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We present the results of a spectroscopic study of state-of-the-art MgB2 single crystals, carried out by using a modified point-contact technique. The use of single crystals allowed us to obtain point contacts with current injection either parallel or perpendicular to the ab planes. The effect of magnetic fields up to 9 T on the conductance spectra of these contacts is here thoroughly studied, for both B parallel and perpendicular to the ab planes. The complete thermal evolution of the upper critical field of the "pi" band is determined for the first time, and quantitative information about the upper critical field of the "sigma" band and its anisotropy is obtained. Finally, by exploiting the different effect of a magnetic field applied parallel to the ab planes on the two band systems, the partial contributions of the "sigma" and "pi" bands to the total conductance are obtained separately. Fitting each of them with the standard BTK model yields a great reduction of the uncertainty on Delta_sigma and Delta_pi, whose complete temperature dependence is obtained with the greatest accuracy., Comment: 8 pages, 7 eps figures

Directional point-contact spectroscopy measurements were performed for the first time in state-of-the-art MgB_2 single crystals. The selective suppression of the superconductivity in the "pi" band by means of a suitable magnetic field allowed separating the partial contribution of each band to the total point-contact conductance. By fitting the partial conductance curves sigma_sigma(V) and sigma_pi(V), we got an independent determination of the two gaps, Delta_sigma and Delta_pi, with a strong reduction of the experimental uncertainty. Their temperature dependence was found to agree well with the predictions of the two-band models for MgB_2., Comment: 6 pages, 4 eps figures. References added, abstract rewritten, text slightly changed. Proceedings of the BOROMAG Conference, June 17-19, Genoa, Italy

We present the results of the first directional point-contact spectroscopy experiments in high-quality MgB_2 single crystals. Due to the directionality of the current injection into the samples, the application of a magnetic field allowed us to separate the contributions of the sigma and pi bands to the total conductance of our point contacts. By using this technique, we were able to obtain the temperature dependency of each gap independent of the other. The consequent, strong reduction of the error on the value of the gap amplitude as function of temperature allows a stricter test of the predictions of the two-band model for MgB_2., Comment: 4 pages, 5 eps figures. References added, Fig.1 changed, some text added

We analyze the results of point-contact measurements in La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_{4} (LSCO) previously reported as a clear evidence of the separation between gap and pseudogap in this copper oxide. Here we show that, in addition to this, the conductance curves of our point-contact junctions -- showing clear Andreev reflection features -- can be interpreted as supporting a nodeless d_{x^2-y^2}+id_{xy}-wave symmetry of the gap in LSCO. The results of our analysis, in particular the doping dependence of the subdominant d_{xy} gap component, are discussed and compared to the predictions of different theoretical models., Comment: 6 pages, 4 eps figures, presented at SATT11 Conference (Vietri sul Mare, March 2002). To appear in Int. J. Mod. Phys

We made point-contact measurements with Au tips on La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_{4} samples with 0.08 < x < 0.20 to investigate the relationship between superconducting gap and pseudogap. We obtained junctions whose conductance curves presented typical Andreev reflection features at all temperatures from 4.2 K up to T_c^A close to the bulk T_c. Their fit with the BTK-Tanaka-Kashiwaya model gives good results if a (s+d)-wave gap symmetry is used. The doping dependence of the low temperature dominant isotropic gap component Delta_{s} follows very well the T_{c} vs. x curve. These results support the separation between the superconducting (Andreev) gap and the pseudogap measured by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and tunneling., Comment: 4 pages, 5 eps figures, 1 table. SNS 2001 Conference

We studied the voltage and temperature dependency of the dynamic conductance of normal metal-MgB2 junctions obtained either with the point-contact technique (with Au and Pt tips) or by making Ag-paint spots on the surface of high-quality single-crystal-like MgB2 samples. The fit of the conductance curves with the generalized BTK model gives evidence of pure s-wave gap symmetry. The temperature dependency of the gap, measured in Ag-paint junctions (dirty limit), follows the standard BCS curve with 2Delta/kTc = 3.3. In out-of-plane, high-pressure point contacts we obtained almost ideal Andreev reflection characteristics showing a single small s-wave gap Delta = 2.6 +/- 0.2 (clean limit). These results support the two-gap model of superconductivity, the presence of a modified layer at the surface of the crystals and an important and non-conventional role of the impurities in MgB2., Comment: 5 pages, 4 eps figures, SNS 2001 conference

We present the first observation of the DC and AC Josephson effect in MgB_2 break junctions. The junctions, obtained at 4.2 K in high-quality, high-density polycrystalline metallic MgB_2 samples, show a non-hysteretic DC Josephson effect. By irradiating the junctions with microwaves we observe clear Shapiro steps spaced by the ideal $\Delta V$ value. The temperature dependence of the DC Josephson current and the dependence of the height of the steps on the microwave power are obtained. These results are a direct prove for the existence of pairs with charge 2e in this new metallic superconductor and give evidence of the superconductor-normal metal-superconductor weak link character of these junctions., Comment: 4 RevTEX pages, 4 eps figures

We present new Au/La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_{4} (LSCO) point-contact conductance measures as a function of voltage and temperature in samples with 0.08 <= x <= 0.2. Andreev reflection features disappear at about the bulk Tc, giving no evidence of gap for T > Tc. The fit of the normalized conductance at any T < Tc supports a (s + d)-wave symmetry of the gap, whose dominant low-T s component follows the Tc(x) curve in contrast with recent angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and quasiparticle tunneling data. These results prove the separation between pseudogap and phase-coherence superconducting gap in LSCO at x <= 0.2., Comment: 4 pages, 4 eps figures, 1 table (RevTeX). Labels added to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 resized; references added; short discussion about ballistic contact regime added

The new 1.8 MeV proton RFQ was completed and started operation in the IHEP in 1997. It was built according to the plan of modernization of the injection system to the booster of the IHEP proton synchrotron., Comment: 3 pages, 7 figures, LINAC2000 Conference, PDF format

Resistivity measurements from 4.2 K up to 300 K were made on YNi_{2}B_{2}C single crystals with Tc=15.5 K. The resulting rho(T) curve shows a perfect Bloch-Grueneisen (BG) behavior, with a very small residual resistivity which indicates the low impurity content and the high cristallographic quality of the samples. The value lambda_{tr}=0.53 for the transport electron-phonon coupling constant was obtained by using the high-temperature constant value of d(rho)/dT and the plasma frequency reported in literature. The BG expression for the phononic part of the resistivity rho_{ph}(T) was then used to fit the data in the whole temperature range, by approximating alpha^{2}_{tr}F(Omega) with the experimental phonon spectral density G(Omega) multiplied by a two-step weighting function to be determined by the fit. The resulting fitting curve perfectly agrees with the experimental points. We also solved the real-axis Eliashberg equations in both s- and d-wave symmetries under the approximation alpha^{2}F(Omega)= alpha^{2}_{tr}F(Omega). We found that the value of lambda_{tr} here determined in single-band approximation is quite compatible with Tc and the gap Delta experimentally observed. Finally, we calculated the normalized tunneling conductance, whose comparison with break-junction tunnel data gives indication of the possible s-wave symmetry for the order parameter in YNi_{2}B_{2}C., Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. Proceedings of SATT10 Conference, to be published in Int. J. Mod. Phys. B

We present and discuss the results of measurements of the ab-plane resistivity of La_{2-x}Sr_{x}CuO_{4} single crystals with small Sr contents (x=0.052-0.075). The resistivity was obtained in the temperature range between 4.2 K and 300 K by using an AC Van der Pauw technique. When the temperature is lowered, the rho_{ab}(T) curves show a transition from a linear behaviour to a semiconducting-like one. The deviation from the linearity occurs at a doping-dependent temperature T_{ch}. This effect can be interpreted as due to a progressive pinning of preexistent charge stripes. In the same framework, the appearance of anomalous sharp peaks in the rho_{ab}(T) curves of superconducting samples just above T_{c} may be explained by a transition from a nematic to a more ordered smectic electronic stripe phase., Comment: 4 RevTex pages, 4 EPS figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. B

In this work, we present the results of precise measurements of the resistivity of YNi$_2$B$_2$C single crystals with $T_{\rm c}$ = 15.5 K as a function of the temperature, and analyze the experimental data in the framework of the Bloch-Gr\"{u}neisen theory and electron-phonon coupling. The transport electron-phonon spectral function that best fits the resistivity data is then inserted in the real-axis Eliashberg equations, which are directly solved to determine the normalized tunneling conductance both in s- and d-wave symmetry., Comment: M2S-HTSC-VI Conference paper (2 pages, 2 figures), using Elsevier style espcrc2.sty

We have measured the ab-plane resistivity of La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$ single crystals with small Sr content (x=0.052 $\div$ 0.075) between 4.2 and 300 K by using the AC Van der Pauw technique. As recently suggested by Ichikawa et al., the deviation from the linearity of the $\rho_{\mathrm{ab}}(T)$ curve starting at a temperature T$_{\mathrm{ch}}$ can be interpreted as due to a progressive slowing down of the fluctuations of pre-formed charge stripes. An electronic transition of the stripes to a more ordered phase could instead be responsible for some very sharp anomalies present in the $\rho_{\mathrm{ab}}(T)$ of superconducting samples just above $T_{\mathrm{c}}$., Comment: M2S-HTSC-VI Conference paper (2 pages, 2 figures), using Elsevier style espcrc2.sty

When using a recently developed method of Doppler-Zeeman mapping (Vasilchenko et al., 1996) for analysis of a real star and real observational data, we are confronted with limitations due to the model simplifications and unavoidable errors in observed spectra. We discuss the errors introduced by probable inaccurracies of the mathematical model: analytical fit of the local Stokes parameters, influence of magneto-optical effect, ignorance of the true atmosphere model to compute local Stokes profiles, non-uniform surface brightness. The magnetic field configuration is found in the form of arbitrarily shifted dipole and sum of dipole and quadrupole, along with the distribution of Si, Ti, Cr and Fe over the surface of the star. Lines of different elements lead to the same magnetic field configuration, which is reliably determined for the part of the stellar surface which faces the observer. This allows to compare the magnetic field and chemical maps of the surface of HD 215441. A large-scale ring structure with the magnetic pole at its center is clearly seen on the abundance maps. Si, Cr and Ti are highly deficient where the magnetic field lines are vertical (near the magnetic pole) while Fe is highly overabundant there., Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, to appear in: Proc. of the 26th workshop of the European Working Group on CP stars, eds. P. North, A. Schnell and J. Ziznovsky, Contrib. Astr. Obs. Skalnate Pleso Vol. 27, No 3 (only the abstract has been changed)

An efficient method has been developed for solving the inverse problem of Doppler-Zeeman mapping of magnetic, chemically peculiar stars. A regularized iteration method is used to simultaneously solve the integral equations for the Stokes I, V, Q and U parameters. The validity of analytical fits to the local profiles of the Stokes parameters is substantiated. The algorithm had been tested on models and makes it possible to obtain simultaneously, from the observed Stokes profiles, a map of the distribution of a chemical element and the parameters of an arbitrarily shifted magnetic dipole., Comment: 4 pages, no figure, to appear in: Proc. of the 26th workshop of the European Working Group on CP stars, eds. P. North, A. Schnell and J. Ziznovsky, Contrib. Astr. Obs. Skalnate Pleso Vol. 27, No 3

An intrinsic gap depression at the Superconductor-Insulator interface due to the very short value of the coherence length in High-Tc Superconductors [HTSs] is considered, in the framework of a mixed (s+id)-wave pair symmetry for the order parameter ranging from pure s to pure d-wave. This gap depression acts as the main physical agent causing the relevant reduction of IcRn(T) values with respect to BCS expectations in HTS SIS Josephson junctions. Good agreement with various experimental data is obtained with both pure s-wave and pure d-wave symmetries of the order parameter, but with amounts of gap depression depending on the pair symmetry adopted. Regardless of the pair symmetry considered, these results prove the importance of the surface order-parameter depression in the correct interpretation of the Ic(T)Rn(T) data in HTS SIS junctions. In a case of planar YBCO-based junction the use of the de Gennes condition allowed us to tentatively obtain an upper limit for the amount of d-wave present in the order parameter of YBCO., Comment: 11 pages REVTeX file, 6 PostScript figures, to be published in J. Superconductivity

We discuss the limits and the correct utilization of the standard program for the inversion of Eliashberg equations and the determination of the electron-phonon spectral function and the coulomb pseudopotential from tunneling measurements in high-Tc superconductors. In order to compare the calculated density of states with the experimental one, we introduce the results of the inversion procedure, applied to our recent tunneling data in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O{8+x} (BSCCO) single-crystal break junctions with Tc=93 K, in a direct program for the solution of Eliashberg equations. Most of the observed differences between theoretical and experimental curves at energy greater than gap can be explained by a smooth energy dependence of the normal density of states that we introduced in the direct solution of the Eliashberg equations. The electron-phonon coupling constant determined in a self-consistent way is equal to 2.69, giving evidence for a strong electron-phonon interaction in BSCCO. Similar results have been obtained in 7 break-junction tunneling curves measured on the same BSCCO single crystals., Comment: 16 pages, RevTeX, 10 Postscript figures, to be published in Physica C