The origin of the anomalous superconducting properties of MgB(2)

Ab Initio Study of the Electronic, Vibrational, and Mechanical Properties of the Magnesium Diboride Monolayer

Magnesium diboride gained significant interest in the materials science community after the discovery of its superconductivity, with an unusually high critical temperature of 39 K. Many aspects of the electronic properties and superconductivity of bulk MgB 2 and thin sheets of MgB 2 have been determined; however, a single layer of MgB 2 has not yet been fully theoretically investigated. Here, we present a detailed study of the structural, electronic, vibrational, and elastic properties of monolayer MgB 2 , based on ab initio methods. First-principles calculations reveal the importance of reduction of dimensionality on the properties of MgB 2 and thoroughly describe the properties of this novel 2D material. The presence of a negative Poisson ratio, higher density of states at the Fermi level, and a good dynamic stability under strain make the MgB 2 monolayer a prominent material, both for fundamental research and application studies.

Giant microwave absorption in fine powders of superconductors

Enhanced microwave absorption, larger than that in the normal state, is observed in fine grains of type-II superconductors (MgB2 and K3C60) for magnetic fields as small as a few % of the upper critical field. The effect is predicted by the theory of vortex motion in type-II superconductors, however its direct observation has been elusive due to skin-depth limitations; conventional microwave absorption studies employ larger samples where the microwave magnetic field exclusion significantly lowers the absorption. We show that the enhancement is observable in grains smaller than the penetration depth. A quantitative analysis on K3C60 in the framework of the Coffey-Clem (CC) theory explains well the temperature dependence of the microwave absorption and also allows to determine the vortex pinning force constant.

Boron Centres Allow Design, Control and Systematic Tuning of Neutral Homoaromatics for Functionalization Purposes

Homoaromatic compounds are currently viewed mainly as an interesting novelty with little to no practical application. Based on calculations within density functional theory, we show that the unique charge redirection properties of tricoordinate boron, along with it being isolobal to a carbocation, allow for a larger range of two-electron donors to be utilized, leading to the rational design of homoaromatic compounds better suited to functionalization. Among others, these compounds show a strong dependency on the relative positioning of the hetero-atoms within the ring system, a modulation control rendered possible by the insertion of the boron centres.

Two-gap superconductivity in Ag1-x Mo6S8 Chevrel phase

The superconducting properties of [Formula: see text]Mo₆S₈ [[Formula: see text]] Chevrel phase [[Formula: see text] K] are studied on a sample compacted by spark plasma sintering. Both lower ([Formula: see text] mT) and the upper [[Formula: see text] T] critical magnetic fields are obtained from magnetization and electrical resistivity measurements for the first time. The analysis of the low-temperature electronic specific heat indicates [Formula: see text]Mo₆S₈ to be a two band superconductor with the energy gaps [Formula: see text] meV (95%) and [Formula: see text] meV (5%). Theoretical DFT calculations reveal a much stronger electron-phonon coupling in the studied Chevrel phase compared to earlier reports. Similar to MgB₂, the Fermi surface of studied Chevrel phase is formed by two hole-like and one electron-like bands.

Observation of pseudogap in MgB2

We investigate the electronic structure of a specially prepared highly dense conventional high temperature superconductor, MgB₂, employing high resolution photoemission spectroscopy. The spectral evolution close to the Fermi energy is commensurate to BCS descriptions as expected. However, the spectra in the wider energy range reveal the emergence of a pseudogap much above the superconducting transition temperature indicating an apparent departure from the BCS scenario. The energy scale of the pseudogap is comparable to the energy of the [Formula: see text] phonon mode responsible for superconductivity in MgB₂ and the pseudogap can be attributed to the effect of electron-phonon coupling on the electronic structure. These results reveal a scenario of the emergence of the superconducting gap within an electron-phonon coupling induced pseudogap and have significant implications in the study of high temperature superconductors.

Free surfaces recast superconductivity in few-monolayer MgB2: Combined first-principles and ARPES demonstration

Two-dimensional materials are known to harbour properties very different from those of their bulk counterparts. Recent years have seen the rise of atomically thin superconductors, with a caveat that superconductivity is strongly depleted unless enhanced by specific substrates, intercalants or adatoms. Surprisingly, the role in superconductivity of electronic states originating from simple free surfaces of two-dimensional materials has remained elusive to date. Here, based on first-principles calculations, anisotropic Eliashberg theory, and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), we show that surface states in few-monolayer MgB2 make a major contribution to the superconducting gap spectrum and density of states, clearly distinct from the widely known, bulk-like σ- and π-gaps. As a proof of principle, we predict and measure the gap opening on the magnesium-based surface band up to a critical temperature as high as ~30 K for merely six monolayers thick MgB2. These findings establish free surfaces as an unavoidable ingredient in understanding and further tailoring of superconductivity in atomically thin materials.

Real-Time Observation of Phonon-Mediated σ-π Interband Scattering in MgB_{2}

In systems having an anisotropic electronic structure, such as the layered materials graphite, graphene, and cuprates, impulsive light excitation can coherently stimulate specific bosonic modes, with exotic consequences for the emergent electronic properties. Here we show that the population of E_{2g} phonons in the multiband superconductor MgB_{2} can be selectively enhanced by femtosecond laser pulses, leading to a transient control of the number of carriers in the σ-electronic subsystem. The nonequilibrium evolution of the material optical constants is followed in the spectral region sensitive to both the a- and c-axis plasma frequencies and modeled theoretically, revealing the details of the σ-π interband scattering mechanism in MgB_{2}.

Revisiting optical properties of MgB2 with a high-quality sample prepared by a HPCVD method

We investigated a high-quality MgB2 thin film with a thickness of ~1000 nm on an Al2O3 substrate using optical spectroscopy. We measured the reflectance spectra of the film at various temperatures both below, and above, the superconducting transition temperature, T c   [Formula: see text] 40 K. An earlier study showed that when the sample surface is exposed to air the optical properties of the surface change immediately, however, the saturated change is negligibly small in the far-infrared region. The optical conductivity spectrum in the normal state shows two (narrow and broad) Drude modes, with the narrow Drude mode being dominant in the low frequency region below 1000 cm-1. Our study, which uses a good-quality sample, provides more reliable data on the optical properties of MgB2, in a similar spectral range. The optical data is analyzed further using an extended Drude model, and the electron-phonon spectral density function, α 2 F(ω), is extracted. The spectral density function α 2 F(ω) features two peaks: a small one near 114 cm-1, and a strong peak around the 550 cm-1 where the B-B bond stretching phonon exists. Our data in the superconducting state does not show the expected energy shift of the onset of scattering associated with the α 2 F(ω) peaks.

Nonempirical Calculation of Superconducting Transition Temperatures in Light-Element Superconductors

Recent progress in the fully nonempirical calculation of the superconducting transition temperature (T_c ) is reviewed. Especially, this study focuses on three representative light-element high-T_c superconductors, i.e., elemental Li, sulfur hydrides, and alkali-doped fullerides. Here, it is discussed how crucial it is to develop the beyond Migdal-Eliashberg (ME) methods. For Li, a scheme of superconducting density functional theory for the plasmon mechanism is formulated and it is found that T_c is dramatically enhanced by considering the frequency dependence of the screened Coulomb interaction. For sulfur hydrides, it is essential to go beyond not only the static approximation for the screened Coulomb interaction, but also the constant density-of-states approximation for electrons, the harmonic approximation for phonons, and the Migdal approximation for the electron-phonon vertex, all of which have been employed in the standard ME calculation. It is also shown that the feedback effect in the self-consistent calculation of the self-energy and the zero point motion considerably affect the calculation of T_c . For alkali-doped fullerides, the interplay between electron-phonon coupling and electron correlations becomes more nontrivial. It has been demonstrated that the combination of density functional theory and dynamical mean field theory with the ab initio downfolding scheme for electron-phonon coupled systems works successfully. This study not only reproduces the experimental phase diagram but also obtains a unified view of the high-T_c superconductivity and the Mott-Hubbard transition in the fullerides. The results for these high-T_c superconductors will provide a firm ground for future materials design of new superconductors.

Rediscovering the Crystal Chemistry of Borides

For decades, borides have been primarily studied as crystallographic oddities. With such a wide variety of structures (a quick survey of the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database counts 1253 entries for binary boron compounds!), it is surprising that the applications of borides have been quite limited despite a great deal of fundamental research. If anything, the rich crystal chemistry found in borides could well provide the right tool for almost any application. The interplay between metals and the boron results in even more varied material's properties, many of which can be tuned via chemistry. Thus, the aim of this review is to reintroduce to the scientific community the developments in boride crystal chemistry over the past 60 years. We tie structures to material properties, and furthermore, elaborate on convenient synthetic routes toward preparing borides.

Elucidating the mechanism of MgB2 initial hydrogenation via a combined experimental–theoretical study

The initial hydrogenation of MgB₂ occurs via a multi-step process, which can result in the direct production of [BH₄]⁻ complexes.

Can Two-Dimensional Boron Superconduct?

Two-dimensional boron is expected to exhibit various structural polymorphs, all being metallic. Additionally, its small atomic mass suggests strong electron-phonon coupling, which in turn can enable superconducting behavior. Here we perform first-principles analysis of electronic structure, phonon spectra, and electron-phonon coupling of selected 2D boron polymorphs and show that the most stable structures predicted to feasibly form on a metal substrate should also exhibit intrinsic phonon-mediated superconductivity, with estimated critical temperature in the range of Tc ≈ 10-20 K.

Lithium-Boron (Li-B) Monolayers: First-Principles Cluster Expansion and Possible Two-Dimensional Superconductivity

Recent works demonstrated that the superconductivity at two-dimensional (2-D) can be achieved in Li-decorated graphene (Nature Phys. 2012, 8, 131 and Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 2015, 112, 11795). Inspired by the progress made in graphene, we predict by using the first-principles calculations that Li-incorporated B monolayers (Li-B monolayers) can be alternative 2-D superconductors. First-principles cluster expansion approach was used to evaluate the structural diversity and energetic stability of the 2-D Li-B monolayers by treating them as ternary Lix⬡yB1-x-y pseudoalloys (⬡ refers to B hexagonal hole). After thoroughly exploring the Li-B configuration space, several well-ordered and stable Li-B monolayers were identified. Detailed analyses regarding the electronic structures and lattice dynamics properties of the predicted Li-B monolayers were performed. Compared with the non-superconducting pure B-sheet, some predicted Li-B monolayers can exhibit the phonon-mediated superconducting properties above the liquid helium temperature.

Lattice dynamics, phonon vibrational spectra, and thermal properties of tetragonal SrPt3P: a first-principles study

The phonon vibrational spectra and thermal properties of the platinum-based superconductor SrPt₃P are investigated by the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) in the framework of density functional theory (DFT).

Fröhlich Electron-Phonon Vertex from First Principles

We develop a method for calculating the electron-phonon vertex in polar semiconductors and insulators from first principles. The present formalism generalizes the Fröhlich vertex to the case of anisotropic materials and multiple phonon branches, and can be used either as a postprocessing correction to standard electron-phonon calculations, or in conjunction with ab initio interpolation based on maximally localized Wannier functions. We demonstrate this formalism by investigating the electron-phonon interactions in anatase TiO(2), and show that the polar vertex significantly reduces the electron lifetimes and enhances the anisotropy of the coupling. The present work enables ab initio calculations of carrier mobilities, lifetimes, mass enhancement, and pairing in polar materials.

Experimental demonstration of a two-band superconducting state for lead using scanning tunneling spectroscopy

The type I superconductor lead (Pb) has been theoretically predicted to be a two-band superconductor. We use scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) to resolve two superconducting gaps with an energy difference of 150  μeV. Tunneling into Pb(111), Pb(110), and Pb(100) crystals reveals a strong dependence of the two coherence peak intensities on the crystal orientation. We show that this is the result of a selective tunneling into the two bands at the energy of the two coherence peaks. This is further sustained by the observation of signatures of the Fermi sheets in differential conductance maps around subsurface defects. A modification of the density of states of the two bands by adatoms on the surface confirms the different orbital character of each of the two subbands.

Electron-phonon coupling and its implication for the superconducting topological insulators

The recent observation of superconductivity in doped topological insulators has sparked a flurry of interest due to the prospect of realizing the long-sought topological superconductors. Yet the understanding of underlying pairing mechanism in these systems is far from complete. Here we investigate this problem by providing robust first-principles calculations of the role of electron-phonon coupling for the superconducting pairing in the prime candidate Cu_xBi₂Se₃. Our results show that electron-phonon scattering process in this system is dominated by zone center and boundary optical modes, with coexistence of phonon stiffening and softening. While the calculated electron-phonon coupling constant λ suggests that T_c from electron-phonon coupling is 2 orders smaller than the ones reported on bulk inhomogeneous samples, suggesting that superconductivity may not come from pure electron-phonon coupling. We discuss the possible enhancement of superconducting transition temperature by local inhomogeneity introduced by doping.

A novel two-dimensional MgB6 crystal: metal-layer stabilized boron kagome lattice

Based on first-principles calculations, we designed for the first time a boron-kagome-based two-dimensional MgB₆ crystal, in which two boron kagome layers sandwich a triangular magnesium layer.

Ground state, collective mode, phase soliton and vortex in multiband superconductors

This article reviews theoretical and experimental work on the novel physics in multiband superconductors. Multiband superconductors are characterized by multiple superconducting energy gaps in different bands with interaction between Cooper pairs in these bands. The discovery of prominent multiband superconductors MgB2 and later iron-based superconductors, has triggered enormous interest in multiband superconductors. The most recently discovered superconductors exhibit multiband features. The multiband superconductors possess novel properties that are not shared with their single-band counterpart. Examples include: the time-reversal symmetry broken state in multiband superconductors with frustrated interband couplings; the collective oscillation of number of Cooper pairs between different bands, known as the Leggett mode; and the phase soliton and fractional vortex, which are the main focus of this review. This review presents a survey of a wide range of theoretical exploratory and experimental investigations of novel physics in multiband superconductors. A vast amount of information derived from these studies is shown to highlight unusual and unique properties of multiband superconductors and to reveal the challenges and opportunities in the research on the multiband superconductivity.

Chiral d-wave superconductivity in doped graphene

A highly unconventional superconducting state with a spin-singlet dx2-y2+/-idxy-wave, or chiral d-wave symmetry has recently been suggested to emerge from electron-electron interactions in doped graphene. It has been argued that graphene doped to the van Hove singularity at 1/4 doping, where the density of states diverge, is particularly likely to be a chiral d-wave superconductor. In this review we summarize the currently mounting theoretical evidence for the existence of a chiral d-wave superconducting state in graphene, obtained with methods ranging from mean-field studies of effective Hamiltonians to angle-resolved renormalization group calculations. We further discuss the multiple distinctive properties of the chiral d-wave superconducting state in graphene, as well as its stability in the presence of disorder. We also review the means of enhancing the chiral d-wave state using proximity-induced superconductivity. The appearance of chiral d-wave superconductivity is intimately linked to the hexagonal crystal lattice and we also offer a brief overview of other materials which have also been proposed to be chiral d-wave superconductors.

Intermetallic compounds in heterogeneous catalysis-a quickly developing field

The application of intermetallic compounds for understanding in heterogeneous catalysis developed in an excellent way during the last decade. This review provides an overview of concepts and developments revealing the potential of intermetallic compounds in fundamental as well as applied catalysis research. Intermetallic compounds may be considered as platform materials to address current and future catalytic challenges, e.g. in respect to the energy transition.

Deriving the electron-phonon spectral density of MgB2 from optical data, using maximum entropy techniques

We use maximum entropy techniques to extract an electron-phonon density from optical data for the normal state at T = 45 K of MgB2. Limiting the analysis to a range of phonon energies below 110 meV, which is sufficient for capturing all phonon structures, we find a spectral function that is in good agreement with that calculated for the quasi-two-dimensional σ-band. Extending the analysis to higher energies, up to 160 meV, we find no evidence for any additional contributions to the fluctuation spectrum, but find that the data can only be understood if the density of states is taken to decrease with increasing energy.

Pressure effects on the electronic structure and superconducting critical temperature of Li2B2

We present the structural, electronic and superconducting properties of Li2B2 under pressure within the framework of the density functional theory. The structural parameters, electronic band structure, phonon frequency of the E2g phonon mode and superconducting critical temperature Tc were calculated for pressures up to 20 GPa. We predicted that the superconducting critical temperature of Li2B2 is about 11 K and this decreases as pressure increases. We found that even though the lattice dynamics of the E2g phonon mode is similar to MgB2, the reduction of the σ-band density of states at Fermi level and the raising of the E2g phonon frequency with pressure were determinant to decrease λ and consequently Tc.

Size and symmetry of the superconducting gap in the f.c.c. Cs3C60 polymorph close to the metal-Mott insulator boundary

The alkali fullerides, A(3)C(60) (A = alkali metal) are molecular superconductors that undergo a transition to a magnetic Mott-insulating state at large lattice parameters. However, although the size and the symmetry of the superconducting gap, Δ, are both crucial for the understanding of the pairing mechanism, they are currently unknown for superconducting fullerides close to the correlation-driven magnetic insulator. Here we report a comprehensive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study of face-centred-cubic (f.c.c.) Cs(3)C(60) polymorph, which can be tuned continuously through the bandwidth-controlled Mott insulator-metal/superconductor transition by pressure. When superconductivity emerges from the insulating state at large interfullerene separations upon compression, we observe an isotropic (s-wave) Δ with a large gap-to-superconducting transition temperature ratio, 2Δ0/k(B)T(c) = 5.3(2) [Δ0 = Δ(0 K)]. 2Δ0/k(B)T(c) decreases continuously upon pressurization until it approaches a value of ~3.5, characteristic of weak-coupling BCS theory of superconductivity despite the dome-shaped dependence of Tc on interfullerene separation. The results indicate the importance of the electronic correlations for the pairing interaction as the metal/superconductor-insulator boundary is approached.

Orbital upper critical field and its anisotropy of clean one- and two-band superconductors

The Helfand-Werthamer (HW) scheme (Helfand and Werthamer 1966 Phys. Rev. 147 288; another part of this work published as a separate paper by Werthamer et al 1966 Phys. Rev. 147 295) of evaluating the orbital upper critical field is generalized to anisotropic superconductors in general, and to two-band clean materials, in particular. Our formal procedure differs from those in the literature; it reproduces not only the isotropic HW limit but also the results of calculations for the two-band superconducting MgB(2) (Miranović et al 2003 J. Phys. Soc. Japan 72 221, Dahm and Schopohl 2003 Phys. Rev. Lett. 91 017001) along with the existing data on H(c2)(T) and its anisotropy γ(T) = H(c2,ab)(T)/H(c2,c)(T) (a, c are the principal directions of a uniaxial crystal). Using rotational ellipsoids as model Fermi surfaces we apply the formalism developed to study γ(T) for a few different anisotropies of the Fermi surface and of the order parameters. We find that even for a single band d-wave order parameter γ(T) decreases on warming; however, relatively weakly. For order parameters of the form Δ(k(z)) = Δ(0)(1 + η cos k(z)a) (Xu et al 2011 Nature Phys. 7 198), according to our simulations γ(T) may either increase or decrease on warming even for a single band depending on the sign of η. Hence, the common belief that the multi-band Fermi surface is responsible for the temperature variation of γ is proven incorrect. For two s-wave gaps, γ decreases on warming for all Fermi shapes examined. For two order parameters of the form Δ(k(z)) = Δ(0)(1 + η cos k(z)a), presumably relevant for pnictides, we obtain γ(T) increasing on warming provided both η(1) and η(2) are negative, whereas for η > 0, γ(T) decreases. We study the ratio of the two order parameters at H(c2)(T) and find that the ratio of the small gap to the large one does not vanish at any temperature, even at H(c2)(T), an indication that this does not happen at lower fields.

Isotope and multiband effects in layered superconductors

In this review we consider three classes of superconductors, namely cuprate superconductors, MgB(2) and the new Fe based superconductors. All of these three systems are layered materials and multiband compounds. Their pairing mechanisms are under discussion with the exception of MgB(2), which is widely accepted to be a 'conventional' electron-phonon interaction mediated superconductor, but extending the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory to account for multiband effects. Cuprates and Fe based superconductors have higher superconducting transition temperatures and more complex structures. Superconductivity is doping dependent in these material classes unlike in MgB(2) which, as a pure compound, has the highest values of T(c) and a rapid suppression of superconductivity with doping takes place. In all three material classes isotope effects have been observed, including exotic ones in the cuprates, and controversial ones in the Fe based materials. Before the area of high-temperature superconductivity, isotope effects on T(c) were the signature for phonon mediated superconductivity-even when deviations from the BCS value to smaller values were observed. Since the discovery of high T(c) materials this is no longer evident since competing mechanisms might exist and other mediating pairing interactions are discussed which are of purely electronic origin. In this work we will compare the three different material classes and especially discuss the experimentally observed isotope effects of all three systems and present a rather general analysis of them. Furthermore, we will concentrate on multiband signatures which are not generally accepted in cuprates even though they are manifest in various experiments, the evidence for those in MgB(2), and indications for them in the Fe based compounds. Mostly we will consider experimental data, but when possible also discuss theoretical models which are suited to explain the data.

Strong coupling superconductivity at 8.4 K in an antiperovskite phosphide SrPt3P

We report the discovery of a family of ternary platinum phosphides APt3P (A = Ca, Sr, and La), which crystallize in an antiperovskite-based structure closely related to that of the heavy fermion superconductor CePt3Si. All three phosphides showed superconductivity at low temperatures and the highest critical temperature T(c) = 8.4  K was observed for SrPt3P. The analysis of specific heat C(T) for SrPt3P shows clear evidence for very strong coupling s-wave superconductivity with a large ratio between superconducting gap Δ0 and T(c), 2Δ0/k(B)T(c) ∼ 5, and the presence of low-energy phonons. The presence of multiple Fermi surface pockets was inferred from the nonlinear magnetic field dependence of Hall resistivity, which we argue might play a role in realizing the strong coupling of charge carriers with the low-lying phonons.

Size-dependent superconducting state of individual nanosized Pb islands grown on Si(111) by tunneling spectroscopy

By measuring the temperature-dependent tunneling spectroscopy of a set of flat-top Pb islands from 3.2 to 15 K, the limiting size of a nine-monolayer-thick Pb island with superconductivity above 3.2 K was determined to be ∼ 30 nm(2), in good agreement with the Anderson criterion. Further analysis indicates that the zero-temperature energy gap decreases significantly faster than the transition temperature when the Pb island size approaches this limit. This leads to a decrease of 2Δ(0)/k(B)T(C) from 4.5 to 3.3, thus showing that the Pb island superconductors undergo a change from strong to weak electron-phonon coupling.

Critical current scaling and anisotropy in oxypnictide superconductors

Having succeeded in the fabrication of epitaxial superconducting LaFeAsO(1-x)F(x) thin films we performed an extensive study of electrical transport properties. In the face of multiband superconductivity we can demonstrate that an anisotropic Ginzburg-Landau scaling of the angular dependent critical current densities can be adopted, although being originally developed for single band superconductors. In contrast with single band superconductors the mass anisotropy of LaFeAsO(1-x)F(x) is temperature dependent. A very steep increase of the upper critical field and the irreversibility field can be observed at temperatures below 6 K, indicating that the band with the smaller gap is in the dirty limit. This temperature dependence can be theoretically described by two dominating bands responsible for superconductivity. A pinning force scaling provides insight into the prevalent pinning mechanism and can be specified in terms of the Kramer model.

Enhanced quasiparticle heat conduction in the multigap superconductor Lu2Fe3Si5

Thermal transport measurements have been made on the Fe-based superconductor Lu2Fe3Si5 (T(c) ∼ 6  K) down to a very low temperature T(c)/120. The field and temperature dependences of the thermal conductivity confirm the multigap superconductivity with fully opened gaps on the whole Fermi surfaces. In comparison to MgB2, Lu2Fe3Si5 reveals a remarkably enhanced quasiparticle heat conduction in the mixed state. The results can be interpreted as a consequence of the unequal weight of the Fe 3d-electron character among the distinct bands.

Enhancing the superconducting transition temperature of BaSi2 by structural tuning

We present a joint experimental and theoretical study of the superconducting phase of the layered binary silicide BaSi(2). Compared with the AlB(2) structure of graphite or diboridelike superconductors, in the hexagonal structure of binary silicides the sp(3) arrangement of silicon atoms leads to corrugated sheets. Through a high-pressure synthesis procedure we are able to modify the buckling of these sheets, enhancing the superconducting transition temperature from 6 to 8.9 K when the silicon planes flatten out. By performing ab initio calculations based on density-functional theory we explain how the electronic and phonon properties are strongly affected by changes in the buckling. This mechanism is likely present in other intercalated layered superconductors, opening the way to the tuning of superconductivity through the control of internal structural parameters.

First-principles prediction of doped graphane as a high-temperature electron-phonon superconductor

We predict by first-principles calculations that p-doped graphane is an electron-phonon superconductor with a critical temperature above the boiling point of liquid nitrogen. The unique strength of the chemical bonds between carbon atoms and the large density of electronic states at the Fermi energy arising from the reduced dimensionality give rise to a giant Kohn anomaly in the optical phonon dispersions and push the superconducting critical temperature above 90 K. As evidence of graphane was recently reported, and doping of related materials such as graphene, diamond, and carbon nanostructures is well established, superconducting graphane may be feasible.

Effect of two length scales on the properties of MgB(2) for arbitrary applied magnetic field

Experiments carried out on the intermetallic superconducting material MgB(2) have shown anomalous magnetic field dependence of upper critical field, small angle neutron scattering form factor, specific heat, critical current etc. Similarly, scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) experiments on vortex structures have shown unusually large vortex core size and two different magnetic and spatial field scales. Also, whereas the specific heat measurements and isotope shift experiments have shown Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer-like (BCS-like) behaviour, the temperature dependences of the penetration depth experiments have shown non-BCS-like behaviour. These anomalous behaviours have been attributed to the multiband superconductivity of this material and the nature of the local spatial behaviour of the magnetic induction and the order parameter components having two length scales. We report an analytical investigation of the effect of two length scales on the temperature and the applied magnetic field dependence of several properties of MgB(2), such as, the penetration depth, single vortex and vortex lattice structure, vortex core radius, reversible magnetization, critical current, small angle neutron scattering form factor and the shear modulus of the vortex lattice within the framework of two-order parameter Ginzburg-Landau theory. We solve the corresponding nonlinear Ginzburg-Landau equations numerically exactly using an iterative method for arbitrary applied field H(c1) < H < H(c2), the Ginzburg-Landau parameter and vortex lattice symmetry. This enables us to compute the local spatial behaviour of the magnetic induction and the order parameters accurately for arbitrary applied field and a wide range of temperature. Comparison of the analytical results with experiments on MgB(2) gives very good agreement.

Magnetic scattering effects in two-band superconductor: the ferromagnetic dopants in MgB₂

This paper demonstrates the magnetic scattering effects on the electron-phonon interaction in two-band superconductors based on the transition-metal-doped MgB₂ to clarify the effects of magnetic dopants on multi-band superconductivity. The phonon properties of polycrystalline Mg(1-x)M(x)B₂ (M = Fe, Ni and Co), with x up to 0.05, were studied, with the investigation based on the normal state Raman spectra, especially the variation of the E(2g) mode. The magnetic scattering effect of Fe is much weaker than that of Mn in MgB₂, while it is stronger than that of Ni. The weak magnetic scattering effects are responsible for the superconducting behaviors of Mg(1 - x)Fe(x)B₂ and Mg(1 - x)Ni(x)B₂. Co shows almost no magnetic scattering effects on the superconductivity, while the depression of the critical temperature, T(c), in Mg(1 - x)Co(x)B₂ is attributed to the phonon behavior and is independent of the ferromagnetic nature of cobalt.

Modeling of the phase evolution in Mg1-xAlxB2 (0 < x < 0.5) and its experimental signatures

Despite the chemical and structural simplicity of MgB(2), at 39 K this compound has the highest known superconducting transition temperature (T(c)) of any binary compound. Electron doping by substituting Al for Mg leads to decreasing T(c), and the observed concentration dependent rate of decrease has been proposed to arise from the nonideal character of MgB(2)-AlB(2) solid solutions, which derives from the existence of an ordered Mg(0.5)Al(0.5)B(2) compound. Heterogeneous nanoscale structure patterns in solid solutions have emerged as an important concept for complex materials, ranging from actinide alloys and oxides to high-temperature cuprate superconductors and manganite-based materials exhibiting colossal magnetoresistivity. In this work we investigate the formation of structural heterogeneities in Mg(1-x)Al(x)B(2), which take the form of nanoscale Al-Al and Al-Mg domains of different geometries and sizes, using molecular statics and Monte Carlo simulations, and in particular we study the corresponding signatures in diffraction experiments. In order to undertake this task, we first derive appropriate Mg-Al-B semiempirical potentials within the modified embedded atom method formalism. These potentials are also applied to explore the equilibrium Mg(1-x)Al(x)B(2) phase diagram for 0 < x < 0.5. Additionally, density functional theory calculations were utilized to study the influence of heterogeneities on the electronic structure and charge distribution in Mg(1-x)Al(x)B(2).

Multiband superconductivity in Pb, H under pressure and CaBeSi from ab initio calculations

Superconductivity in Pb, H under extreme pressure and CaBeSi, in the framework of the density functional theory for superconductors, is discussed. A detailed analysis on how the electron-phonon and electron-electron interactions combine together to determine the superconducting gap and critical temperature of these systems is presented. Pb, H under pressure and CaBeSi are multigap superconductors. We will address the question under which conditions does a system exhibits this phenomenon. The presented results contribute to the understanding of multiband and anisotropic superconductivity, which has received a lot of attention since the discovery of MgB(2), and show how it is possible to describe the superconducting properties of real materials on a fully ab initio basis.

Type-1.5 superconductivity

We demonstrate the existence of a novel superconducting state in high quality two-component MgB2 single crystalline superconductors where a unique combination of both type-1 (lambda{1}/xi{1}<1/sqrt[2]) and type-2 (lambda{2}/xi{2}>1/sqrt[2]) superconductor conditions is realized for the two components of the order parameter. This condition leads to a vortex-vortex interaction attractive at long distances and repulsive at short distances, which stabilizes unconventional stripe- and gossamerlike vortex patterns that we have visualized in this type-1.5 superconductor using Bitter decoration and also reproduced in numerical simulations.

Primary role of the barely occupied states in the charge density wave formation of NbSe2

NbSe2 is a prototypical charge-density-wave (CDW) material, whose mechanism remains mysterious so far. With angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we recovered the long-lost nesting condition over a large broken-honeycomb region in the Brillouin zone, which consists of six saddle band point regions with high density of states (DOS), and large regions away from Fermi surfaces with negligible DOS at the Fermi energy. We show that the major contributions to the CDW formation come from these barely occupied states rather than the saddle band points. Our findings not only resolve a long-standing puzzle, but also overthrow the conventional wisdom that CDW is dominated by regions with high DOS.