Quantum Impurities and the Neutron Resonance Peak in ${\bf YBa_2 Cu_3 O_7}$: Ni versus Zn

TL;DR

This study compares how magnetic Ni and nonmagnetic Zn impurities affect spin dynamics and the neutron resonance peak in an optimally doped high-temperature superconductor, revealing distinct impurity effects.

Contribution

It provides new insights into impurity-specific effects on spin excitations and the resonance peak in YBa2Cu3O7, highlighting differences between magnetic and nonmagnetic impurity impacts.

Findings

Ni shifts the resonance peak to lower energy while preserving the E_r/T_c ratio.

Zn restores significant spin fluctuations around 40 meV in the normal state.

Impurity effects differ markedly between magnetic Ni and nonmagnetic Zn.

Abstract

The influence of magnetic (S=1) and nonmagnetic (S=0) impurities on the spin dynamics of an optimally doped high temperature superconductor is compared in two samples with almost identical superconducting transition temperatures: YBa$_2$(Cu$_{0.97}$Ni$_{0.03}$)$_3$O$_7$ (T$_c$=80 K) and YBa$_2$(Cu$_{0.99}$Zn$_{0.01}$)$_3$O$_7$ (T$_c$=78 K). In the Ni-substituted system, the magnetic resonance peak (which is observed at E$_r \simeq$40 meV in the pure system) shifts to lower energy with a preserved E$_r$/T$_c$ ratio while the shift is much smaller upon Zn substitution. By contrast Zn, but not Ni, restores significant spin fluctuations around 40 meV in the normal state. These observations are discussed in the light of models proposed for the magnetic resonance peak.