No Arabic abstract
We performed muon spin rotation/relaxation measurements to investigate the magnetic behavior of $T^{prime}$-type Eu$_2$CuO$_4$ (ECO), which is the parent compound of electron-doped cuprate superconductors, and the effects of oxygen-reduction annealing on its magnetism. In as-sintered (AS) ECO, we clarified the development of magnetic correlations upon cooling below $T_mathrm{N1}$ (= 265 K) as well as the coexistence of a dominant fluctuating spin state and partially ordered spin state in the temperature range between $sim$150 K and $T_mathrm{N1}$. Upon further cooling, uniform long-range magnetic order was observed below $T_mathrm{N2} = 110$ K, which is close to the ordering temperature of 115 K in $T^{prime}$-type La$_2$CuO$_4$ (LCO) [Phys. Rev. B {bf 82}, 180508(R) (2010)]. For oxygen-reduction-annealed ECO, a similar ordering sequence with the same $T_mathrm{N2}$ was observed but without the partially ordered spin state. Therefore, the fluctuating spin state over a wide temperature range and a $T_mathrm{N2}$ less than the N{e}el temperature ($T_mathrm{N2} approx T_mathrm{N1}$) in $T$-type LCO are common features of the $T^{prime}$-type parent $R_2$CuO$_4$ ($R$CO, $R$: rare-earth ion). The origin of the partially ordered spin state in AS ECO is discussed from the viewpoint of chemical defect. Furthermore, we discuss the roles of electron doping and repairing defect in the observed effect of annealing on the magnetism of $T^{prime}$-type $R$CO.
The Meissner effect has been directly demonstrated by depth-resolved muon spin rotation measurements in high-quality thin films of the T-structured cuprate, T-La$_{1.9}$Y$_{0.1}$CuO$_4$, to confirm bulk superconductivity ($T_csimeq21$ K) in its {sl undoped} state. The gradual expelling of an external magnetic field is observed over a depth range of $sim$100 nm in films with a thickness of 275(15) nm, from which the penetration depth is deduced to be 466(22) nm. Based on this result, we argue that the true ground state of the parent compound of the $n$-type cuprates is not a Mott insulator but a strongly correlated metal with colossal sensitivity to apical oxygen impurities.
The nature of the magnetic transition of the Na-rich thermoelectric Na$_{0.75}$CoO$_2$ at 22K was studied by positive muon-spin-rotation and relaxation ($mu^+$SR) spectroscopy, using a polycrystalline sample in the temperature range between 300 and 2.5 K. Zero field $mu$SR measurements indicated the existence of a static internal magnetic field at temperatures below 22 K (= $T_{rm m}$). The observed muon spin precession signal below $T_{rm m}$ consisted of three components with different precession frequencies, corresponding to three inequivalent muon$^+$ sites in the Na$_{0.75}$CoO$_2$ lattice. The total volume fraction of the three components was estimated as $sim$21% at 2.5 K; thus, this magnetic transition was not induced by impurities but is an intrinsic change in the magnetism of the sample, although the sample was magnetically inhomogeneous otherwise. On the other hand, a similar experiment on a Na$_{0.65}$CoO$_2$ sample exhibited no magnetic transition down to 2.5 K; which indicates that the average valence of the Co ions is responsible for inducing the magnetic transition at 22 K.
Using the transverse field muon spin relaxation technique we measure the temperature dependence of the magnetic field penetration depth $lambda$, in the Na$_{x}$CoO$_{2}cdot y$H$_{2}$O system. We find that $lambda,$ which is determined by superfluid density $n_{s}$ and the effective mass $m^{ast}$, is very small and on the edge of the TF-$mu$SR sensitivity. Nevertheless, the results indicate that the order parameter in this system has nodes and that it obeys the Uemura relation. By comparing $lambda$ with the normal state electron density we conclude that $m^{ast}$ of the superconductivity carrier is 70 times larger than the mass of bare electrons.
Despite its unique structural features, the magnetism of single-layered cuprate with five oxygen coordination ($T$*-type structure) has not been investigated thus far. Here, we report the results of muon spin relaxation and magnetic susceptibility measurements to elucidate the magnetism of $T$*-type La$_{1-x/2}$Eu$_{1-x/2}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ (LESCO) via magnetic Fe- and non-magnetic Zn-substitution. We clarified the inducement of the spin-glass (SG)-like magnetically ordered state in La$_{1-x/2}$Eu$_{1-x/2}$Sr$_x$Cu$_y$Fe$_{1-y}$O$_4$ with $x = 0.24 + y$, and the non-magnetic state in La$_{1-x/2}$Eu$_{1-x/2}$Sr$_x$Cu$_y$Zn$_{1-y}$O$_4$ with $x$ = 0.24 after the suppression of superconductivity for $y$ $geq$ 0.025. The SG state lies below $sim$7 K in a wide Sr concentration range between 0.19 and 0.34 in 5$%$ Fe-substituted LESCO. The short-range SG state is consistent with that originating from the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida interaction in a metallic state. Thus, the results provide the first evidence for Fermi liquid (FL) state in the pristine $T$*-type LESCO. Taking into account the results of an oxygen $K$-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurement $[$J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 89, 075002 (2020)$]$ reporting the actual hole concentrations in LESCO, our results demonstrate the existence of the FL state in a lower hole-concentration region, compared to that in $T$-type La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$. The emergence of the FL state in a lower hole-concentration region is possibly associated with a smaller charge transfer gap energy in the parent material with five oxygen coordination.
We review examples of muon-spin relaxation measurements on molecule-based magnetic coordination polymers, classified by their magnetic dimensionality. These include the one-dimensional s=1/2 spin chain Cu(pyz)(NO3)2 and the two-dimensional s=1/2 layered material [Cu(HF2)(pyz)2]BF4. We also describe some of the more exotic ground states that may become accessible in the future given the ability to tune the interaction strengths of our materials through crystal engineering.