Coexistence of Superconductivity and Magnetism in MoSr2RCu2O8 (R=rare-earth, Mo-1212)

TL;DR

This study explores how the coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism varies with different rare-earth ions in MoSr2RCu2O8, revealing a transition from paramagnetism to antiferromagnetism and superconductivity as R ions become heavier.

Contribution

It provides systematic experimental evidence of the interplay between magnetism and superconductivity in MoSr2RCu2O8, highlighting how ionic size influences magnetic ordering and superconducting properties.

Findings

Light R ions are paramagnetic down to 5 K.

Intermediate R ions show antiferromagnetic order at TN.

Heavy R ions exhibit both superconductivity and antiferromagnetism with TN < TC.

Abstract

The properties of the MoSr2RCu2O8 (R=rare earth) system are found to systematically change with the contraction of the R ions. For the light R ions (La-Nd) the samples are paramagnetic down to 5 K, whereas in the intermediate range (Sm-Tb), the Mo sublattice orders antiferromagnetically at TN, ranging from 11 to 24 K. For the heavy R ions, Ho-Tm and Y, superconductivity appears at TC in the range 19-27 K and antiferromagnetism sets in at TN < TC. This latter behavior resembles most of the magneto-superconductors, but is in sharp contrast to the iso-structural RuSr2RCu2O8 system where TN > TC.