In high-Tc superconductors the magnetic and electronic properties are determined by the probability that valence electrons jump virtually from site to site in the CuO2 planes, a mechanism opposed by ...on-site Coulomb repulsion and favoured by hopping integrals. The spatial extent of the latter is related to transport properties, including superconductivity, and to the dispersion relation of spin excitations (magnons). Here, for three antiferromagnetic parent compounds (single-layer Bi2 Sr0.9 La1.1 CuO6+δ , double-layer Nd1.2 Ba1.8 Cu3 O6 and infinite-layer CaCuO2 ) differing by the number of apical atoms, we compare the magnetic spectra measured by resonant inelastic X-ray scattering over a significant portion of the reciprocal space and with unprecedented accuracy. We observe that the absence of apical oxygens increases the in-plane hopping range and, in CaCuO2 , it leads to a genuine three-dimensional (3D) exchange-bond network. These results establish a corresponding relation between the exchange interactions and the crystal structure, and provide fresh insight into the materials dependence of the superconducting transition temperature.
The asymmetry between electron and hole doping in high critical-temperature superconducting (HTS) cuprates is key information for the understanding of Cooper pair formation mechanisms. Despite ...intensive studies on different cuprates, a comprehensive description of related magnetic and charge excitations is still fragmentary. In the present work, artificial cuprates were used to cover the entire phase diagram within the same HTS family. In particular, Cu L3-edge resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) measurements were performed on artificial n- and p-type infinite layer (IL) epitaxial films. Beside several similarities, RIXS spectra show noticeable differences in the evolution, with doping level, of magnetic and charge intensity and damping. Compatible trends can be found in spectra measured on bulk cuprates, as well as in theoretical calculations of the spin dynamical structure factor S(q,ω). The findings give a deeper insight into the evolution of collective excitations across the cuprate phase diagram, and on underlying general features, only connected to the doping type. Moreover, they pave the way to the exploration of general properties of HTS physics over a broad range of conditions, by means of artificial compounds not constrained by the thermodynamic limitations governing the chemical stability of bulk materials.
At interfaces between complex oxides it is possible to generate electronic systems with unusual electronic properties, which are not present in the isolated oxides. One important example is the ...appearance of superconductivity at the interface between insulating oxides, although, until now, with very low Tc. We report the occurrence of high Tc superconductivity in the bilayer CaCuO2/SrTiO3, where both the constituent oxides are insulating. In order to obtain a superconducting state, the CaCuO2/SrTiO3 interface must be realized between the Ca plane of CaCuO2 and the TiO2 plane of SrTiO3. Only in this case can oxygen ions be incorporated in the interface Ca plane, acting as apical oxygen for Cu and providing holes to the CuO2 planes. A detailed hole doping spatial profile can be obtained by scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron-energy-loss spectroscopy at the O K edge, clearly showing that the (super)conductivity is confined to about 1-2 CaCuO2 unit cells close to the interface with SrTiO3. The results obtained for the CaCuO2/SrTiO3 interface can be extended to multilayered high Tc cuprates, contributing to explaining the dependence of Tc on the number of CuO2 planes in these systems.
Raman and combined infrared transmission and reflectivity measurements were carried out at room temperature (RT) on monoclinic VO2 over the 0-19 GPa and 0-14 GPa pressure ranges. Both lattice ...dynamics and optical gap show a remarkable stability up to P* approximately 10 GPa whereas subtle modifications of V ion arrangements within the monoclinic lattice, together with the onset of a metallization process via band gap filling, are observed for P >P*. Differently from P=0, where the VO2 metallic phase is found only in conjunction with the rutile structure above 340 K, a new RT metallic phase within a monoclinic structure appears accessible in the high pressure regime.
The temperature dependence of the London penetration depth lambda was measured for an untwinned single crystal of YBa_{2}Cu_{3}O_{7-delta} along the three principal crystallographic directions (a, b, ...and c). Both in-plane components (lambda_{a};{-2} and lambda_{b};{-2}) show an inflection point in their temperature dependence which is absent in the component along the c direction (lambda_{c};{-2}). The data provide convincing evidence that the in-plane superconducting order parameter is a mixture of (s+d)-wave symmetry whereas it is mainly s wave along the c direction. In conjunction with previous results it is concluded that coupled s+d-order parameters are universal and intrinsic to cuprate superconductors.
Epitaxial heterostructures consisting of an yttrium doped barium cerate, BaCe0.8Y0.2O3,(BCY) layer sandwiched between two yttrium doped barium zirconate, BaZr0.8Y0.2O3,(BZY) thin layers have been ...deposited on insulating (001) MgO substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The first BZY layer was aimed at improving the lattice match with the MgO substrate, the second at protecting the BCY layer. Ionic conductivity has been studied in the 300°C–600°C temperature range as a function of the BCY thickness in dry air and wet 5% H2 in Ar atmosphere. In both atmospheres, heterostructures showed a conductivity slightly larger than that of BCY pellets sintered under optimized conditions. Such a result has been attributed to the absence of blocking grain boundaries in the epitaxial heterostructures due to their good crystallographic quality. The BCY sandwich heterostructures showed an improved chemical stability relative to standard BCY pellets.
•Heterostructures based on BaCe0.8Y0.2O3 and BaZr0.8Y0.2O3 were realized by PLD•Ionic conductivity has been studied in the 300°C–600°C range.•The conductivity was greater than that of optimized BaCe0.8Y0.2O3 pellets•The result was ascribed to the high film quality and to the lack of blocking grains•The chemical stability was improved relative to standard BaCe0.8Y0.2O3 pellets
If you've done some Arduino tinkering and wondered how you could incorporate the Kinect—or the other way around—then this book is for you. The authors of Arduino and Kinect Projects will show you how ...to create 10 amazing, creative projects, from simple to complex. You'll also find out how to incorporate Processing in your project design—a language very similar to the Arduino language.The ten projects are carefully designed to build on your skills at every step. Starting with the Arduino and Kinect equivalent of "Hello, World," the authors will take you through a diverse range of projects that showcase the huge range of possibilities that open up when Kinect and Arduino are combined.Gesture-based Remote Control. Control devices and home appliances with hand gestures.Kinect-networked Puppet. Play with a physical puppet remotely using your whole body.Mood Lamps. Build your own set of responsive, gesture controllable LED lamps.Drawing Robot. Control a drawing robot using a Kinect-based tangible table.Remote-controlled Vehicle. Use your body gestures to control a smart vehicle.Biometric Station. Use the Kinect for biometric recognition and checking Body Mass Indexes.3D Modeling Interface. Learn how to use the Arduino LilyPad to build a wearable 3D modelling interface.360° Scanner. Build a turntable scanner and scan any object 360° using only one Kinect.Delta Robot. Build and control your own fast and accurate parallel robot.
The various phases observed in all cuprate superconductors superconducting (SC), spin-glass (SG), and antiferromagnetic (AFM) were investigated with respect to oxygen-isotope (16O/18O) effects, using ...here as a prototype system of cuprates Y1-xPrxBa2Cu3O7-delta. All phases exhibit an isotope effect which is strongest where the respective phase terminates. In addition, the isotope effects on the magnetic phases (SG and AFM) are sign reversed as compared to the one on the superconducting phase. In the coexistence regime of the SG and SC phase a two-component behavior is observed where the isotope induced decrease of the superfluid density leads to a corresponding enhancement in the SG related density.