Superconductivity and Magnetism in Skutterudites

Description

Superconductivity and Magnetism in Skutterudites discusses superconducting and magnetic properties of a class of materials called skutterudites. With a brief introduction of the fundamental structural features of skutterudites, the book then provides a detailed assessment of the superconducting and magnetic properties, focusing particularly on the rare earth-filled skutterudites where a plethora of fascinating properties and ground states is realized due to interactions of the filler species with the framework ions. Such interactions underpin the exciting forms of superconductivity and magnetism, most notably realized in the exotic heavy fermion superconductor of composition PrOs4Sb12. The two main topics of superconductivity and magnetism are provided with a concise introduction of superconducting and magnetic properties so that a reader can appreciate and understand the main arguments in the text. This book would appeal to graduate students, postdoctoral students, and anyone interested in superconducting and magnetic properties of a large family of minerals called skutterudites. Key Features: • Gives a thorough account of the superconducting and magnetic properties of skutterudites. • Each topic is accompanied by introductory sections to assist in the understanding of the text. • Supported by numerous figures and all key references. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Content Preface About the Author Chapter 1: Brief Review of the Structure and Electronic Bands in Skutterudites 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Binary Skutterudites 1.3 Ternary Skutterudites 1.4 Filled Skutterudites 1.4.1 Filled Skutterudites with the [M 4 X 12 ] Framework 1.4.2 Filled Skutterudites with the [T 4 X 12 ] 4− Framework 1.4.3 Filled Skutterudites with the [Pt 4 Ge 12 ] Framework 1.4.4 Filled Skutterudites with Electronegative Fillers References Chapter 2: Superconducting Skutterudites 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Useful Relations for Superconducting Parameters 2.3 La-Filled Superconducting Skutterudites 2.4 Superconductivity of PrOs 4 Sb 12 2.4.1 Crystalline Electric Field in PrOs 4 Sb 12 2.4.2 Specific Heat of PrOs 4 Sb 12 2.4.3 Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance in PrOs 4 Sb 12 2.4.4 High Field-Ordered Phase (HFOP) in PrOs 4 Sb 12 2.4.5 Magneto-Thermal Conductivity of PrOs 4 Sb 12 2.4.6 Breakdown of TRS in PrOs 4 Sb 12 2.4.7 Fermi Surface of PrOs 4 Sb 12 2.4.8 Point-Contact Spectroscopy 2.4.9 Superconducting Solid Solutions of Pr(Os 1-x Ru x) 4 Sb 12 2.4.10 Superconducting Solid Solutions of (Pr 1-x La x)Os 4 Sb 12 2.4.11 Superconducting Solid Solutions of (Pr 1-x Nd x)Os 4 Sb 12 2.4.12 Other Pr-Filled Skutterudite Superconductors 2.4.12.1 PrRu 4 Sb 12 2.4.12.2 PrRu 4 As 12 2.5 YT 4 P 12, (T = Fe, Ru, and Os) Superconductors 2.5.1 YFe 4 P 12 2.5.2 YOs 4 P 12 and YRu 4 P 12 2.6 Superconductors with the [Pt 4 Ge 12 ] Framework 2.6.1 Alkaline-Earth-Filled BaPt 4 Ge 12 and SrPt 4 Ge 12 Superconductors 2.6.2 Actinide-Filled ThPt 4 Ge 12 Superconductor 2.6.3 Rare-Earth-Filled [Pt 4 Ge 12 ]-Based Superconductors 2.6.4 Effect of Pressure on Platinum Germanide Superconductors 2.7 Critical Current Density of Superconductors 2.7.1 Fields and Currents Inside Type-I Superconductors 2.7.2 Critical State Model of Bean 2.8 Concluding Remarks References Chapter 3: Magnetic Properties of Skutterudites 3.1 Introduction 3.1.1 Diamagnetism 3.1.2 Paramagnetism of Localized Magnetic Moments and Curie Law 3.1.3 Paramagnetism in Metals and Pauli Susceptibility 3.1.4 Magnetically Ordered Structures 3.1.4.1 Weiss Molecular Field Model and Mean Field Theory 3.1.4.1.1 The Case of a Ferromagnet 3.1.4.1.2 The Case of an Antiferromagnet 3.1.4.1.3 The Case of a Ferrimagnet 3.1.4.2 Magnetic Excitations and Spin Waves 3.1.4.3 Magnetic Anisotropy 3.1.4.4 Effect of Crystalline Electric Field (CEF) 3.2 Techniques of Measuring Magnetic Properties 3.2.1 Measurements of Magnetic Moments and Magnetic Susceptibility 3.2.2 Mössbauer Spectroscopy 3.2.3 Neutron Spectroscopy 3.3 Magnetic Properties of Skutterudites 3.3.1 Mössbauer Studies of Skutterudites 3.3.2 Magnetic Susceptibility of Binary Skutterudites 3.3.3 Magnetic Properties of Partially Filled CoSb 3 3.3.4 Magnetic Properties of Filled Skutterudites with the [T 4 X 12 ] Framework 3.3.4.1 Lanthanum-Filled Skutterudites 3.3.4.2 Ce-Filled Skutterudites 3.3.4.3 Pr-Filled Skutterudites 3.3.4.3.1 Pr-Filled Phosphides 3.3.4.3.2 Pr-Filled Arsenides 3.3.4.3.3 Pr-Filled Antimonides 3.3.4.4 Nd-Filled Skutterudites 3.3.4.4.1 Nd-Filled Phosphides 3.3.4.4.2 Nd-Filled Arsenides 3.3.4.4.3 Nd-Filled Antimonides 3.3.4.5 Sm-Filled Skutterudites 3.3.4.5.1 Sm-Filled Phosphides 3.3.4.5.2 Sm-Filled Arsenides 3.3.4.5.3 Sm-Filled Antimonides 3.3.4.6 Eu-Filled Skutterudites 3.3.4.6.1 Eu-Filled Phosphides 3.3.4.6.2 Eu-Filled Arsenides 3.3.4.6.3 Eu-Filled Antimonides 3.3.4.7 Yb-Filled Skutterudites 3.3.4.7.1 Yb-Filled Phosphides 3.3.4.7.2 Yb-Filled Arsenides 3.3.4.7.3 Yb-Filled Antimonides 3.3.4.8 Gd-Filled Skutterudites 3.3.4.9 Heavy Lanthanide-Filled Skutterudites 3.3.4.10 Yttrium-Filled Skutterudites 3.3.4.11 Alkali Metal-Filled Skutterudites and Tl-Filled Skutterudites 3.3.4.12 Skutterudites Filled with Alkaline-Earth Metals 3.3.4.13 Skutterudites Filled with Actinide Elements 3.3.4.13.1 Th-Filled Skutterudites 3.3.4.13.2 U-Filled Skutterudites 3.3.4.13.3 Np-Filled Skutterudites 3.3.5 Magnetic Properties of Skutterudites with the [Pt 4 Ge 12 ] Framework 3.3.5.1 Ce-Filled [Pt 4 Ge 12 ] Framework 3.3.5.2 Nd-Filled [Pt 4 Ge 12 ] Framework 3.3.5.3 Sm-Filled [Pt 4 Ge 12 ] Framework 3.3.5.4 Eu-Filled [Pt 4 Ge 12 ] Framework 3.3.5.5 Actinide-Filled [Pt 4 Ge 12 ] Framework 3.4 Concluding Remarks Note References Index