Abstract
High-temperature cuprate superconductors exhibit extremely local nanoscale phenomena and strong sensitivity to doping. While other experiments have looked at nanoscale interfaces between layers of different dopings, we focus on the interplay between naturally inhomogeneous nanoscale regions. Using scanning tunneling microscopy to carefully track the same region of the sample as a function of temperature, we show that regions with weak superconductivity can persist to elevated temperatures if bordered by regions of strong superconductivity. This suggests that it may be possible to increase the maximum possible transition temperature by controlling the distribution of dopants.
- Received 16 November 2009
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.117001
©2010 American Physical Society
Viewpoint
Proximity to understanding the cuprates
Published 15 March 2010
Scanning tunneling microscopy experiments in a high-temperature superconductor probe the temperature evolution of local electronic states, revealing that regions in the sample exhibiting weak superconductivity can persist to elevated temperatures if they are surrounded by regions of strong superconductivity.
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