Abstract: The local modification of an insulating GdBa2Cu3O6.5 thin film, made superconducting by illumination with a near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM), is reported. A 100-nm aperture NSOM probe acts as a sub- wavelength light source of wavelength ?(exc)=480-650 nm, locally generating photocarriers in an otherwise insulating GdBa2-Cu3O6.5 thin film. Of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs, electrons are trapped in the crystallographic lattice, defining an electrostatic confining potential to enable the holes to move. Reflectance measurements at ? = 1.55 ?m at room temperature show that photocarriers can be induced and constrained to move on a ?? 200 nm scale for all investigated ?(exc). Photogenerated wires present a superconducting critical temperature T(c) = 12 K with a critical current density J(c) = 104 A cm-2. Exploiting the flexibility provided by photodoping through a NSOM probe, a junction was written by photodoping a wire with a narrow (? 50 nm) under-illuminated gap. The strong magnetic field modulation of the critical current provides a clear signature of the existence of a Josephson effect in the junction.

Abstract: A recent study of CeTiGe identified this compound as a paramagnetic heavy Fermion system where the full J = 5/2 multiplet is involved in the formation of the ground state. Here we present a preliminary investigation of the dc-magnetization M_dc(H) and of the magnetoresistance ρ(H) of polycrystalline CeTiGe samples in applied magnetic fields up to μ₀H = 14 T. The results reveal a pronounced metamagnetic transition at a critical field μ₀H_c ≈ 13.5 T at low temperatures, with a step like increase in M_dc(H) of at least 0.6 μ_B/Ce. The metamagnetic transition leads to a strong decrease in ρ(H). A clear hysteresis in M_dc(H) and ρ(H) indicate that in CeTiGe these metamagnetic features correspond to a true thermodynamic, first order type transition in contrast to the critical behavior observed in the canonical system CeRu₂Si₂. Measurements at higher temperatures showed a continuous suppression of the metamagnetic transition with increasing T, which vanishes at T ∼ 30 K. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Abstract: We have performed a combined study of magnetization hysteresis loops and time dependence of the magnetization in a broad temperature range for the ferrimagnetic La₂Ni(Ni_1/3Sb_2/3)O₆ double perovskite. This material has a ferrimagnetic order transition at ~100 K and at lower temperatures (~20 K) shows the signature of a frustrated state due to the presence of two competing magnetic exchange interactions. The temperature dependence of the coercive field shows an important upturn below the point where the frustrated state sets in. The use of hysteresis data, magnetization versus applied magnetic field, together with the magnetization versus time data provides a unique opportunity to distinguish between different scenarios for the low temperature regime. From our analysis, a strong domain wall pinning results in the best scenario for the low temperature regime. For temperatures larger than 20 K, the adequate scenario seems to correspond to a weak domain wall pinning.

Abstract: The vortex phase diagram in single crystalline La1.85Sr0.075CuO4 has been studied using an AC-susceptibility technique. A peak in the out-of-phase (x?) component of the susceptibility indicates a transition from a pinned flux lattice (FLL) to an unpinned one. This peak is frequency dependent for all the values of the magnetic field measured (0.01 to 4 T), and this, as well as the general behavior found in the cuprates, has prompted us to interpret our data as evidence for a vortex-glass to liquid transition in the FLL. The activation energies obtained can be fitted to a theory developed by Vinokur et al. Measurements with the magnetic field at an angle with the Cu-O planes may also be understood qualitatively within this framework.

Abstract: The mechanical response of the flux-line lattice has been measured with a low-frequency forced pendulum in ceramic YBa2Cu3O7. A dissipation peak observed in temperature sweeps is frequency-independent between 1 mHz and 5 Hz. Dissipation depends strongly on applied torque, and for fixed temperatures this dependence is well fitted by a rheological model of extended dry friction. If the model is extended to take account of thermal activation, however, it does not agree with the measured frequency independence, which is hard to explain within simple models of thermal activation.