Magnetically-driven electronic phase separation in the semimetallic ferromagnet EuB$_6$

From measurements of fluctuation spectroscopy and weak nonlinear transport on the semimetallic ferromagnet EuB$_6$ we find direct evidence for magnetically-driven electronic phase separation consistent with the picture of percolation of magnetic polarons (MP), which form highly conducting magnetically-ordered clusters in a paramagnetic and poorly conducting background. These different parts of the conducting network are probed separately by the noise spectroscopy/nonlinear transport and the conventional linear resistivity. We suggest a comprehensive and universal scenario for the MP percolation, which occurs at a critical magnetization either induced by ferromagnetic order at zero field or externally applied magnetic fields in the paramagentic region.

On the influence of nanometer-thin antiferromagnetic surface layer on ferromagnetic CrO$_2$

We present magnetic stray field measurements performed on a single micro-crystal of the half metallic ferromagnet CrO$_2$, covered by a naturally grown 2,-,5,nm surface layer of antiferromagnetic (AFM) Cr$_2$O$_3$. The temperature variation of the stray field of the micro-crystal measured by micro-Hall magnetometry shows an anomalous increase below $sim$,60,K. We find clear evidence that this behavior is due to the influence of the AFM surface layer, which could not be isolated in the corresponding bulk magnetization data measured using SQUID magnetometry. The distribution of pinning potentials, analyzed from Barkhausen jumps, exhibits a similar temperature dependence. Overall, the results indicate that the surface layer plays a role in defining the potential landscape seen by the domain configuration in the ferromagnetic grain.

Domain wall dynamics in a single CrO$_2$ grain

Recently we have reported on the magnetization dynamics of a single CrO$_2$ grain studied by micro Hall magnetometry (P. Das textit{et al.}, Appl. Phys. Lett. textbf{97} 042507, 2010). For the external magnetic field applied along the grains easy magnetization direction, the magnetization reversal takes place through a series of Barkhausen jumps. Supported by micromagnetic simulations, the ground state of the grain was found to correspond to a flux closure configuration with a single cross-tie domain wall. Here, we report an analysis of the Barkhausen jumps, which were observed in the hysteresis loops for the external field applied along both the easy and hard magnetization directions. We find that the magnetization reversal takes place through only a few configuration paths in the free-energy landscape, pointing to a high purity of the sample. The distinctly different statistics of the Barkhausen jumps for the two field directions is discussed.

Magnetization dynamics of a CrO$_2$ grain studied by micro-Hall magnetometry

Micro-Hall magnetometry is employed to study the magnetization dynamics of a single, micron-size CrO$_2$ grain. With this technique we track the motion of a single domain wall, which allows us to probe the distribution of imperfections throughout the material. An external magnetic field along the grains easy magnetization direction induces magnetization reversal, giving rise to a series of sharp jumps in magnetization. Supported by micromagnetic simulations, we identify the transition to a state with a single cross-tie domain wall, where pinning/depinning of the wall results in stochastic Barkhausen jumps.

$T_c$ Dependence of Energy Gap and Asymmetry of Coherence Peaks in NdBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-delta}$

We report here the results of scanning tunneling spectroscopic experiments performed on hole doped NdBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-delta}$ single crystals of $T_c$ values of 76 K, 93.5 K and 95.5 K. The energy gaps are observed to be increasing with decreasing $T_c$ values. The coherence peaks are asymmetric with the peaks at the filled states being larger than those at the empty ones. The asymmetry increases with decreasing $T_c$. The observed asymmetry and its $T_c$ dependence can be explained by considering the Mott insulating nature of the material at the undoped state.

Excitation of a bosonic mode by electron tunneling into a cuprate superconductor

We performed scanning tunneling spectroscopic experiments on hole-doped NdBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-delta}$. The d$I$/d$V$ curves obtained at 4.2 K are asymmetric with clear peak-dip and hump structures. Energy derivatives of these curves show peaks at energies beyond the dip features. Highly precise full potential bandstructure calculations confirm a featureless electronic density of states in that energy region. Our results indicate that tunneling electrons couple to a collective mode in the CuO$_2$ plane.

Direct observation of nanometer-scale pinning sites in (Nd$_{0.33}$,Eu$_{0.20}$,Gd$_{0.47}$)Ba$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-delta}$ single crystals

We report on the observation of self-organized stripe-like structures on the as-grown surface and in the bulk of (Nd,Eu,Gd)Ba$_2$Cu$_3$O$_y$ single crystals. The periodicity of the stripes on the surface lies between 500 and 800 nm. These are possibly the growth steps of the crystal. Transmission electron microscopy investigations revealed stripes of periodicity in the range of 20 to 40 nm in the bulk. From electron back scattered diffraction investigations, no crystallographic misorientation due to the nanostripes has been found. Scanning tunneling spectroscopic experiments revealed nonsuperconducting regions, running along twin directions, which presumably constitute strong pinning sites.