Density dependence of microwave induced magneto-resistance oscillations in a two-dimensional electron gas

We have measured the magneto-resistance of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) under continuous microwave irradiation as a function of electron density and mobility tuned with a metallic top-gate. In the entire range of density and mobility we have investigated, we observe microwave induced oscillations of large amplitude that are B-periodic. These B-periodic oscillations are reminiscent of the ones reported by Kukushkin \textit{et al}[1] and which were attributed to the presence of edge-magneto-plasmons. We have found that the B-periodicity does not increase linearly with the density in our sample but shows a plateau in the range (2.4-3) 10^{11}\rm cm^{-2} $. In this regime, the phase of the B-periodic oscillations is found to shift continuously by two periods.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Interplay between Freezing and Superconductivity in the Optimally Doped LaEu0.20Sr0.15CuO4 under Hydrostatic Pressure

We study the electronic properties of a LaEu0.20Sr0.15CuO4 single crystal under hydrostatic pressure up to 2.9 GPa. Both the freezing of the Cu 3d moments and the structural transition from the orthorhombic (LTO) to the tetragonal (LTT) phase are observed via the relaxation of the nuclear magnetization of La nuclei. Resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements have been carried out under pressure on the same sample. The combination of all data reveals the connection between glassy dynamics, charge localization and the disappearance of superconductivity in the LTT phase.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, submitte

Two-subband quantum Hall effect in parabolic quantum wells

The low-temperature magnetoresistance of parabolic quantum wells displays pronounced minima between integer filling factors. Concomitantly the Hall effect exhibits overshoots and plateau-like features next to well-defined ordinary quantum Hall plateaus. These effects set in with the occupation of the second subband. We discuss our observations in the context of single-particle Landau fan charts of a two-subband system empirically extended by a density dependent subband separation and an enhanced spin-splitting g*.Comment: 5 pages, submitte

Counting statistics and super-Poissonian noise in a quantum dot

We present time-resolved measurements of electron transport through a quantum dot. The measurements were performed using a nearby quantum point contact as a charge detector. The rates for tunneling through the two barriers connecting the dot to source and drain contacts could be determined individually. In the high bias regime, the method was used to probe excited states of the dot. Furthermore, we have detected bunching of electrons, leading to super-Poissonian noise. We have used the framework of the full counting statistics (FCS) to model the experimental data. The existence of super-Poissonian noise suggests a long relaxation time for the involved excited state, which could be related to the spin relaxation time

Experimental Evidence for a Glass forming "Stripe Liquid" in the Magnetic Ground State of La1.65Eu0.2Sr0.15CuO4

We report measurements of the longitudinal ($^{139}T_1^{-1}$) and transverse ($^{139}T_2^{-1}$) decay rates of the magnetization of $^{139}$La nuclei performed in a high quality single crystal of La$_{1.65}$Eu$_{0.2}$Sr$_{0.15}$CuO$_{4}$. We observe a dramatic slowing of the Cu 3d spins manifested as a sharp increase of both $^{139}T_1^{-1}$ and $^{139}T_2^{-1}$ below 30 K. We find that in this temperature range the fluctuations involve a unique time scale $\tau$ which diverges as $(T-T_{\rm A})^{-1.9}$ with $T_{\rm A}\thickapprox 5$ K. This behavior is distinct from the continuous freezing observed in underdoped La$_{1-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ which involves a distribution of energy barriers. By contrast, in La$_{1.65}$Eu$_{0.2}$Sr$_{0.15}$CuO$_{4}$, the freezing below 30K is intrinsic to its magnetic ground state and the observed power law supports the existence of a glass forming "charge stripe liquid".Comment: 5 pages, 3 Figures. Revised version, resubmitte

Charge order and low frequency spin dynamics in lanthanum cuprates revealed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

We report detailed 17O, 139La, and 63Cu Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR) measurements in a stripe ordered La1.875Ba0.125CuO4 single crystal and in oriented powder samples of La1.8-xEu0.2SrxCuO4. We observe a partial wipeout of the 17O NMR intensity and a simultaneous drop of the 17O electric field gradient (EFG) at low temperatures where the spin stripe order sets in. In contrast, the 63Cu intensity is completely wiped out at the same temperature. The drop of the 17O quadrupole frequency is compatible with a charge stripe order. The 17O spin lattice relaxation rate shows a peak similar to that of the 139La, which is of magnetic origin. This peak is doping dependent and is maximal at x ~ 1/8.Comment: submitted to European Physical Journal Special Topic

Nernst Effect of stripe ordering La1.8−x_{1.8-x}Eu0.2_{0.2}Srx_xCuO4_4

We investigate the transport properties of La$_{1.8-x}$Eu$_{0.2}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ ($x=0.04$, 0.08, 0.125, 0.15, 0.2) with a special focus on the Nernst effect in the normal state. Various anomalous features are present in the data. For $x=0.125$ and 0.15 a kink-like anomaly is present in the vicinity of the onset of charge stripe order in the LTT phase, suggestive of enhanced positive quasiparticle Nernst response in the stripe ordered phase. At higher temperature, all doping levels except $x=0.2$ exhibit a further kink anomaly in the LTO phase which cannot unambiguously be related to stripe order. Moreover, a direct comparison between the Nernst coefficients of stripe ordering La$_{1.8-x}$Eu$_{0.2}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ and superconducting La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ at the doping levels $x=0.125$ and $x=0.15$ reveals only weak differences. Our findings make high demands on any scenario interpreting the Nernst response in hole-doped cuprates

How to detect fluctuating order in the high-temperature superconductors

We discuss fluctuating order in a quantum disordered phase proximate to a quantum critical point, with particular emphasis on fluctuating stripe order. Optimal strategies for extracting information concerning such local order from experiments are derived with emphasis on neutron scattering and scanning tunneling microscopy. These ideas are tested by application to two model systems - the exactly solvable one dimensional electron gas with an impurity, and a weakly-interacting 2D electron gas. We extensively review experiments on the cuprate high-temperature superconductors which can be analyzed using these strategies. We adduce evidence that stripe correlations are widespread in the cuprates. Finally, we compare and contrast the advantages of two limiting perspectives on the high-temperature superconductor: weak coupling, in which correlation effects are treated as a perturbation on an underlying metallic (although renormalized) Fermi liquid state, and strong coupling, in which the magnetism is associated with well defined localized spins, and stripes are viewed as a form of micro-phase separation. We present quantitative indicators that the latter view better accounts for the observed stripe phenomena in the cuprates.Comment: 43 pages, 11 figures, submitted to RMP; extensively revised and greatly improved text; one new figure, one new section, two new appendices and more reference

Oscillations of the magnetoresistance of a two-dimensional electron gas under microwave irradiation: Influence of the irradiation frequency

We present measurements of the magnetoresistance of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) under continuous microwave as a function of the irradiation frequency. In a previous work by Simovič et al. [Phys. Rev. B 71 (2005) 233303], the magnetoresistance under microwave was shown to be modulated by oscillations of large amplitude that are periodic with magnetic field, their period and phase depending strongly on the electron density. Here we show that the phase and the amplitude of the microwave-induced oscillations also depend on the frequency of irradiation and the sign of the magnetic field