c-axis hopping conductivity in heavily Pr-doped YBCO single crystals

• Published in: Superconductor science & technology 2013-08, Vol.26 (8), p.85017-5
• Main Authors: Vovk, R V, Vovk, N R, Shekhovtsov, O V, Goulatis, I L, Chroneos, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anisotropy; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Conductivity phenomena in semiconductors and insulators; COPPER OXIDE; Cuprates superconductors (high tc and insulating parent compounds); DOPING; ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY; Electronic transport in condensed matter; Exact sciences and technology; Hopping (conductivity); MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS; Mathematical models; Mobility edges; hopping transport; Physics; Position (location); Praseodymium; Resistivity; Single crystals; Superconductivity; SUPERCONDUCTORS; Temperature dependence; Y-based cuprates; YTTRIUM OXIDE
• ISSN: 0953-2048; 1361-6668
• DOI: 10.1088/0953-2048/26/8/085017

We investigated the temperature dependence of the longitudinal and transverse conductivity of Y1−zPrzBa2Cu3O7−δ single crystals with different praseodymium contents. The correlation between the experimental results and the predictions of various theoretical models was analyzed. It is observed that the increase of the praseodymium concentration in Y1−zPrzBa2Cu3O7−δ single crystals leads to increased localization effects and suppression of the superconducting state. Interestingly, for single crystals with large praseodymium content the anisotropy of the normal electrical resistivity ρc ρab(T) is described by the universal 'law of 1 2' for thermally activated hopping conductivity. This is in contrast to the case for comparable crystals of YBa2Cu3O7−δ.