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Temperature dependence of positron-annihilation parameters in YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-//sub x/ above and below the superconducting transition

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)

The temperature dependence of positron-annihilation parameters for YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-//sub x/ x = 0.7, 0.4, and 0.0 are reported. It was found that a transition in the Doppler line-shape parameter S was associated with the superconducting transition temperature (T/sub c/) in YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-//sub x/ x = 0.4 and 0.0, while no transition was observed in the nonsuperconducting YBa/sub 3/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 6.3/. Positron lifetime parameters in YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/ were found to be consistent with positrons localized at open volume regions (probably unoccupied crystallographic sites) in this material with a lifetime of 210 psec. The positron lifetime decreased by approximately 5% across the superconducting transition and subsequently by 4% to 193 +- 1 psec at 12 K. These results indicate that the electron density at this site increases approximately 9% between 100 and 12 K. Doppler line-shape results show that the average electron momentum at the annihilation site increases across the superconducting transition and from sample to sample as the oxygen concentration decreases.

Research Organization:
Department of Applied Science, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973
OSTI ID:
5619430
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States) Vol. 36:16; ISSN PRBMD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English