Comprehensive Study of the Model Mercury-Based Cuprate Superconductors

Technical Report · Mon Nov 13 04:00:00 EST 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1408498· OSTI ID:1408498

Greven, Martin ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States); University of Minnesota

This is the Final Report on DE-SC0006858, which opened 15 August 2011 and closed 14 August 2017. The Principal Investigator is Martin Greven, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 555455 (email: [e-mail]). The Administrative Point of Contact is Patricia Jondahl, phone: [phone], email: [e-mail]. The DOE Program is the Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Program manager is Dr. P. Thiyagarajan, Neutron Scattering SC-22.2/ Germantown Bldg. (email: [e-mail]). The chief activity was the crystal growth, characterization, neutron and X-ray scattering study of the mercury-based cuprates, arguably the most desirable high-Tc superconductors for experimental study due to their record values of Tc and their relatively simple crystal structures. It is thought that the unusual magnetic and charge degrees of freedom of the copper-oxygen sheets that form the fundamental building block of all cuprate superconductors give rise to the high Tc and to many other unusual properties exhibited by the class of quantum materials. Neutron scattering experiments were performed to reveal the nature of the magnetic degrees of freedom of the copper-oxygen sheets, whereas X-ray scattering experiments and complementary charge-transport experiments were performed to reveal the nature of the charge degrees of freedom. In addition, collaborations were initiated with experts in the use of complementary experimental techniques. The primary products are (i) scientific articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, (ii) scientific presentations at national and international conferences, and (iii) education of postdoctoral researchers, PhD graduate students and undergraduate researchers by providing a research experience in crystal growth, characterization and scattering. Twenty scientific papers were published in peer-reviewed journals, thirty-one invited talks were presented at national or international conferences, or as colloquia or seminars, and three postdoctoral researchers, six PhD graduate students and nine undergraduate researchers were supported wholly or in part in the pursuit of the scientific topics of this award. This report summarizes the activity and productivity, lists highlights, publications and conference presentations, postdocs, students and collaborators. A balance of zero remained at the close of the grant.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division
• DOE Contract Number: SC0006858
• OSTI ID: 1408498
• Report Number(s): DE--SC0006858
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY