Effects of annealing on the fluctuation conductivity and pseudogap in slightly doped $HoBa_2Cu_3O_{7-\delta}$ single crystals

TL;DR

This study investigates how annealing affects fluctuation conductivity and the pseudogap in slightly oxygen-deficient HoBa2Cu3O7−δ single crystals, revealing changes in fluctuation behavior, magnetic interactions, and potential spin density wave phenomena.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the impact of annealing on fluctuation conductivity and pseudogap features, highlighting the role of magnetic moments and structural changes in HoBCO superconductors.

Findings

Fluctuation conductivity near Tc follows Aslamazov-Larkin and Maki-Thompson theories.

Anomalous increase in 2D fluctuation conductivity during intermediate annealing.

Significant change in pseudogap shape and slope after annealing, indicating magnetic interaction effects.

Abstract

The effect of annealing at room temperature on the fluctuation conductivity (FLC) $\sigma^\prime(T)$ and pseudogap (PG) $\Delta^*(T)$ in the basal ab plane of $ReBa_2Cu_3O_{7-\delta}$ (Re = Ho) single crystals with a lack of oxygen has been studied. It is shown that at all stages of annealing, the FLC near $T_c$ can be described by the Aslamazov$-$Larkin and Maki$-$Thompson fluctuation theories, demonstrating a 3D$-$2D crossover with increasing temperature. The crossover temperature $T_0$ was used to determine the coherence length along the $c$-axis, $\xi_c(0)$=2.82 A. At the inter-mediate stage of annealing, an anomalous increase in 2D FLC was revealed, which is associated with the influence of uncompensated magnetic moments in $HoBa_2Cu_3O_{7-\delta}$ (HoBCO): $\mu_{eff, Ho}$=9.7$\mu_{B}$. For the quenched sample S1, the temperature dependence of the PG has a shape typical of single crystals with a large number of defects. However, $\Delta^*(T)$ has two small additional maxima at high temperature, which is a feature of HoBCO single crystals with pronounced twins and indicates the two-phase nature of the sample. Upon annealing, the shape of $\Delta^*(T)$ noticeably changes, very likely due to an increase in the magnetic interaction (sample S2). More important is the change in the slope of the data at high temperatures, which has become about 3.5 times steeper. The ordering of the oxygen distribution due to the diffusion process during annealing somewhat compensates for the influence of magnetic interaction. Interestingly, the slope turns out to be the same as for FeAs-based superconductors, suggesting the possibility of the existence of spin density waves in HoBCO in the PG state.