Magnetic penetration depth measurements with the microstrip resonator technique

The microstrip resonator technique is a convenient way to sensitively measure the temperature dependence of the magnetic penetration depth (T) in superconducting thin films. Because the method relies on measuring the resonant frequency of a high-Q transmission line resonator at microwave frequencies, one can very precisely measure small changes in (T). This technique is applied to studying the low-temperature dependence of (T), since that is in principle a measure of the low-lying pair-breaking excitations of the superconductor. We find that the penetration depth in niobium films is consistent with the predictions of weak coupled BCS theory. The low-temperature dependence of (T) inc-axis YBa₂Cu₃O_7– films can be interpreted as either a weak exponential or as a power law. In addition, the measured value of (0) is found to be strongly dependent on the form of the temperature dependence for (T) used in fitting the data. Best fits over the entire temperature range are obtained with a BCS temperature dependence having values for 2(0)/k _BT_c strictly less than 3.5, consistent with our measurements of the temperature dependence of (T) at low temperatures in YBa₂Cu₃O_7– .     

Resistive transition in superconducting films

The consequences of a vortex unbinding picture of two-dimensional superconductivity are worked out. Although there is no true finite-temperature phase transition, dirty superconducting films should display anomalous behavior below the BCS transition temperature and above an effective Kosterlitz-Thouless vortex unbinding temperature. In particular, both the conductivity and fluctuation diamagnetism behave like ₊ ² in this regime, where ₊ is the correlation length calculated by Kosterlitz, _{+ c} exp (B/T – T _c)^1/2. We estimate _c, B, and the vortex unbinding temperature, and determine the nonlinear resistivity below T _c. A recent theory of vortex dynamics, together with a time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory, lead to a determination of the frequency-dependent conductivity.This work was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DMR 77-10210.     

A generalized scaled equation of state for n-alkanes (methane to n-nonane) in the critical region

A generalized scaled equation of state has been developed to calculate thermodynamic properties of n-alkanes from methane (CH₄) to n-nonane (C₉H₂₀) in the critical region. The equation is valid in the reduced density range 0.7 _c1.3 at T=T _c and up to 1.2T _c at = _c.     

Superconductivity in bulk A15 Nb3Si under pressure

We have determined the effect of hydrostatic pressureP on the superconducting transition temperatureT _c of bulk, A15 Nb₃Si. For 0P20 kbar (2 GPa),T _c decrease linearly with increasing pressure at a rate T _c/P=–2.67×10^–5 K/bar. From an estimate of T _c/P obtained using recent band structure calculations for the density-of-electronic-states change as a function of lattice parameter in Nb₃Si, we conclude that the pressure dependence of the electron-phonon interaction primarily determines T _c/P.Work performed under the auspices of the U.S. DOE.     

Mössbauer studies of α″-Fe16N2 and α′-Fe8N films

Conversion-electron Mössbauer spectra of epitaxial -Fe₁₆N₂ and -Fe₈N films have been studied and their differences are discussed in detail. The Mössbauer spectrum of -Fe₁₆N₂ can be decomposed into three subspectra, which correspond to the 4d, 8h and 4c sites. The Mössbauer spectrum of -Fe₈N can be fitted using four spectra based on a nitrogen-atom-random-distribution model. The average hyperfine field is larger (3%) for -Fe₁₆N₂ than for -Fe₈N, which is approximately consistent with a 4.1% enhancement of the magnetic moments for -Fe₁₆N₂. The iron moments tend to locate in the film plane for -Fe₁₆N₂ and to arrange perpendicularly to the film plane for -Fe₈N.     

Intensity of critical opalescence of helium-4

We present measurements of the critical opalescence of helium-4. The results are analyzed by the Einstein and Ornstein-Zernike theory and the power laws. We obtain ==1.17±0.02, ==0.62±0.1,/=4.5±0.3,P _c =1706.008 mm Hg, andT _c =5,189.863 mK (T ₅₈ ). The critical behavior of helium-4 is almost the same as that of classical fluids and the influence of the quantum nature of helium-4 is not as evident as has been claimed.     

Temperature dependence of resistivity for thermally diffused V3Si multilayer films

Results concerning V₃Si films produced by a simple annealed multilayer technique are reported together with X-ray diffraction patterns, Auger spectroscopy, and Rutherford backscattering analysis. Low-temperature electrical resistivity measurements are discussed. It is found that the V₃Si films exhibit aT ² dependence in the temperature rangeT _c T23 K and aT ^2.6 dependence in the rangeT _c T40 K. The normal-state resistivity in the whole temperature range (T _c T600 K) is analyzed in the framework of Cote-Meisel theory. Consistent values of the saturation resistivity _m and of the Debye temperature are obtained by fitting the experimental data with the Cote-Meisel expression for (T).     

Electron-phonon coupling as a mechanism for high-temperature superconductivity

We have solved the Eliashberg gap equations which are valid for arbitrary phonon frequency, (_ph), electron-phonon coupling constant, (), and screened Coulomb interaction, ( ^*). We have used values of (_ph),, and ( ^*) appropriate to the cuprate superconductors, and calculated the density of states, the pair potential., and the value of the gap at T=0 K. Using the linearized Eliashberg equations in the matrix representation, we have calculatedT _c and 2/k T _c . We have found that we can account for the highT _c 's in the cuprates with reasonable values for, ^*, and _ph.     

Two-gap structure in Yb(Y)Ba2Cu3O7?x single crystals

Tunneling effects in YbBa₂Cu₃O_7–x (YbBCO) and YbBa₂Cu₃O_7–x (YBCO) single crystals have been investigated using an improved technique of break junction preparation. A two-gap structure with BCS-like density of states has been observed. The value of the large gap is in the range of 24–28 meV for YBCO (T _c =85–90 K) and 29–30 meV for YbBCO (T _c =87–90 K). A variation of the value of the small gap between 0.5 and 11 meV has been detected, even for the same crystal. As a possible explanation, two-band superconductivity, surface properties, or strong gap anisotropy will be discussed.     

Critical light scattering in4He near the gas-liquid critical point

Scattered intensities of light were measured near the gas-liquid critical point of ⁴ He at scattering angles of 30, 60, and 90° as functions of the reduced temperature =|T–T _c |/T _c along the critical isochore (T>T _c ) and the coexistence curve (T>T _c ). The temperature range was 3×10 ^–5 <<1.5×10 ^–2 . Critical exponents and coefficients describing divergence of the generalized susceptibility and the correlation length are obtained as (T>T _c )=1.31±0.02, v(T>T _c )=0.66±0.02, ₀ (T>T _c )=4.2±0.6 Å, (T>T _c )=1.32±0.02, v(T>T _c )=0.68±0.02, _± (T>T _c )=2.6±0.7 Å, =0.06±0.06(T>T _c ), 0.05±0.05(T>T _c ), and ₀(T>T _c )/x_± (T>T _c )=3.6±0.4. It is pointed out that the quantal nature of ⁴ He has remarkable influence on the critical behavior of ⁴ He in the above-mentioned temperature region.     

Hydrostatic pressure effects on the superconductivity of La1.2−x Eu x Mo6S8 pseudoternary compounds

The effect of hydrostatic pressure on the superconductivity of La_1.2–x Eu _x Mo₆S₈ pseudoternary compounds was studied by means of low-frequency ac and dc magnetic susceptibility measurements up to 20 kbar. The superconducting transition temperatureT _c at ambient pressure is a weak function of Eu concentrationx for 0x0.2, and then decreases smoothly withx forx>0.2 until superconductivity is completely suppressed forx0.95. Pressure was found to decreaseT _c in the La-rich compounds and to increaseT _c in the Eu-rich compounds. Pressure also induces superconductivity in compounds withx>0.95 that are not superconducting at ambient pressure. A La_0.2Eu_1.0Mo₆S₈ compound revealed a sizeable Meissner effect for pressures larger than 7 kbar.Research supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under contract DE-AT03-76ER70227.On leave from Instituto de Fisica Gleb Wataghin, UNICAMP, Brazil.Research supported by the National Science Foundation under grant DMR81-09950.Supported by the National Science Foundation.     

Numerical study of turbulent heat transfer and flow characteristics of hot flow over a sudden-expansion with base mass injection

Summary This study presents the numerical calculations of the fluid flow and turbulent heat transfer characteristics of hot flow over a sudden-expansion with cold air base mass injection. The turbulent governing equations are solved by a control-volume-based finite-difference method with power-law scheme, the well knownk- model, and its associate wall function to describe the turbulent behavior. The velocity and pressure terms of momentum equations are solved by the SIMPLE (Semi-Implicid Method for Pressure-Linked Equation) method. In this study non uniform staggered grids are used. The parameters interested include the inlet Reynolds number (Re), inlet temperature (T₀), and the injection flow rate (Q). The numerical results show that the reattachment lengths are reasonably predicted with a maximum discrepancy within 9.1%. It also shows that the base mass injection suppresses the horizontal velocity and turbulence intensity. In these high temperature heat transfer characteristics, the heat transfer coefficient increased with increasing inlet temperature and inlet Reynolds number, but decreased with increasing injection flow rate of the cooling air.Nomenclature C ₁,C ₂,C turbulent constant - E constant - G generation rate of turbulent kinetic energy - H channel height at inlet - i turbulence intensity - k turbulent kinetic energy - Nu local Nusselt number - q _w heat flux - Re Reynolds number - S source term - T temperature - T ₀ inlet temperature - TI turbulent intensity - U ₀ inlet velocity - U friction velocity - U,V x, y component velocity - Reynolds shear stress - X reattachment length - y ⁺ dimensionless distance from the wall - dependent variables - diffusion coefficient of equation - thermal diffusivity of fluid - density - von Kármán constant - turbulent Prandtl number - dynamic viscosity - kinematic viscosity - _w wall shear stress - turbulent energy dissaption rate - length scale constant     

The preparation of high transition temperature superconducting Pb-Bi-Ge alloy filaments using the method of glass-coated melt spinning

The melt spinning of Pb-Bi-Ge alloys with Pyrex glass was investigated as a means of producing a superconducting long filament with highT _c. Continuous filaments with maximumT _c of more than 10 K of Pb_100-x-y Bi _x Ge _y (15x37 and 725) were obtained from the molten state at 1500 K with a winding speed of 0.95 m sec^–1. The Pb₄₉Bi₃₃Ge₁₈ filament, which was 34×10^–6 m diameter and a ductile material with a tensile strength of 20 MPa and elongation of 2.7%, exhibited superconductivity at the highestT _c of 14.3 K. These filaments were found to be polycrystalline with a grain size of more than 5000×10^–10 m and had a mixed structure of germanium (diamond) (h c p) and bismuth phases. The germanium element distributed homogeneously in the filament.     

Pair and Quasiparticle States of YBa2Cu3O7?x Films Deduced from the Surface Impedance and a Comparison with Nb3Sn

Surface impedance data at 19 and 87 GHz of high-quality epitaxial YBCO films on different substrates are compared with data for Nb₃Sn films on sapphire in terms of pair and quasiparticle (qp) transport. Surface resistance R _s and penetration depth of YBCO are strongly affected by temperature dependent qp scattering, which is depressed in films with enhanced lattice strain. All films showed a comparable residual resistance R _res(19 GHz)90 constituting a qp reservoir which is likely to be caused by the electronic configuration and by impurities. Subtracting R _res from R _s (T) revealed activated behavior with a reduced energy gap ₀/k _B T _c0.9 for a film on sapphire, but power-law behavior for the other films. The penetration depth did not reveal power-law dependences at T0.5 ·T _c, but was consistent with a reduced energy gap of 0.45 for a film on MgO. The increase of (T) at T0.5 · T _c was related to qp scattering, which also caused an extremal conductivity ₁(T). A shoulder in (T) at T=(0.6–0.7) · T _c confirmed evidence for the existence of two superconducting bands. The magnetic-field induced recovery of (B) of various YBCO films hinted for an important role of magnetic scattering. The results are in contradiction to a d-wave symmetry of the order parameter, at least for the chain band.     

Angular dependence of the critical magnetic field in granular superconducting films

The critical magnetic fieldH _c () of granular Al films has been measured as a function of the angle between the field direction and the plane of the film at temperatures nearT _c0 .The film thicknessd is smaller than the temperature-dependent coherence length (T), the bulk electron mean free path1 is smaller than the BCS coherence length ₀, and 1 d. The experimental data onH _c () are well fitted by the Tinkham formula. However, the observed values ofH _c/H _care not always consistent with and increase with1/d. This fact suggests that the boundary scattering of electrons at the film surface enhancesH _c () and that the enhancement ofH _cis larger than that ofH _c.On leave from Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.     

Shear viscosity of the B phase of superfluid3He

The shear viscosity (T) in the Balian-Werthamer (BW) state of superfluid ³ He is calculated variationally throughout the region 0t 1(t=T/T _c) from the transport equation for Bogoliubov quasiparticles. Coherence factors are treated exactly in the calculation of the collision integral. The numerical result for =_s= _s(T)/_n(T_c) agree very well with experiment in the range 0.8t1.0. Analytic expressions = 0.577 (1–1.0008t) and =1–(23/64) [=(T)/k _B T] are obtained in the low-temperature region and in the vicinity ofT _c, respectively. From the numerical analysis it is shown that the latter equation is valid only in the temperature range 0.9997t1.0.Supported by the Research Institute for Fundamental Physics, Kyoto University.     

Investigation of the excitonic insulator phase in bismuth-antimony alloys

Pressure-induced metal-semiconductor transitions in bismuth-antimony alloys in a strong magnetic field (up to 70 kOe) at helium temperatures have been investigated. It is found that for values of the overlap-gap |G|1 meV the alloy forms an excitonic insulator (EI) in magnetic fields above a certain threshold (30–40 kOe). It is inferred that the EI energy gap increases with the magnetic field. The maximum gap observed in fields of 70 kOe turns out to be ₀₀7.5 K. An analysis of the results shows that transitions to the EI phase are observed from both the semimetal and the semiconducting states. The critical transition temperatureT _c is related to the EI gap by the expressionT _c0.7. Arguments are advanced in support of the fact that the formation of the EI phase involves the pairing of electrons at theL point with holes at theT point.     

Equation of state of a3He-4He mixture near its liquid-vapor critical point

Measurements of the pressure coefficient (P/T)_,x are reported for a ³ He- ⁴ He mixture with a mole fractionX=0.805 of ³ He in the neighborhood of the liquid-vapor critical point. These include data on 16 isochores taken over the density interval–0.50.5 and over the temperature range–0.1 t0.1, where =(– _c )/ _c andt=(T-T _c )/T _c ,with _c andT _c ,respectively, the critical density and temperature of the mixture. From the discontinuity of (P/T)_,x at the boundary between the two-phase and the one-phase regions we determine the dew-bubble curve nearT _c with better precision than was done in recentPVT experiments. From the extrapolation of data not approachingT _c closer than1 mK, (P/T)_,x along the critical isochore appears to be discontinuous atT _c ,while for the isochore / _c 0.92, (P/T)_,x is continuous across the dew curve. It is found that this latter isochore cuts the dew curve at its highest temperature. These observations are discussed in terms of general thermodynamic arguments and theoretical predictions of the asymptotic behavior. We calculate (P/T)_,x from the scaling equation of state proposed by Leung and Griffiths for ³ He- ⁴ He mixtures, using their numerical parameters. In spite of some systematic deviations, especially in the two-phase region, there is in general good agreement with experimental results. In particular, the shape of the measured dew-bubble curve and the apparent discontinuity of (P/T)_,x along the critical isochore show excellent agreement with theory.Work supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation. A report of this work has been presented at the Washington Meeting of the APS [Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 20, 618 (1975)].     

Dependence of 2Δ0/k B T c on the shape of electron-phonon spectral density

The effect on the ratio of the gap to the critical temperature 2₀/k _B T _c of various possible shapes for the electron-phonon spectral density is studied. The calculations are carried out keepingT _c andT _c /_ln fixed, where _ln is a characteristic phonon energy. When only realistic shapes known to occur in nature are considered, the ratio 2₀/k _B T _c shows little variation with shape. On the other hand, when the analysis is extended to a two--function model, much larger variations are possible, particularly when fairly extreme nonphysical values are used for the positions in frequency of the functions.     

The specific heat and critical magnetic field of superconducting PdH(D)

From the solution of the Eliashberg equations on the imaginary axis, the thermodynamic properties, specific heat, and critical magnetic field of PdH(D) have been calculated. The Eliashberg kernels ²()F() were constructed using a published value of ²(), and F() was obtained from inelastic neutron scattering data. The results for the specific heat are in good agreement with published experimental data. The critical magnetic field shows a nearly parabolic behavior as a function of temperature, in disagreement with the linear experimental behavior. The deviation function D(t) and the ratios C(T _c)/T _c and [T _c/H _c(0)]² indicate that the PdH(D) system is BCS-like. The functional derivative of T _c with respect to changes in the kernel is also calculated.On sabbatical leave from the Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, UNAM, Mexico.