Tyrel M. McQueen

Extreme sensitivity of superconductivity to stoichiometry in Fe1+δSe

The recently discovered iron arsenide superconductors appear to display a universal set of characteristic features, including proximity to a magnetically ordered state and robustness of the superconductivity in the presence of disorder. Here we show that superconductivity in Fe1+?Se, which can be considered the parent compound of the superconducting arsenide family, is destroyed by very small changes in stoichiometry. Further, we show that nonsuperconducting Fe1+?Se is not magnetically ordered down to 5 K. These results suggest that robust superconductivity and immediate instability against an ordered magnetic state should not be considered as intrinsic characteristics of iron-based superconducting systems.

Electronic and magnetic phase diagram of β -Fe 1.01 Se with superconductivity at 36.7 K under pressure

In this letter, we report that the superconductivity transition temperature in beta-Fe1.01Se increases from 8.5 to 36.7 K under applied pressure of 8.9 GPa. It then decreases at higher pressure. A dramatic change in volume is observed at the same time Tc rises, due to a collapse of the separation between the Fe2Se2 layers. A clear transition to a linear resistivity normal state is seen on cooling at all pressures. No static magnetic ordering is observed for the whole p-T phase diagram. We also report that at higher pressure (starting around 7 GPa and completed at 38 GPa), Fe1.01Se transforms to a hexagonal NiAs-type structure and displays non-magnetic, insulating behavior. The inclusion of electron correlation in band structure caculations is necessary to describe this behavior, signifying that such correlations are important in this chemical system. Our results strongly support unconventional superconductivity in beta-Fe1.01Se.

Why does undoped FeSe become a high-Tc superconductor under pressure?

Unlike the parent phases of the iron-arsenide high-Tc superconductors, undoped FeSe is not magnetically ordered and exhibits superconductivity with Tc approximately 9 K. Equally surprising is the fact that applied pressure dramatically enhances the modest Tc to approximately 37 K. We investigate the electronic properties of FeSe using 77Se NMR to search for the key to the superconducting mechanism. We demonstrate that the electronic properties of FeSe are very similar to those of electron-doped FeAs superconductors, and that antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations are strongly enhanced near Tc. Furthermore, applied pressure enhances spin fluctuations. Our findings suggest a link between spin fluctuations and the superconducting mechanism in FeSe.

Tetragonal-to-Orthorhombic Structural Phase Transition at 90 K in the Superconductor Fe1.01Se

In this letter we show that superconducting Fe1.01Se undergoes a structural transition at 90 K from a tetragonal to an orthorhombic phase but that non-superconducting Fe1.03Se does not. Further, high resolution electron microscopy study at low temperatures reveals an unexpected additional modulation of the crystal structure of the superconducting phase involving displacements of the Fe atoms, and that the non-superconducting material shows a distinct, complex nanometer-scale structural modulation. Finally, we show that magnetism is not the driving force for the phase transition in the superconducting phase.

Magnetism and structure of LixCoO2 and comparison to NaxCoO2

Received 19 October 2007; revised manuscript received 19 January 2008; published 19 February 2008 The magnetic properties and structure of LixCoO2 for 0.5x1.0 are reported. Co 4+ is found to be high spin in LixCoO2 for 0.94x1.00 and low spin for 0.50x0.78. Weak antiferromagnetic coupling is observed, and at x0.65 the temperature-independent contribution to the magnetic susceptibility and the electronic contribution to the specific heat are largest. Neutron diffraction analysis reveals that the lithium oxide layer expands perpendicular to the basal plane and the Li ions displace from their ideal octahedral sites with decreasing x. Comparison of the structures of NaxCoO2 and LixCoO2 reveals that the CoO2 layer changes substantially with alkali content in the former but is relatively rigid in the latter, and that the CoO6 octahedra in LixCoO2 are less distorted.

Electronic and magnetic phase diagram of β-Fe1.01Se with superconductivity at 36.7 K under pressure

In this letter, we report that the superconductivity transition temperature in beta-Fe1.01Se increases from 8.5 to 36.7 K under applied pressure of 8.9 GPa. It then decreases at higher pressure. A dramatic change in volume is observed at the same time Tc rises, due to a collapse of the separation between the Fe2Se2 layers. A clear transition to a linear resistivity normal state is seen on cooling at all pressures. No static magnetic ordering is observed for the whole p-T phase diagram. We also report that at higher pressure (starting around 7 GPa and completed at 38 GPa), Fe1.01Se transforms to a hexagonal NiAs-type structure and displays non-magnetic, insulating behavior. The inclusion of electron correlation in band structure caculations is necessary to describe this behavior, signifying that such correlations are important in this chemical system. Our results strongly support unconventional superconductivity in beta-Fe1.01Se.

Tuning the charge density wave and superconductivity in CuxTaS2

We report the characterization of layered 2H-type CuxTaS2 for 0?x?0.12. The charge density wave (CDW), at 70 K for TaS2, is destabilized with Cu doping. The sub-1 K superconducting transition in undoped 2H-TaS2 jumps quickly to 2.5 K at low x, increases to 4.5 K at the optimal composition Cu0.04TaS2, and then decreases at higher x. The electronic contribution to the specific heat, first increasing and then decreasing as a function of Cu content, is 12 mJ mol?1 K?2 at Cu0.04TaS2. Electron-diffraction studies show that the CDW remains present at the optimal superconducting composition but with both a changed q vector and decreased coherence length. We present an electronic phase diagram for the system.

Intrinsic Properties of Stoichiometric LaFePo

DC and ac magnetization, resistivity, specific-heat, and neutron-diffraction data reveal that stoichiometric LaFePO is metallic and non-superconducting above

Density of phonon states in superconducting FeSe as a function of temperature and pressure

T=0.35\text{ }\text{K}

Possible valence-bond condensation in the frustrated cluster magnet LiZn2Mo3O8

, with