Neutron Scattering in Layered Copper-Oxide Superconductors (Physics and Chemistry of Materials with Low-Dimensional Structures Book 20)

The phenomenon of superconductivity - after its discovery in metals such as mercury, lead, zinc, etc. by Kamerlingh-Onnes in 19]] - has attracted many scientists. Superconductivity was described in a very satisfactory manner by the model proposed by Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer, and by the extensions proposed by Abrikosov, Gorkov and Eliashberg. Relations were established between superconductivity and the fundamental properties of solids, resulting in a possible upper limit of the critical temperature at about 23 K. The breakthrough that revolutionized the field was made in 1986 by Bednorz and Muller with the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in layered copper-oxide perovskites. Today the record in transition temperature is 133 K for a Hg based cuprate system. The last decade has not only seen a revolution in the size of the critical temperature, but also in the myriads of research groups that entered the field. In addition, high-temperature superconductivity became a real interdisciplinary topic and brought together physicists, chemists and materials scientists who started to investigate the new compounds with almost all the available experimental techniques and theoretical methods. As a consequence we have witnessed an avalanche of publications which has never occurred in any field of science so far and which makes it difficult for the individual to be thoroughly informed about the relevant results and trends. Neutron scattering has outstanding properties in the elucidation of the basic properties of high-temperature superconductors. This Is The First Book Which Reviews The Most Important Results Obtained In The Past Decade For Layered Copper-oxide High-temperature Superconductors By Neutron Scattering Techniques. The Following Topics Are Thoroughly Introduced, Methodically Discussed And Highlighted With The Most Important Results By Acknowledged Experts In Their Respective Fields: Static And Dynamical Properties Of The Crystal Lattice (oxygen Site Occupation, Charge Transfer, Charge-stripe Order, Phonon Dispersions And Density-of-states), Static And Dynamical Magnetic Correlations (phase Diagrams, 2d And 3d Magnetic Ordering, Spin Waves And Spin Fluctuations, Crystal-field Excitations) And The Structure Of The Flux-line Lattice (field And Temperature Dependence). The 2d Features Of The Copper-oxide Perovskites Are Found To Be Essential For Achieving High-temperature Superconductivity By Doping. The Book Addresses An Interdisciplinary Audience, Both Specialists And Those Entering The Field. Emphasis Is Put On The Fundamental Properties; However, Technological Applications Are Evidently Emerging From These Basics. Edited By Albert Furrer. Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Introduction to Neutron Scattering....Pages 1-22 Structural Anomalies, Oxygen Ordering and Superconductivity in YBa 2 Cu 3 O 6+x ....Pages 23-83 Phase Diagrams and Spin Correlations in YBa 2 Cu 3 O 6+x ....Pages 85-134 Magnetic Excitations in La 2-x (Ba,Sr) x CuO 4 ....Pages 135-164 Phonon Dispersions and Phonon Density-of-States in Copper-Oxide Superconductors....Pages 165-223 Phase Separation, Charge Segregation, and Superconductivity in Layered Cuprates....Pages 225-260 Magnetic 2-D and 3-D Ordering Phenomena in Rare-Earth Based Copper-Oxide Superconductors and Related Systems....Pages 261-301 Collective Magnetic Excitations of 4f Ions in R 2-x Ce x CuO 4 (R=Nd, Pr)....Pages 303-334 The Crystal Field as a Local Probe in Rare Earth Based High-Temperature Superconductors....Pages 335-374 Small Angle Neutron Scattering Experiments on Vortices in Copper Oxide Superconductors....Pages 375-403 Back Matter....Pages 405-406 "This is the first book which reviews the most important results obtained in the past decade for layered copper-oxide high-temperature superconductors by neutron scattering techniques. The topics are thoroughly introduced, methodically discussed and highlighted with the most important results by acknowledged experts in their respective fields. The book addresses an interdisciplinary audience, both specialists and those entering the field. Emphasis is put on the fundamental properties; however, technological applications are evidently emerging from these basics."--BOOK JACKET