Magnetism and superconductivity in Eu0.2Sr0.8(Fe0.86Co0.14)2As2 probed by 75As NMR

We report bulk superconductivity (SC) in Eu$_{0.2}$Sr$_{0.8}$(Fe$_{0.86}$Co$_{0.14}$)$_{2}$As$_{2}$ single crystals by means of electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and specific heat measurements with $T$$_{\mathrm{c}}$ $\simeq$ 20 K with an antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering of Eu$^{2+}$ moments at $T$$_{\mathrm{N}}$ $\simeq$ 2.0 K in zero field. $^{75}$As NMR experiments have been performed in the two external field directions (H$\|ab$) and (H$\|c$). $^{75}$As-NMR spectra are analyzed in terms of first order quadrupolar interaction. Spin-lattice relaxation rates (1/$T_{1}$) follow a $T^{3}$ law in the temperature range 4.2-15 K. There is no signature of Hebel-Slichter coherence peak just below the SC transition indicating a non s-wave or s$_{\pm}$ type of superconductivity. The increase of 1/$T_{1}T$ with lowering the temperature in the range 160-18 K following $\frac{C}{T+\theta}$ law reflecting 2D AFM spin fluctuations

Optical investigations of the chemical pressurized EuFe2(As1-xPx)2: an s-wave superconductor with strong interband interaction

Superconducting EuFe2(As0.82P0.18)2 single crystals are investigated by infrared spectroscopy in a wide frequency range. Below Tc=28K a superconducting gap forms at 2\Delta_{0} = 9.5 meV = 3.8 k_B T_c causing the reflectivity to sharply rise to unity at low frequency. In the range of the gap the optical conductivity can be perfectly described by BCS theory with an $s$-wave gap and no nodes. From our analysis of the temperature dependent conductivity and spectral weight at T>T_c, we deduce an increased interband coupling between hole- and electron-sheets on the Fermi surface when $T$ approaches T_c

Unique phase diagram with narrow superconducting dome in EuFe2_2(As1−x_{1-x}Px_x)2_2 due to Eu2+^{2+} local magnetic moments

The interplay between superconductivity and Eu$^{2+}$ magnetic moments in EuFe$_2$(As$_{1-x}$P$_x$)$_2$ is studied by electrical resistivity measurements under hydrostatic pressure on $x=0.13$ and $x=0.18$ single crystals. We can map hydrostatic pressure to chemical pressure $x$ and show, that superconductivity is confined to a very narrow range $0.18\leq x \leq 0.23$ in the phase diagram, beyond which ferromagnetic (FM) Eu ordering suppresses superconductivity. The change from antiferro- to FM Eu ordering at the latter concentration coincides with a Lifshitz transition and the complete depression of iron magnetic order.Comment: 4 page

Impact of Gd doping on morphology and superconductivity of NbN sputtered thin films

We report effect of Gd inclusion in the NbN superconductor thin films. The films are deposited on single crystalline Silicon (100) by DC reactive sputtering technique i.e., deposition of Nb and Gd in presence of reactive N2 gas. The fabricated relatively thick films (400 nm) are crystallized in cubic structure. These films are characterized for their morphology, elemental analysis and roughness by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) respectively. The optimized film (maximum Tc) is achieved with gas ratio of Ar:N2 (80:20) for both pristine and Gd doped films. The optimized NbN film possesses Tc (R=0) in zero and 140kOe fields are at 14.8K and 8.8K respectively. The Gd doped NbN film showed Tc (R=0) in zero and 130kOe fields at 11.2K and 6.8 K respectively. The upper critical field Hc2(0) of the studied superconducting films is calculated from the magneto-transport [R(T)H] measurements using GL equations. It is found that Gd doping deteriorated the superconducting performance of NbN.Comment: 14 pages Text+Figs: comments/suggestions ([email protected])/www.freewebs.com/vpsawana

Super-heavy fermion material as metallic refrigerant for adiabatic demagnetization cooling

Low-temperature refrigeration is of crucial importance in fundamental research of condensed matter physics, as the investigations of fascinating quantum phenomena, such as superconductivity, superfluidity and quantum criticality, often require refrigeration down to very low temperatures. Currently, cryogenic refrigerators with $^3$He gas are widely used for cooling below 1 Kelvin. However, usage of the gas is being increasingly difficult due to the current world-wide shortage. Therefore, it is important to consider alternative methods of refrigeration. Here, we show that a new type of refrigerant, super-heavy electron metal, YbCo$_2$Zn$_{20}$, can be used for adiabatic demagnetization refrigeration, which does not require 3He gas. A number of advantages includes much better metallic thermal conductivity compared to the conventional insulating refrigerants. We also demonstrate that the cooling performance is optimized in Yb$_{1-x}$Sc$_x$Co$_2$Zn$_{20}$ by partial Sc substitution with $x\sim$0.19. The substitution induces chemical pressure which drives the materials close to a zero-field quantum critical point. This leads to an additional enhancement of the magnetocaloric effect in low fields and low temperatures enabling final temperatures well below 100 mK. Such performance has up to now been restricted to insulators. Since nearly a century the same principle of using local magnetic moments has been applied for adiabatic demagnetization cooling. This study opens new possibilities of using itinerant magnetic moments for the cryogen-free refrigeration

Electron-phonon coupling in 122 Fe pnictides analyzed by femtosecond time-resolved photoemission

Based on results from femtosecond time-resolved photoemission, we compare three different methods for determination of the electron-phonon coupling constant {\lambda} in Eu and Ba-based 122 FeAs compounds. We find good agreement between all three methods, which reveal a small {\lambda} < 0.2. This makes simple electron-phonon mediated superconductivity unlikely in these compounds.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure

Experimental Quantification of Entanglement Through Heat Capacity

A new experimental realization of heat capacity as an entanglement witness (EW) is reported. Entanglement properties of a low dimensional quantum spin system are investigated by heat capacity measurements performed down to very low temperatures (400mK), for various applied magnetic field values. The experimentally extracted results for the value of heat capacity at zero field matches perfectly with the theoretical estimates of entanglement from model Hamiltonians. The studied sample is a spin $\frac{1}{2}$ antiferromagnetic system which shows clear signature of quantum phase transition (QPT) at very low temperatures when the heat capacity is varied as a function of fields at a fixed temperature. The variation of entanglement as a function of field is then explored in the vicinity of the quantum phase transition to capture the sudden loss of entanglement.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, To be published in NJ

Possible re-entrant superconductivity in EuFe2As2 under pressure

We studied the temperature-pressure phase diagram of EuFe2As2 by measurements of the electrical resistivity. The antiferromagnetic spin-density-wave transition at T_0 associated with the FeAs-layers is continuously suppressed with increasing pressure, while the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature of the Eu 2+ moments seems to be nearly pressure independent up to 2.6 GPa. Above 2 GPa a sharp drop of the resistivity, \rho(T), indicates the onset of superconductivity at T_c \approx 29.5 K. Surprisingly, on further reducing the temperature \rho(T) is increasing again and exhibiting a maximum caused by the ordering of the Eu 2+ moments, a behavior which is reminiscent of re-entrant superconductivity as it is observed in the ternary Chevrel phases or in the rare-earth nickel borocarbides

Magnetic fluctuations and superconductivity in Fe pnictides probed by electron spin resonance

The electron spin resonance absorption spectrum of Eu^{2+} ions serves as a probe of the normal and superconducting state in Eu_{0.5}K_{0.5}Fe_2As_2. The spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T_1^{\rm ESR} obtained from the ESR linewidth exhibits a Korringa-like linear increase with temperature above T_C evidencing a normal Fermi-liquid behavior. Below 45 K deviations from the Korringa-law occur which are ascribed to enhanced magnetic fluctuations within the FeAs layers upon approaching the superconducting transition. Below T_C the spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T_1^{\rm ESR} follows a T^{1.5}-behavior without the appearance of a coherence peak.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Momentum dependent ultrafast electron dynamics in antiferromagnetic EuFe2As2

Employing the momentum-sensitivity of time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy we demonstrate the analysis of ultrafast single- and many-particle dynamics in antiferromagnetic EuFe2As2. Their separation is based on a temperature-dependent difference of photo-excited hole and electron relaxation times probing the single particle band and the spin density wave gap, respectively. Reformation of the magnetic order occurs at 800 fs, which is four times slower compared to electron-phonon equilibration due to a smaller spin-dependent relaxation phase space