P. J. Picone

Bio: P. J. Picone is an academic researcher from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Antiferromagnetism & Neutron scattering. The author has an hindex of 16, co-authored 31 publications receiving 1616 citations.

Antisymmetric exchange and its influence on the magnetic structure and conductivity of La 2 Cu O 4

Abstract: Measurements of the magnetic moment of antiferromagnetic ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}$Cu${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ at high fields reveal a new phase boundary originating from a previously undetected canting of the ${\mathrm{Cu}}^{2+}$ spins out of the Cu${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ planes. This canting, together with the exponential temperature dependence of the two-dimensional correlation length, accounts quantitatively for the susceptibility peak at the N\'eel temperature. Enhancement of the conductivity in the ferromagnetic phase demonstrates a strong connection between the magnetism and charge transport.

Static and dynamic spin correlations in pure and doped La 2 CuO 4

Abstract: We report elastic, quasielastic (F dE), and inelastic neutron-scattering studies of the instantaneous and dynamic spin fluctuations in as-grown and doped ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}$${\mathrm{CuO}}_{4}$. Four samples have been studied: (A) as-grown ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}$${\mathrm{CuO}}_{4}$ with ${T}_{N}$=195 K, (B) oxygenated ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}$${\mathrm{CuO}}_{4}$ with ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{N}}$\ensuremath{\simeq}100 K, (C) ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{0.95}$${\mathrm{Li}}_{0.05}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$, and (D) ${\mathrm{La}}_{1.97}$${\mathrm{Sr}}_{0.03}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{0.95}$${\mathrm{Li}}_{0.05}$${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$. All crystals exhibit variable-range-hopping conductivity behavior. At room temperature each sample exhibits two-dimensional (2D) antiferromagnetic instantaneous correlations in the ${\mathrm{CuO}}_{2}$ sheets with correlation length varying from \ensuremath{\sim}200 A\r{} in crystal A to \ensuremath{\sim}14 A\r{} in crystal D. The integrated intensity and therefore the effective moment is, however, constant to within the experimental error. In samples A and B the 2D correlation length becomes sufficiently large with decreasing temperature that the interplanar coupling is able to drive a transition to 3D long-range order. The spin dynamics have been studied in detail in crystals A and B and quite unusual behavior is observed. In contrast to previously studied planar antiferromagnets, there is no significant E\ensuremath{\simeq}0 component for temperatures \ensuremath{\ge}${T}_{N}$ and instead the 2D response function is highly inelastic. The effective dispersion of the spin excitations is \ensuremath{\ge}0.4 eV A\r{}. This large energy scale for the spin fluctuations gives credence to models of the superconductivity in doped ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}$${\mathrm{CuO}}_{4}$ in which the pairing is magnetic in origin.

Antiferromangetic spin correlations in insulating, metallic, and superconducting La2-xSrx

Abstract: We have carried out elastic, quasielastic (..integral.. dE), and inelastic neutron-scattering studies of the antiferromagnetic spin correlations in La/sub 2-//sub x/Sr/sub x/CuO/sub 4/ with x varying between 0.02 and 0.18. The crystals, which were grown in three different laboratories, exhibit behavior that varies smoothly with x. In all cases, antiferromagnetic correlations with a scattering amplitude corresponding to a fully occupied Cu/sup 2+/ square lattice are observed. However, the Neel state is destroyed by the doping and spin-spin correlation lenght xi is quite short, varying from approx.35 to approx.8 A as x varies between 0.02 and 0.18; the local order is, however, the same as in pure La/sub 2/CuO/sub 4/. The fluctuations are dynamic in character as in La/sub 2/CuO/sub 4/ above the Neel temperature T/sub N/. To a first approximation, xi = 3.8/ ..sqrt..x A, the average separation between the holes introduced by the Sr/sup 2+/ doping. The x = 0.08 sample exhibits superconductivity with T/sub c/ = 10 K and with a Meissner fraction exceeding 15% at 5 K; no important differences in the magnetic scattering are observed in the normal and superconducting states. In an appendix we present additional data on the spin dynamics in pure La/sub 2/CuO/submore » 4/ at T = 300 K in a sample with T/sub N/ = 235 K.« less

Soft-phonon behavior and transport in single-crystal La 2 CuO 4

Abstract: Using a flux technique we have grown sizable single crystals of ${\mathrm{La}}_{2\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{x}}$${\mathrm{Sr}}_{\mathrm{x}}$${\mathrm{CuO}}_{4}$. With x rays and neutrons we have studied both the static and dynamic aspects of the tetragonal to orthorhombic structural phase transition; classic soft-phonon behavior is observed at the ((1/2, 1) / 2 , 0) zone boundary involving rotations of ${\mathrm{CuO}}_{6}$ octahedra. The pure and lightly-doped single crystals show hopping conductivity, ln\ensuremath{\rho}\ensuremath{\sim}(${T}_{0}$/T${)}^{1/4}$, indicating that the electronic states at the Fermi energy are localized.

Lattice instability and soft phonons in single-crystal La2-xSrxCuO4.

Abstract: The dispersion of the low-lying phonon branches of several doped and undoped single crystals of ${\mathrm{La}}_{2\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{x}\mathrm{Cu}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ has been investigated by using inelastic-neutron-scattering techniques. The zone-center modes are in reasonable agreement with Raman measurements. The reported peaks in the phonon density of states show up at energies that correspond to extrema in the dispersion curves of the transverse and longitudinal acoustic branches near the zone boundary. The tetragonal-to-orthorhombic phase transition is caused by a softening of a transverse-optic-phonon mode at the $X$ point. The rotational nature of the soft mode leads to moderate electron-phonon coupling and the mode is unlikely to enhance significantly conventional phonon mediated superconductivity. We did not observe any evidence for the predicted breathing-mode instability near the zone boundary.

Localization: theory and experiment

Abstract: The transport properties of disordered solids have been the subject of much work since at least the 1950s, but with a new burst of activity during the 1980s which has survived up to the present day. There have been numerous reviews of a more or less specialized nature. The present review aims to fill the niche for a non-specialized review of this very active area of research. The basic concepts behind the theory are introduced with more detailed sections covering experimental results, one-dimensional localization, scaling theory, weak localization, magnetic field effects and fluctuations.

Electronic structure of the high-temperature oxide superconductors

Abstract: Since the discovery of superconductivity above 30 K by Bednorz and M\"uller in the La copper oxide system, the critical temperature has been raised to 90 K in Y${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ and to 110 and 125 K in Bi-based and Tl-based copper oxides, respectively. In the two years since this Nobel-prize-winning discovery, a large number of electronic structure calculations have been carried out as a first step in understanding the electronic properties of these materials. In this paper these calculations (mostly of the density-functional type) are gathered and reviewed, and their results are compared with the relevant experimental data. The picture that emerges is one in which the important electronic states are dominated by the copper $d$ and oxygen $p$ orbitals, with strong hybridization between them. Photon, electron, and positron spectroscopies provide important information about the electronic states, and comparison with electronic structure calculations indicates that, while many features can be interpreted in terms of existing calculations, self-energy corrections ("correlations") are important for a more detailed understanding. The antiferromagnetism that occurs in some regions of the phase diagram poses a particularly challenging problem for any detailed theory. The study of structural stability, lattice dynamics, and electron-phonon coupling in the copper oxides is also discussed. Finally, a brief review is given of the attempts so far to identify interaction constants appropriate for a model Hamiltonian treatment of many-body interactions in these materials.

Chemistry of High-Temperature Superconductors

Abstract: Spectacular advances in superconductors have taken place in the past two years. The upper temperature for superconductivity has risen from 23 K to 122 K, and there is reason to believe that the ascent is still ongoing. The materials causing this excitement are oxides. Those oxides that superconduct at the highest temperatures contain copper-oxygen sheets; however, other elements such as bismuth and thallium play a key role in this new class of superconductors. These superconductors are attracting attention because of the possibility of a wide range of applications and because the science is fascinating. A material that passes an electrical current with virtually no loss is more remarkable when this occurs at 120 K instead of 20 K.

Resonant ultrasound spectroscopic techniques for measurement of the elastic moduli of solids

Abstract: The mechanical resonant response of a solid depends on its shape, density, elastic moduli and dissipation. We describe here instrumentation and computational methods for acquiring and analyzing the resonant ultrasound spectrum of very small (0.001 cm3) samples as a function of temperature, and provide examples to demonstrate the power of the technique. The information acquired is in some cases comparable to that obtained from other more conventional ultrasonic measurement techniques, but one unique feature of resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) is that all moduli are determined simultaneously to very high accuracy. Thus in circumstances where high relative or absolute accuracy is required for very small crystalline or other anisotropic samples RUS can provide unique information. RUS is also sensitive to the fundamental symmetry of the object under test so that certain symmetry breaking effects are uniquely observable, and because transducers require neither couplant nor a flat surface, broken fragments of a material can be quickly screened for phase transitions and other temperature-dependent responses.

Lattice symmetry breaking in cuprate superconductors: stripes, nematics, and superconductivity

Abstract: This article gives an overview of both theoretical and experimental developments concerning states with lattice symmetry breaking in the cuprate high-temperature superconductors. Recent experiments have provided evidence for states with broken rotation as well as translation symmetry, and will be discussed in terms of nematic and stripe physics. Of particular importance here are results obtained using the techniques of neutron and X-ray scattering and scanning tunnelling spectroscopy. Ideas on the origin of lattice-symmetry-broken states will be reviewed, and effective models accounting for various experimentally observed phenomena will be summarized. These include both weak-coupling and strong-coupling approaches, with a discussion of their distinctions and connections. The collected experimental data indicate that the tendency toward uni-directional stripe-like ordering is common to underdoped cuprates, but becomes weaker with increasing number of adjacent CuO2 layers.