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Title: Infrared optical properties of the 10-K organic superconductor (BEDT-TTF) sub 2 (Cu(NCS) sub 2 ) (where (BEDT-TTF) is bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene)

Journal Article · · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States)
;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Department of Physics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)
  2. Chemistry and Materials Science Divisions, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois (USA)

Low-temperature polarized bolometric absorption measurements have been performed on the {ital T}{sub {ital c}}=10.4 K organic superconductor {kappa}-(BEDT-TTF){sub 2}(Cu(NCS){sub 2}), where BEDT-TTF is bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene. The ratio of the absorption at 5.3 K to that at 10.5 K from 10 to 40 cm{sup {minus}1} showed no evidence of a conventional BCS gap. Polarized-reflectivity measurements at temperatures between 10 and 295 K are also reported for both the protonated and deuterated compounds, between 200 and 8000 cm{sup {minus}1}. The 10-K spectra were calibrated by a technique of simultaneously measuring the reflectivity {ital R} and the absorptance, 1{minus}{ital R}. The resulting conductivities display vibrational features superimposed on an electronic background. This background shifts from mid-infrared interband transitions, when the dc conductivity is low, to far-infrared intraband transitions as the dc conductivity increases. The vibrations have been assigned to a mixture of normally inactive {ital a}{sub {ital g}} modes and normally active {ital b}{sub 2{ital u}} modes of the BEDT-TTF molecule. A few of both types couple strongly to the charge carriers. One in particular has a very temperature-dependent frequency due to the changing intensity of the mid-infrared band.

DOE Contract Number:
W-31-109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
5170412
Journal Information:
Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States), Vol. 44:10; ISSN 0163-1829
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English