Thermodynamic properties of excess-oxygen-doped La2CuO4.11 near a simultaneous transition to superconductivity and long-range magnetic order

TL;DR

This study investigates the thermodynamic properties of La2CuO4.11 with excess oxygen, revealing a broad specific heat peak related to spin fluctuations and a sharp superconducting transition affected by magnetic fields, highlighting complex interplay near the transition.

Contribution

It provides detailed measurements of specific heat and magnetization in excess-oxygen-doped La2CuO4.11, elucidating the interplay between superconductivity and magnetic order near the transition.

Findings

Broad specific heat peak at 50 K due to spin fluctuations

Superconducting transition at 43 K is strongly suppressed by magnetic field parallel to c-axis

Magnetic field perpendicular to c-axis causes slight shift in transition temperature

Abstract

We have measured the specific heat and magnetization {\it versus} temperature in a single crystal sample of superconducting La$_{2}$CuO$_{4.11}$ and in a sample of the same material after removing the excess oxygen, in magnetic fields up to 15 T. Using the deoxygenated sample to subtract the phonon contribution, we find a broad peak in the specific heat, centered at 50 K. This excess specific heat is attributed to fluctuations of the Cu spins possibly enhanced by an interplay with the charge degrees of freedom, and appears to be independent of magnetic field, up to 15 T. Near the superconducting transition $T_{c}$($H$=0)= 43 K, we find a sharp feature that is strongly suppressed when the magnetic field is applied parallel to the crystallographic c-axis. A model for 3D vortex fluctuations is used to scale magnetization measured at several magnetic fields. When the magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the c-axis, the only observed effect is a slight shift in the superconducting transition temperature.