Identification of the muon stopping sites in GdSr2Cu2RuO8: Confirmation of ferromagnetic cuprate planes in a superconducting cuprate

• Published in: Solid state communications 2012-12, Vol.152 (24), p.2165-2168
• Main Authors: Blackstead, H.A., Yelon, W.B., Smylie, M.P., Benapfl, B.W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: A. Superconductors; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cuprates superconductors (high tc and insulating parent compounds); D. Muon spin rotation; Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetic resonances and relaxations in condensed matter, mössbauer effect; Muon spin rotation and relaxation; Neutron diffraction and scattering; Other ferromagnetic metals and alloys; Physics; Single-crystal and powder diffraction; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Studies of specific magnetic materials; Superconductivity
• ISSN: 0038-1098; 1879-2766
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssc.2012.09.014

Muon spin rotation experiments on superconducting GdSr2Cu2RuO8 reported a magnetic induction of 720–740G. Neutron diffraction studies have shown that the Ru spins are ordered antiferromagnetically along the c-axis, while the cuprate planes are ordered ferromagnetically in the a–b plane and are stacked antiferromagnetically. Using this spin configuration with refined spin moments, we have calculated the magnetic induction at potential muon stopping sites; muons stopping in the center of the ferromagnetic CuO2 planes will experience an induction of ∼725G, a result in excellent agreement with experiment. We predict that muon experiments, carried out at temperatures below the Gd antiferromagnetic ordering temperature, will detect an induction exceeding 1T at one of the muon sites. ► The Ru spins in GdSr2Cu2RuO8 are ordered antiferromagnetically along the c-axis. ► The cuprate planes are ordered ferromagnetically in the a–b plane and are stacked antiferromagnetically. ► Muons stopped in the center of the ferromagnetic CuO2 planes will experience an induction of ∼725G. ► The calculated results are in close agreement with two independent experiments.