanishes above a critical doping x _c 0.19. This value of x _c coincides with the doping at which the normal state pseudogap extrapolates to zero. These results are discussed in terms of a quantum transition that separates the superconducting phase diagram of high-temperature superconductors into two distinct ground states.     

Cryocoolers for the new high-temperature superconductors

Compact, reliable, low-cost cryocoolers operated simply by closing a switch are an essential requirement for the coming age of superconductivity and cold electronic systems. The advent of high-temperature superconductors has substantially eased the task of those seeking to fill the above need. This article reviews some recent developments in cryocooler systems and examines some prospects for the future.     

New aspects in the microstructure of YBCO melt-textured high-Tc superconductors

The microstructure and phase constitution of bulk textured YBCO samples prepared by the modified MTG method in the longitudinal temperature gradient have been investigated. We found the existence of an unusual phase between stacked platelets. Microanalysis shows that this phase may be characterized as Y-143. This phase forms ellipsoid-like particles with a typical size about 0.05–2 which can play the role of effective pinning centers. The reason for the phase formation is discussed. We assume that this phase exists commonly in melt-textured samples prepared in the temperature field gradient.     

Influence of Structural Anisotropy on the Irreversibility Line of High-Tc Cuprates

From zero-field-cooled and field-cooled magnetic response, we have determined the irreversibility lines for a number of high-T _c oxides, viz., La(Sr)-214, Nd-223, Dy(Tb)-124, (Tl, Pb)-1212, and Tl-11112, in the H–T plane, which fit the relation H=A(1 –T/T _c ) ⁿ . Our results are consistent with a correlation between the anisotropy of the structure and the value of n, is in agreement with the Josephson decoupling model [1].     

Synthesis of Thick Tl-Based High-Tc Oxide Layer Through a Diffusion Process

Tl-based high-T _c oxide layers have been synthesized through the reaction between Tl-free substrate and coating layer containing Tl. The coating layer with the eutectic composition in V₂O₅-Tl₂O₃ system much enhances the formation of Tl-2223 phase without degrading its superconducting properties. The TIF substitution for T1₂O₃ in the coating layer promotes the formation of Tl-1223 phase, which significantly improves the I _c-B performance at higher temperatures. The behavior of F during the reaction has been studied. Thick Tl-1223 layer is formed on Ni tape with good bonding through the diffusion reaction.     

Simulated Operational Characteristics of a High-Tc Terahertz (THz) Thermal Sensor

A solution of the time-dependent heat transfer differential equations for the two-temperature (electron and phonon) model for the sensor-lattice and the lattice-substrate interface system is used for a computational analysis of the operational characteristics, for a high-T _c heterodyne thermal sensor. Responsivity and conversion gain of the sensor are analyzed in particular reference to external control parameters, e.g. the bias currents and voltages. Some operational characteristics in the form of three-dimensional graphics of the sensor are presented.