Phase separation to antiferromagnetic and superconducting domains in oxygen-rich single-crystal La[sub 2]CuO[sub 4+[ital x]]: Magnetic and structural neutron-diffraction studies

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.49.9057· OSTI ID:5049508

Vaknin, D; Zarestky, J L; Johnston, D C ^[1]; Schirber, J E ^[2]; Fisk, Z ^[3]

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1. Ames Laboratory and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (United States)
2. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 (United States)
3. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)

We report on magnetic and structural neutron-diffraction studies of single-crystal La[sub 2]CuO[sub 4+[ital x]] versus temperature. The low-temperature diffraction data are consistent with the coexistence of two structurally related phases: nearly stoichiometric, antiferromagnetic (AF) domains, with average domain diameter [similar to]500 A in the CuO[sub 2] plane, and oxygen-rich, metallic, and superconducting domains. The ordered magnetic moment in the AF domains does not saturate at 10 K, and is on average, [mu]=(0.3[plus minus]0.05)[mu][sub [ital B]]/Cu atom. The phase-separation transition to these two phases occurs at [ital T][sub PS]=260[plus minus]5 K, which is about 15 K higher than the Neel temperature, [ital T][sub [ital N]]=245[plus minus]3 K. The value of [ital T][sub PS] is identical within the errors with that (259[plus minus]2 K) found previously from specific-heat measurements on the same crystal. The structural properties of the single crystal are discussed and compared to those of polycrystalline oxygen-rich La[sub 2]CuO[sub 4+[ital x]].

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-82; AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5049508
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States), Vol. 49:13; ISSN 0163-1829
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COPPER OXIDES
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
LANTHANUM OXIDES
DOMAIN STRUCTURE
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
MONOCRYSTALS
NEUTRON DIFFRACTION
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0000-0013 K
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0013-0065 K
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0065-0273 K
CHALCOGENIDES
COHERENT SCATTERING
COPPER COMPOUNDS
CRYSTALS
DIFFRACTION
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
LANTHANUM COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS
SCATTERING
TEMPERATURE RANGE
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
360202* - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Structure & Phase Studies
360204 - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Physical Properties