Controlling the near-surface superfluid density in underdoped YBa2Cu3O6+x by photo-illumination

The interaction with light weakens the superconducting ground state in classical superconductors. The situation in cuprate superconductors is more complicated: illumination increases the charge carrier density, a photo-induced effect that persists below room temperature. Furthermore, systematic inve...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2014-09, Vol.4 (1), p.6250, Article 6250
Main Authors: Stilp, E., Suter, A., Prokscha, T., Salman, Z., Morenzoni, E., Keller, H., Pahlke, P., Hühne, R., Bernhard, C., Liang, Ruixing, Hardy, W. N., Bonn, D. A., Baglo, J. C., Kiefl, R. F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
639/766/119/1003
639/766/119/544
Atoms & subatomic particles
Humanities and Social Sciences
Illumination
Light
multidisciplinary
Science
Temperature
Temperature effects
Thin films
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Summary:The interaction with light weakens the superconducting ground state in classical superconductors. The situation in cuprate superconductors is more complicated: illumination increases the charge carrier density, a photo-induced effect that persists below room temperature. Furthermore, systematic investigations in underdoped YBa 2 Cu 3 O 6+x (YBCO) have shown an enhanced critical temperature T c . Until now, studies of photo-persistent conductivity (PPC) have been limited to investigations of structural and transport properties, as well as the onset of superconductivity. Here we show how changes in the magnetic screening profile of YBCO in the Meissner state due to PPC can be determined on a nanometer scale utilizing low-energy muons. The data obtained reveal a strongly increased superfluid density within the first few tens of nanometers from the sample surface. Our findings suggest a non-trivial modification of the near-surface band structure and give direct evidence that the superfluid density of YBCO can be controlled by light illumination.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/srep06250