Neutron Scattering In Layered Copper Oxide Superconductors

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.

This book provides ideas on what neutron scattering could look like in the next millennium. In particular, nonconventional, unusual or innovative neutron scattering experiments (from both the scientific and the instrumental point of view) are described which either have novel applications or provide a new insight into science and technology. Chapters on theoretical aspects are adequately included. The scientific and technical areas cover the following topics: novel neutron scattering techniques and perspectives in neutron scattering instrumentation (including sample environment); soft condensed matter, particularly colloids and polymers; materials science and industrial applications; structure and dynamics of multilayers and nanocrystalline materials; dynamical aspects and quantum effects in molecular magnets; strongly correlated electron systems, with emphasis on dynamic correlations in low-dimensional magnets. All these topics are thoroughly introduced and discussed by acknowledged experts. Contents:Principles of Neutron Scattering:Introduction to Neutron Scattering (P Böni & A Furrer)Brillouin Scattering with Neutrons and X-Rays (B Dorner)Instrumentation for Neutron Scattering:Novel Trends in Neutron Optics (I S Anderson et al.)Methods and Perspectives of Neutron Scattering at High Pressure (S Klotz)Soft Condensed Matter:Colloids as Model Systems for Condensed Matter Physics (R Klein)Polymers, Colloids and Microemulsions: Neutron Scattering Experiments (P Schurtenberger, et al.)Molecular Magnetism:Molecular Magnetism: A School of Physics (J Villain)Neutron Scattering of Molecular Magnets (H P Andres et al.)Low-Dimensional Magnetism:Computational Probes of Collective Excitations in Low-Dimensional Magnetism (G Müller & M Karbach)Neutron Scattering (Mostly) from Low Dimensional Magnetic Systems (T G Perring)Multilayers and Nanocrystals:Future Trends in Heterostructure Research with Neutron Scattering (H Zabel)Structure and Dynamics of Nanocrystals (R Hempelmann) Readership: Materials scientists. Keywords:Neutron Scattering;Colloids;Polymers;Material Science;Nanocrystalline Material;Molecular Magnets;Brillouin Scattering;Neutron Optics;Microemulsions;Heterostructure

This is the last of three volumes of the extensively revised and updated second edition of the Handbook of Superconductivity. The past twenty years have seen rapid progress in superconducting materials, which exhibit one of the most remarkable physical states of matter ever to be discovered. Superconductivity brings quantum mechanics to the scale of the everyday world. Viable applications of superconductors rely fundamentally on an understanding of these intriguing phenomena and the availability of a range of materials with bespoke properties to meet practical needs. While the first volume covers fundamentals and various classes of materials, the second addresses processing of these into various shapes and configurations needed for applications, and ends with chapters on refrigeration methods necessary to attain the superconducting state and the desired performance. This third volume starts with a wide range of methods permitting one to characterize both the materials and various end products of processing. Subsequently, diverse classes of both large scale and electronic applications are described. Volume 3 ends with a glossary relevant to all three volumes. Key Features: Covers the depth and breadth of the field Includes contributions from leading academics and industry professionals across the world Provides hands-on familiarity with the characterization methods and offers descriptions of representative examples of practical applications A comprehensive reference, the handbook is suitable for both graduate students and practitioners in experimental physics, materials science, and multiple engineering disciplines, including electronic and electrical, chemical, mechanical, metallurgy and others.

This special volume of Advances in Imaging and Electron Physics details the current theory, experiments, and applications of neutron and x-ray optics and microscopy for an international readership across varying backgrounds and disciplines. Edited by Dr. Ted Cremer, these volumes attempt to provide rapid assimilation of the presented topics that include neutron and x-ray scatter, refraction, diffraction, and reflection and their potential application. Contributions from leading authorities Informs and updates on all the latest developments in the field

Magnetic and superconducting materials pervade every avenue of the technological world – from microelectronics and mass-data storage to medicine and heavy engineering. Both areas have experienced a recent revitalisation of interest due to the discovery of new materials, and the re-evaluation of a wide range of basic mechanisms and phenomena. This Concise Encyclopedia draws its material from the award-winning Encyclopedia of Materials and Engineering, and includes updates and revisions not available in the original set -- making it the ideal reference companion for materials scientists and engineers with an interest in magnetic and superconducting materials. Contains in excess of 130 articles, taken from the award-winning Encyclopedia of Materials: Science and Technology, including ScienceDirect updates not available in the original set Each article discusses one aspect of magnetic and superconducting materials and includes photographs, line drawings and tables to aid the understanding of the topic at hand Cross-referencing guides readers to articles covering subjects of related interest

Scattering is the collision of two objects that results in a change of trajectory and energy. For example, in particle physics, such as electrons, photons, or neutrons are "scattered off" of a target specimen, resulting in a different energy and direction. In the field of electromagnetism, scattering is the random diffusion of electromagnetic radiation from air masses is an aid in the long-range sending of radio signals over geographic obstacles such as mountains. This type of scattering, applied to the field of acoustics, is the spreading of sound in many directions due to irregularities in the transmission medium. Volume I of Scattering will be devoted to basic theoretical ideas, approximation methods, numerical techniques and mathematical modeling. Volume II will be concerned with basic experimental techniques, technological practices, and comparisons with relevant theoretical work including seismology, medical applications, meteorological phenomena and astronomy. This reference will be used by researchers and graduate students in physics, applied physics, biophysics, chemical physics, medical physics, acoustics, geosciences, optics, mathematics, and engineering. This is the first encyclopedic-range work on the topic of scattering theory in quantum mechanics, elastodynamics, acoustics, and electromagnetics. It serves as a comprehensive interdisciplinary presentation of scattering and inverse scattering theory and applications in a wide range of scientific fields, with an emphasis, and details, up-to-date developments. Scattering also places an emphasis on the problems that are still in active current research. The first interdisciplinary reference source on scattering to gather all world expertise in this technique Covers the major aspects of scattering in a common language, helping to widening the knowledge of researchers across disciplines The list of editors, associate editors and contributors reads like an international Who's Who in the interdisciplinary field of scattering